As of now, the trail is closed for the foreseeable future. From the edge of the trail, there are drop-offs to the canyon below. Some reviews called this an easy to moderate hike. Hiking out, you'll no doubt respect each and every foot of that; especially if you're concluding this hike as a part of theNualolo Trail/Nualolo Cliff Trail"loop." Between November and March, some areas may become inaccessible due to high rainfall. Awa'awapuhi Trail. 106 Likes, 12 Comments - Eric Chen (@cheneric924) on Instagram: "Awa'awapuhi trail is hands down my favorite trail of all time now. Wear bug spray and good hiking shoes. When we reached it was bit cloudy, but we waited 15 minutes and it cleared. Havent read you mentioning it so i just want to confirm. One of the best here. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/hawaii/kauai/awaawapuhi-trail Awaawapuhi Trail Kauai. They are unique and they are absolutely incredible! Momoa was working at an outdoor shop in Des Moines, Iowa, and after he agreed, the crew packed into vans and headed off. It's an easy hike (gentle incline - not flat) with the best views looking straight down a deep valley and right back up the other side. I look forward to hearing back from you - THX Cari. Awa'awapuhi is a bit shorter, not as steep and you don't get any views until right at the end. You can continue past the overlooks (even though you are cautioned not to) in order to get even more amazing views. Be aware of your footing: Be extra cautious when going through slippery sections or steep sections and only wear shoes with good tread. Breath taking Views - Tough trail if you are a beginner. This trail goes by Honopu Ridge Trailhead. The restaurant literally looks out to the waves, which is an awesome spot to start your day with breakfast. Where is the start of the hike located?? Carla Herreria Russo. Its important that you carry enough water because this part of the trail is hot and can be challenging. The trail starts at approximately 4,120 feet and ends at the lookout around 2,500 feet. Waimea Canyon West Side 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. Find out what we carry in our day packs and what we wear on the trails. In mid-January, Schuyler, David, and I took a trip to Kauai, the un-official hiking island of Hawaii. There is a sign on either side of the trail at this point marking the start of the Nualolo Cliff Trail. If you are doing this hike as a loop, you will need to backtrack up the trail for 0.9 miles until you get to the Nualolo Cliffs Trail. The man, reportedly in his 70s, was near a scenic outlook when he fell onto some boulders. Permit must be permanently & properly adhered to the machine in a front-facing and visible manner. Youll hike through tall brush, slip and slide on wet, muddy ground, and be a hot, sweaty mess at the end of this hike. By. As the forest starts to thin out, you'll get some brief views of the Napali Coast. Weather permitting, you should get a breathtaking view of the lusciously green Awa'awa'puhi valley and Nualolo Aina Valley. Route The trail starts at a parking area near the highway 17 mile marker. Subscribe for exclusive city guides, travel videos, trip giveaways and more! We had lunch at the Kokee Lodge. This is a long, tough, hot day hike. To get to the end of the Awaawapuhi Trail (and Kokee Road), it is a 3 mile hike and the majority of this will be uphill. Both will require walking along Kokee Road at some point. Read all of our articles about the United States in our United States Travel Guide. There are four pieces of gear that I simply never travel without. If you have hiked Kalaua, I was just wondering how the views compare - because for me that hike was life changing. When we refer to Wailua, we will include the surrounding Wailua River State Park, and a few waterfalls that are in short driving distance from town. [KAUAI] UPDATED 3/2/23: Polihale State Park Is CLOSED until further notice due to an electrical outage that has put the water pump out of service. I recommend parking in the large lot for the Kokee Museum, which is 0.2 miles from the trailhead. The Awaawapuhi Trail on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, is a single track hike not for those with a fear of heights. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. Its a long hike, there is a lot of elevation gain, and it can get very hot. Vista view is beautiful. I took 2 hours going down (muddy and slippery but doable with a pole and decent shoes), 1 hour at the viewpoint (solo picnic!) On our recent visit to Kauai, we wanted to hike this trail again. But I wouldnt do it again. The trail is quite wide in most parts and even though it had been raining a lot, the trail was in good condition. There was no view whatsoever. and 1 hour back up. The trail descends sixteen hundred feet over three miles through a rainforest to the rim of the Nualolo and Awaawapuhi valleys. