Kauai is truly a hiker’s paradise & no doubt my favorite out of the eight Hawaiian Islands. Also known as the Garden Isle, Kauai boasts lush vegetation & rugged, untouched beauty. Due to its remoteness, the little island has far less tourists making it an ideal open playground for avid adventurers to explore.

Formed 5 million years ago after the eruption of Mount Wai’ale’ale, Kauai is the oldest Hawaiian Island. What resulted over time was the unique formation of jagged terrain & extreme elevation changes. Thereby, rating most of the hiking trails in Kauai as moderate to difficult. Approximately 80% of the island is not even accessible by car! Talk about venturing off the beaten path! Because of Kauai’s prehistoric vibes, it is no wonder why many famous blockbuster movies were filmed here most notably Avatar, Pirates of the Caribbean & of course, Jurassic Park!

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Kuilau Ridge Trail: The Perfect Kauai Hike for Beginners

📈 AllTrails rating: Moderate

🥾 Length: 3.6 miles RT

🏔️ Elevation gain: 682 feet

✅ No special pass required

Kuilau Ridge Trail is the perfect hike to start off your Kauai adventure & is easy enough for all athletic abilities. What was once used as a fire road is now a wide, open trail with a gentle incline. Clocking at approximately 3.6 miles round-trip, you can complete your trek in a little over 2 hours. The trailhead can be easy to miss as there are no clear markings. Just plug in Kuilau Ridge Trail into your GPS, drive through some rural neighborhoods in Wailua, & look for a small parking lot off of Highway 580. The start of the trail is located right near the Kawi Stream outside of Wailua River State Park.

Right from the beginning, you will encounter wet & muddy conditions as you navigate your way through dense rainforest. Therefore, plan to bring your dirtiest pair of hiking shoes or boots as you will inevitably get dirty!

We made our way through a literal jungle of towering ferns & monstrous vines that hung heavily from the canopies of trees. There were several fallen guava fruit all around the ground among the abundance of unusual flora. Up overhead, we heard all kinds of distinct birds chirping & squawking at us. What’s more, we even had a couple wild roosters stalk us during times on the trail. It was truly a Jurassic Park experience sans the actual Stegosaurus & T-Rex!

Enjoy the views of Mount Wai’ale’ale & the surrounding Makaleha Mountain Range.

After trekking about a mile in, you will arrive at a covered rest area with picnic benches. This is an ideal time to take a snack break & admire the expansive views ahead. You may even encounter wild colorful roosters hunting for food like we did! To your left, you will find a small path along a ridgeline that leads to a lookout point. On a clear day, you may be able to see the Makaleha Mountain Range & Mount Wai’ale’ale, famously known as the wettest place on earth.

From the shelter, you can continue further down the trail to experience more lush grassy hills & a small waterfall. A little over a mile in, you will then come across a wooden footbridge over the Opaeka’a Stream. At this point you can turn back around or continue on to connect with the Moalepe Trail.

Ho’opi’i Falls Trail: An Iconic Jurassic Park Film Location

📈 AllTrails rating: Moderate

🥾 Length: 1.8 miles RT

🏔️ Elevation gain: 157 feet

✅ No special pass required

Located near Kapa’a, Ho’opi’i Falls Trail is another light hike that is only 1.8 miles round-trip. The path is mostly flat with the exception of uprooted trees & mounds of heavy mud as it follows along a riverbed. Much like the Kuilau Ridge Trail, you will face several entanglements of branches & shrubbery on your trek. So be aware of your surroundings & don’t lose sight of the main path.

At the end of the trail there are two waterfalls that make up the Ho’opi’i Falls. The first waterfall is large enough to cliff jump into, as the water is 8-9 feet deep. Near the second waterfall hangs a sturdy rope swing that allows you to perform Tarzan-like flips into a lagoon below. However, just be careful to avoid falling sideways into the nearby rocks! Please know your boundaries & use good judgement.

Hard-core Jurassic Park fans may recognize the second waterfall from the classic amber mine scene! Of course, the backdrop was enhanced with CGI to create a more dinosaur-esque setting for the movie. Nevertheless, this underrated waterfall is still amazing in its natural state & definitely worth checking out for yourself!

Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail: A Nature Walk Along Poipu Beach

📈 AllTrails rating: Moderate

🥾 Length: 3.8 miles RT

🏔️ Elevation gain: 298 feet

✅ No special pass required

Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail is more of a 3.8 mile round-trip coastal walk than an actual Kauai hike. But it’s breathtaking ocean views filled with abundant sea creatures are unbeatable if you’re looking for a leisurely stroll. We even took our shelter dog on a field trip around Maha’ulepu where she found immediate stress relief & relaxation for the day!

Located on the southern shores of Kauai, there are several different ways to get to the main trail. One route is to drive east on Maha’ulepu Road towards a dirt road that leads to Gillin’s Beach. If time allows, I highly recommend walking across the bridge near the gravel parking lot to explore the Makauwahi Cave Reserve. The 17-acre reserve is one of Kauai’s hidden archeological gems that features a huge limestone cave with ancient fossils, petroglyphs, & carvings. Even greater, there is a giant tortoise sanctuary to fulfill your reptilian therapy needs!

Be on the lookout for Hawaiian wildlife.

An alternative route to get to Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail is to drive down Poipu Road & begin your trek at Shipwreck Beach near the Grand Hyatt Kauai. As soon as you walk across the beach you will immediately arrive at the ancient dunes of limestone cliffs. Watch your step as you walk off the sand & onto the cliff jumping ledge! From here, follow the coastal trail for about two miles east until you reach the Makauwahi Caves. Whichever coastal route you take, be sure to wear sturdy shoes as you will be alternating between sandy beach & rough red clay.

