Awa'awapuhi Trail. The reason why I love this trail and what makes it my favorite out in the west is because of the magnitudeof the dropoffs and the gorge. It is before the Kalalau lookout but still takes well over 30 minutes to reach there from Waimea Town. Distance: 7.6 miles out-and-back Total Ascent: 2,200 feet Difficulty: Strenuous Length of Time: 3 to 5 hours, Distance: 6 miles out-and-back Total Ascent: 1,800 feet Difficulty: Moderate Length of Time: 2 to 4 hours, Distance: 11.9 miles Total Ascent: 3,200 feet Starting Elevation: 3,700 feet Highest Elevation: 4,100 feet Lowest Elevation: 2,300 feet Difficulty: Strenuous Length of Time: 5 to 7 hours. The rocks can be very crumbly and no step is certain on the ridges out in Kokee State Park. Kekaha Beach Bungalow FREE WIFI, 2 min walk to the beach. However, be forewarned - it's a tough hike. Footing is extremely unstable, and the drop to the valley floor below is over 2,000 feet. Then I would visit the sights along Kokee Road. Yes, we had to climb back up 1600 feet on the return, but the trail was almost always in shade, and we had enough water. Enjoy the awesome views from here. That means that if you purchase a product or service that I reccomend, I get a small cut of the sale. The dramaticdrop-offs on either side of the Awaawapuhi ridge were something you dont see anywhere else in the world. When you reach the vantage point for one of the most breathtaking views I've seen. This trail also heads along the cliffs. You can view the loop trail by opening Google Earth and viewing ourNualolo and Awaawapuhi Loop Trail map. What time of day did you hike? Tim and I reached the end of the trail, exhausted and dehydrated, and learned the very valuable lesson of carrying enough water on a hike. The trail starts near the 3.0 mile point on the Awaawapuhi Trail and meets the Nualolo Trail between the 3 mile and 3 1/4 mile markers. Your email address will not be published. Vista view is beautiful. Still, it was enough to make my legs wobbly and fill my stomach with butterflies. The speed limit on all off-road vehicle trails is 25 miles perhour. I loved being in the tropical rainforest and seeing the view at the end of the trail was amazing. If you'd like to help even more, be sure to check out my Patreon as well. The Awa'awapuhi trail is a great option for those who want to enjoy the N Pali Coast but don't feel like braving one of the most dangerous trails in the world to do that. This once joined the official Nualolo Cliffs Trail but it is now closed. They are NOT available at the camping locations or pavilion site. Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. These are four items that I using right now and this list gets updated every year! The trail is a continual downhill hike from 4,120 feet elevation to the valley rim of Nualolo at 2,500 feet. The views from the end of the trail are just as they sayspectacular. Download all free or royalty-free photos and vectors. Copyright Journey Era, 2022 | Sitemap | Privacy Policy. The Awaawapuhi Trail will take you on an ultimate journey as you ascend from 4,120 feet elevation in the Kokee State Park to the valley rim of Nualolo and Awaawapuhi valleys at 2,500 feet. . Wailua is a city on Kauai located on the East side of the island, near the airport. Marvel at the views of the sea as you approach the junction with the Nualolo Cliff Trail. We also heard helicopters in the distance above us. Turn left here to head out to the vista point. Length 11.0 mi Elevation gain 3,461 ft Route type Loop. I will never endorse anything fake or not worth considering. Also pack out what you packed in! We arrived at the official viewpoint and were blown away by the view. The trail will lead you through rain forest, high desert like terrain and to some of the most awe inspiring vistas on Kauais Napali Coast. Incredible views! When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. Very helpful. Visitors will be treated to diverse tropical flora and fauna along the trail as well as spectacular views of the ocean and Napoli Coast. Wear bug spray and good hiking shoes. On day three, head up the coast to Hanalei Bay. the trail ends abruptly on the ridge top, at 2, 500 ft. elevation, affording spectacular views down sheer cliffs into awaawapuhi and nualolo valleys overlooking the pacific ocean. Posted By : / yamaha fg series history / Under : . Beach gear to use! This was a moderately difficult hike but 110% worth it for the view of the NaPali Coast and ocean. Mud!!! Even though rainy/foggy at top, gorgeous down at bottom! At the 10 mile point, you reach the trailhead for the Awaawapuhi Trail and Kokee Road. The 2.5-mile climb up to the 2563ft summit of Lanilili Peak is steady and not overly strenuous. My father and I had were sitting on the porch of our condo looking over the Hanalei Bay, trying to