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. How To Avoid Hotel Quarantine In Canada, 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. Awa'awapuhi Trail. It genuinely surprised every time we passed the half-mile trail markers. The rocks can be very crumbly and no step is certain on the ridges out in Kokee State Park. After around 90 minutes of awe-inspiring and downhill hiking, the trek culminates at the official viewpoint. You find mile markers by each quarter mile, that seems to make the hike easier for us. 3. Its easy to wander off the trail here and you can double check your position with the GPS. Guide of Hawaii, LLC is a privately-owned (non-government) business. Koloa Landing Resort Luxury (high-end): I was lucky enough to spend three nights reviewing Koloa Landing Resort and honestly the place is just phenomenal. Without a GPS, you risk stumbling off the trail on the Nualolo Cliff Trail, where it is very overgrown. It is narrow in spots and can be slippery. 93% of travelers recommend this experience. SeeSand Island site for updates. Another way to do this hike is to park in the Awaawapuhi Trail parking lot. Crawley Magistrates' Court Results January 2021, It gains about 1,950 feet of elevation along the route. Awaawapuhi Trail. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. I would describe our conditioning as slightly better than average. If you are in good shape and up for a challenge, there is the option continuing onto the Nualolo cliff trail and then Nualolo trail, making the total hike 10 miles. Photo: David Nemecek/Shutterstock, There are a few tips that can help you make the most of your experience on the Awa awapuhi Trail and in Kokee State Park. Here are my travel essentials. Well worth the 6 mile round trip hike. You get your first glimpse of the Awa'awa'puhi Valley at about 1.75 miles. After graduating with a journalism degree, I set off to explore the world while creating adventure travel guides featuring hikes, waterfalls, beaches & adrenaline activities. Please familiarize yourselves with our refunds and changes policies prior to purchasing your permits. Nov 29, 2018 Owice Aittaleb. These photos were taken on the helicopter ride we did two days before this hike. I am 66 y/o, in good health but I don't do specific condition training. We wanted a shorter day hike that would provide us with expansive views of the Napali Coast of Kauai. Don't know about other phones, imagine it would work on an android as it also shows up in google maps. Awa Awapuhi Hike Trail guide on the beautiful Island of Kauai. Find out what we carry in our day packs and what we wear on the trails. Awa Awapuhi Single Track: Kauai is a singletrack mountain bike trail in Wiamea, Hawaii. Its because you spend the entire time hiking down 1500ft. Most people stop there but it is possible to venture down the ridge although this can be quite dangerous. 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 view from here is very nice, but its not nearly as good as that from the Nualolo Trail. The hike isn't too bad and wasn't muddy when we went. There definitely were some muddy spots, and one person in my group fell twice while going downhill, so be careful! Hawaiis Awa awapuhi Trail is an incredible experience for anyone lucky enough to have a day to spend hiking in Hawaii. It boasts amazing coastlines and lush valleys filled with waterfalls. It starts in Koke'e State Park and snakes down and back up the steep walls of the N Pali Coast Forest Reserve and offers stunning views of the shoreline and the ocean, given there's no cloud cover. We were standing in the Napali Coast. The photo below shows the location of the Awaawapuhi Trail vista point. Normally takes us 3. Awaawapuhi Trail is a continual downhill hike from the trail head to the grassy clearing overlooking the valleys. I do workout a lot on a peloton but my wife does not. This is a moderate one way trail in Hawaii. Magnificent vista at the end! It is considered a moderate hike on paper, but it can be difficult due to the elevation gain and loss. Impeccable views due to sunny weather with blue skies. There are a few steep sections but for the most part, its a gradual climb. Kauai's Top Hotels, Resorts, B&Bs, & Vacation Rentals, Kauai's Best Tours, Excursions, & Adventures. If you only plan to hike the Nualolo Trail, you will retrace your steps back to the car from here. Downhill 1600 feet slipping and sliding, we all took a tumble. Awesome hike. Very helpful. 