Also, pay close attention to your surroundings as you may spot a bale of green sea turtles called honu floating around the coves! In Hawaiian culture, the honu are sacred creatures & symbolizes good luck. If you are truly lucky enough, you may even catch humpback whales swimming off the coast from here!

Nounou Mountain: Trek Across the Sleeping Giant

📈 AllTrails rating: Hard

🥾 Length: 3.2 miles RT

🏔️ Elevation gain: 1,256 feet

✅ No special pass required

In Wailua lies the mythical Sleeping Giant also known as Nounou. Local legend tells the story of a giant who greedily feasted so much at a party that when he laid down for a nap, he never woke up. Now you can hike across the face of the fabled Sleeping Giant!

Nounou Mountain has one of the best Kauai hikes for sunrise with amazing panoramic ocean views over Lihue. While there are three different trailheads, most locals recommend starting on the east side. The trail begins at the top of Haleilio Road in a neighborhood called Wailua Houselots. Because of its easy access & short distance of only 3.2 miles round-trip, the Sleeping Giant is a highly popular trail so expect heavy foot traffic. Unlike many Kauai trails, Sleeping Giant is less dense of a rainforest so the path tends to be a lot drier.

The east side of the trail starts off with numerous switchbacks & a rapid elevation gain of approximately 1,000 feet. The main trail ends at a false summit with a picnic shelter on the giant’s “chest” in the Nounou Forest Reserve. On a clear day, you will be able to see the Mount Wai’ale’ale crater in the distance. Continue hiking towards the giant’s narrow “neck” & “head” where you will discover even more awe-inspiring views of the island. Right about 1/4 miles before the top, the trail connects with the west trail.

Kalalau Trail: Hike Along Kauai’s Famous Nā Pali Coast

📈 AllTrails rating: Hard

🥾 Length: 19.8 miles RT

🏔️ Elevation gain: 6,512 feet

✅ Advance Ha’ena State Park reservation required

The Kalalau Trail is one of Kauai’s most epic hikes & backpackers travel from around the world to conquer this round-trip 20 miler. You may recognize its famous emerald cliffs & spectacular waterfalls cascading into the azure waters below from the opening scene of Jurassic Park! With 6,500 feet of elevation gain & narrow ridge lines, this one is strictly for experienced hikers only. To explore the ENTIRE trail, you must first obtain a camping permit regardless of whether you will be camping or not. The limited number of reservations fill up rather quickly, so be sure to book your spot months in advance. Also, be ready to show proof as park rangers diligently monitor the area due to the fragility of the land & safety of the hikers.

Unfortunately, due to severe tropical storms, we were unable to check out any part of the Nā Pali Coast State Wilderness Park when we last visited Kauai! While the weather is always unpredictable in Kauai, their winter months of November through March tend to be the wettest. Also, keep in mind the trails on the northeastern parts of Kauai are not as frequently maintained because of constant erosion & dangerous landslides. Therefore, I highly recommend checking for updates on the weather forecast & recent trail reports before heading out that way!

Hike through the opening scene of Jurassic Park.

As the trek starts off at Ke’e Beach, the initial two miles of the Kalalau Trail is muddy & steep. Be mindful of your steps here! Don’t forget that without a permit, you can only day hike up to Hanakāpīʻai Valley. At the four mile mark, you will get your first glimpse of sweeping ocean views over Hanakāpīʻai Beach. Shortly thereafter, you will reach Hanakāpīʻai Falls that stands magnificently at 300 feet with a large wading pool perfect for a quick refreshing dip!

If conditions allow & you choose to venture further, the remainder of Kalalau Trail will reward you with even more bountiful green valleys & never-ending coastlines. Near the end of your hike, you will finally reach Kalalau Beach known for its famous views of the entire Nā Pali Coast.

What to Pack for Your Kauai Hike

• Phone/camera
• Bug repellent
• Reef-safe sunscreen
• Sunscreen lip balm
• Aloe vera for post-skincare
• Towel to wipe off sweat & mud
• Refillable water bottle
• Light daypack or hydration pack
• Hat & sunglasses for extra sun protection
• Lightweight layers
• Packable rain jacket
• Sturdy waterproof hiking shoes that you don’t care to get dirty!
  • Warning: Kauai mud is the mother of all stains! For the life of me, I could not remove them from my clothes no matter what harsh detergent or cleanser I used! Fortunately, for this trip, I packed my old faithful Merrell Moab hiking shoes that I had planned to toss out anyways. They did not stand a chance against Kauai hikes!

Angella’s Travel Tips

• Plan to start your hike early to avoid the crowds & find better parking on the limited lots. Kauai gets hot & humid pretty quickly too. Therefore, the earlier you hike in the morning, the cooler the temperature will be.
• Prepare to disconnect & to be safe, let someone know where you are planning to go. The deeper you roam into the island’s remote areas, the less reception you will get.
• Do not wear any light colored clothing or any new pair of shoes. Regardless of the conditions in Kauai, you will get undoubtly dirty & it won’t be pretty (see picture for reference).
• Check up on the weather forecast frequently & any updates on current trail conditions. A couple reliable websites include The Department of Land and Resources & Hawaii State Parks.
• In an effort to preserve the wild in our ‘wild’erness, it is important to be conscious of the effects our actions may have on public lands, the animals, & even other nature enthusiasts. The 7 Leave No Trace principles provide a framework for enjoying the outdoors while leaving the smallest footprint possible. Learn more about how you can apply the Leave No Trace principles on your next adventure to help protect the beautiful places we all love so much.