decipher what we should do for the day. See our full list in our Hiking Guide. Its one of many trails that end in panoramic views and heart clenching dropoffs. For example, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Its all easy to the grassy point that oversees the sheer cliffs of Awa`awapuhi and Nualolo valleys resting 2,000 feet below.Awaawapuhi Trail starts at a parking area near the highway 17 mile marker. However, Hawaii can experience sudden changes in weather throughout all seasons, so youll need to plan your hike for a day when the skies are mostly clear. BEST OF MAUI: We have a list about the top experiences in Maui and how to put it all together in our Maui Itinerary. Difficulty: Moderate. Hikers follow the trail under a large tree limb at the back of the parking area and must keep on the lookout for ribbons marking the way. After taking in the views from our narrow perch and witnessing many, many, MANY helicopter tours flying by (tranquil, it was not), we finally decided to head back to the viewpoint and partake in some serious snacking before the climb back up. We were joined by roosters begging for food, tiny adorable mice begging for food, and red-crested cardinals begging for food (Im sure these little buggers are fed from hiker scraps all day long). Kaua'i - Awa'awapuhi Trail Side Ridge (GoPro POV) 94,875 views Jun 19, 2010 298 Dislike Share Save dgcpinoy 3.31K subscribers June 17, 2010: I went back to hike Awa'awapuhi Trail to a vista. You can read more about the "loop" on ourNualolo Trailentry. The beautiful nature and mountains that rise up from the sea, are a must see on Kauai. After the first mile-and-a-half the forest begins to thin out and the rugged Napali coast comes into view as well as glimpses into the Awaawapuhi Valley. trying to illustrate the steep drop-off on the unofficial extension trail and.. mostly failing? The only lookout is at the end. Unfortunately, our view at the end was instructed by sea mist, but we did get a glimpse of the canyon on one side and some mountain goats. A 2.1-mile footpath connecting the Nualolo and Awaawapuhi trails, the Nualolo Cliff Trail lets hikers forgo any tedious retracing of steps. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thank you soo much foe this post. The Awa'awapuhi Trail starts at 4,120 feet and descends gradually to 2,500 feet over 3.25 miles to the viewpoint, and returns uphill. HAWAII VOLCANOES: In our article Best Things to Do in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, we cover the must-have experiences. amazing view at the end. It genuinely surprised every time we passed the half-mile trail markers. Awaawapuhi Trail Kauai Found in Koke`e State Park, Kauai, Hawaii.A trial winds through highland forests with infrequent ridge top views. Im glad we did it, Im glad we got to share this with Tyler and Kara, and I am also glad that we can share with you what we learned. Most of the time, you are in the trees with very little view. Magnificent vista at the end! Use caution and do not go too close to the edge as some of the viewpoints are eroded. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. My wife and I selected this trail for is moderate hiking difficulty and for the amazing views at the end of the trail. The Napali Forest Reserve area is managed as wilderness because of the rich variety of native plant species that thrive here. If you are young and healthy, it is probably only mildly challenging. The Awaawapuhi Trail will take you on an ultimate journey as you ascend from 4,120 feet elevation in the Kokee State Park to the valley rim of Nualolo and Awaawapuhi valleys at 2,500 feet. You dont want to be on a rocky overlook or narrow, muddy trail in the middle of pouring rain. The end of the trail leads to cliffs on the sea side. Its about a 45-minute drive to reach the trailhead. My mind filled with doubt about the end view at the Awaawapuhi Lookout. Without a GPS, you risk stumbling off the trail on the Nualolo Cliff Trail, where it is very overgrown. KAUAI: Plan your visit to Kauai with our guide to the Best Things to Do in Kauai. Thanks! Awa'awapuhi Trail Overview. We walked the first 2 miles of the Kalalau Trail, on the north end from Ke'e Beach. We are older and wiser and there was something very nostalgic about returning to a place where Tim and I first hit a hiking trail together. So when there is a fresh rain you will want to go slow or you have a good chance of wiping out. NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER: Permit holders and trail users are advised to comply with any and all NYS COVID-19 Executive Orders/Mandates. You will feel each and every single step of the way back up as you breathe through the humid air inside the forested path. Took me 1.75 hrs down, had a 30 minute break enjoying the Na pali coast view i had seen by boat yesterday then 1.25 back up. All Rights Reserved. Julie Last updated: January 27, 2023 United States 2 Comments. You may run into a few fellow hikers on your way, as mountain goats like to cling to the steep slopes. Trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. Kauai Shores Hotel Luxury (but value also):A luxury feels with the resort-style property, palm trees, and a beautiful pool area. It was so unbelievably beautiful and we decided that this was a must-see for us. Don;t worry too much and carry what you need but don't load yourself down as it is a long day. This trail gives you a clear overview on the west side of the Na Pali Coast and the Waimea Canyon area. Its a mostly uphill, challenging walk back to the trailhead. It is going down the trails, it could be slippery(with rain) if you are not careful. Its a bummer to see peoples toilet paper, orange rinds and plastic on the trail! Total hike time for us was 4 hours but we took our time. I tip-toed around the muddy trail with my brand-new hiking sandals at first. Backcountry Permit: While there is no charge for permits, they are required of all backcountry campers. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Awa'awa'puhi gets off to a slow start but picks up steam about halfway. The weather had other plans for the duration of our stay, however. Do i need a permit? [OAHU] UPDATED 3/2/23: Puu o Mahuka Heiau State Monument IsCLOSED due to high winds and heavy rain. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. At this point, you have hiked 6.6 miles. The 6-mile round trip hike is" (LogOut/ We have been doing the Awaawapuhi trail when we come here. THE WEEKLY #309: 6 YEARS AS A TRAVEL BLOGGER, TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR: WHATS IN MY BACKPACK. Tim and I were visiting Hawaii on our honeymoon and this was the first real hike each of us had ever done. If you're a regular person who doesn't exercise regularly.the heat, humidity, mud and slippery footings will get to you.Other than that the view is spectacular. When you reach the falls, you will be in awe of its size and beauty. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. There is no bathroom at the trailhead so stop That record-breaking rainstorm 48 hours earlier certainly didnt help our situation. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Awesome!! I wanted to write a review about this trail since much has been written about it. NUALOLO CLIFF TRAIL ON KAUAI, HAWAII - Journey Era, [] way to continue to the lookout. The trail is very muddy right now. If you have a frightening fear of heights, like I do, it\'s scary, but not debilitating. If you're visiting Kauai soon, be sure to download your copy of one of our updated 2023 Kauai Visitor Guides. Chilly if you start early, but toasty on the return. The best part about this hotel is that it is right on the beach. We wore shorts and short-sleeved shirts and were fine, but I did have a bumpy, itchy rash on my legs for the next 24 hours. This trail is muddy and step although I consider myself in shape I was very sore for about 3 days after and my wife just had to push through it and swore to me that she would never do this again. and Comments (RSS). There definitely were some muddy spots, and one person in my group fell twice while going downhill, so be careful! Im so interested to have the Nualolo trail. And the views are nice, but not nearly as stunning as those from the Nualolo Trail. The Nualolo Trail is worth the extra effort to have this view. Kauai the day of the heaviest rainfall in a 24-hour period, 2019 Havasu Falls Hiking and Camping Travel Guide, The trail is well-marked with .5-mile markers. You dont see any in our photos because we started very early but we saw a bunch of hikers on the return part of the hike. Nualolo Trail + Nualolo Cliffs Trail + Awaawapuhi Trail (the Full Loop), Best Things to Do in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Doors Off Helicopter Tour of Kauai: Everything You Need to Know. Hello Jovie. The Awa'awa'puhi Trail is yet another Kokee trail which promises sweeping views and a trek through dense jungles and dry landscapes. If you only have time for one hike on the west side of Kauai, this is your trail. When we reached it was bit cloudy, but we waited 15 minutes and it cleared. 37 reviews of Awa'awapuhi Trail "Great 6-mile round-trip hike with a very rewarding ending. The first part of this hike is relatively easy since its pretty much all down hill. Beware, however . 91% of travelers recommend this experience. Awa'awapuhi Trail Location: Koke'e State Park, Kekaha, Kauai, HI Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous Distance: 6.7 miles When to go: June to August Awa'awapuhi Trail is 3.3 miles (one way) well-marked hike descends 1,200 feet to a truly amazing vista of the cathedrals of the Na Pali Coast.