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. Its one of many trails that end in panoramic views and heart clenching dropoffs. The first mile of the trail can be muddy and slippery after recent rain. I was determined to shoot the sunrise from Lydgate Beach Park and Dipali wanted to We parked in the parking lot near by mile marker 17 on Highway 550. Disclaimer of Warranty and Limitation of Liability. I used them last year while in oahu and next week I'll be heading to kauai. Expect delays in reaching the upper areas of the park, including Awaawapuhi Trail, Kalalau Lookout, and Pihea Lookout and Trailhead. These affiliates don't cost you anything extra and help me keep the site going. Change), the watchman and mt mcloughlin as seen from our backcountry campsite at crater lake this weekend , some good kings mtn light from a while back , finally made it to silver falls. Now, its a 1.8 mile walk along Kokee Road back to your car and its mostly downhill from here. GREAT HIKES FROM AROUND THE WORLD: For more great hikes, check out our article listing the 20 Best Day Hikes in the World. Awa'awapuhi Trail Overview. That means that if you purchase a product or service that I reccomend, I get a small cut of the sale. This is a must do if you have the time! The Honopu Ridge trail is not well kept, so it is somewhat more difficult to follow, moderately strenuous but much shorter in length. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. The marked features are managed for public recreational use. The iconic Awaawapuhi Trail is rated as one of the best hiking trails on Kauai for an all-day adventure. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. You dont want to be on a rocky overlook or narrow, muddy trail in the middle of pouring rain. Entries (RSS) It was a steady climb back to the car, but easier footing. The Garden Isle truly is a marvel of Mother Nature there are so many sights to see, trails to hike, and adventures to be had. Took us around 5 hours RT. The Napali Forest Reserve area is managed as wilderness because of the rich variety of native plant species that thrive here. Awa'awapuhi Trail. Learn about the best time to visit Kauai , Our Kauai travel tips & recommendations , Explore Kauai Hotels & Resorts Search Now. The way to the left is where the Nualolo Cliff Trail links with the AwaAwapuhi Trail. But photographer Scott Sharick upped the ante for the vertigo-inducing trek when he decided to hold a GoPro stick while walking along . The Kalalau Trail can be visited as a day hike for the first 2 miles, beyond that, you'll be required to get a camping permit whether or not you camp. Kauai's Awa'awapuhi Trail is a moderately difficult hike which starts in Kkee State Park and traverses the gorgeous Npali-Kona Forest Reserve. The one portion of the Cliffs trail that connects the Nualolo and the Awa'awapuhi is narrow--it is a very short section. Thanks, Mehek! The hike back up wasn't as bad as we thought it would be. June 16, 2022; Posted by why do chavs wear tracksuits; 16 . Clean your shoes off with the brushes and spray provided at the trailhead. I dont care what the other websites say; hiking theAwaawapuhi Trail for 6.7 miles round trip is not easy. You can get by with running shoes (I did the first time I did this but I slipped a lot) but hiking or trail running shoes with good traction will make your life a lot easier. For these reasons, I kept my camera tucked safely in my backpack to keep it from getting damaged and dont have any photos documenting the trail! [OAHU] UPDATED 2/28/23: Kaena Point State Park Mokuleia Section The vehicle access road will continue to beCLOSED due to heavy rains and saturated road conditions. The trail will lead you through rain forest, high desert like terrain and to some of Permits, regulations, and fees. The plant life growing along the trail was very overgrown in spots when we did this, so expect to push your way through if it hasnt recently been bushwhacked. Its a tough, uphill hike in spots to get to this trail. Awa'awapuhi Trail. From the endpoint of each of these trails, you get spectacular views of the coastline. Sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses. Covid-19 Protocols: Wear a mask, maintain social distancing, and be respectful of others. See our full list in our Hiking Guide. Bottom line: loved it but would do a longer but flatter hike next time. You can read more about the "loop" on ourNualolo Trailentry. Dec 16, 2015, 04:52 PM EST. The final 0.25 miles is the best, when you are walking on a trail along the cliff, with awesome views north along the Na Pali Coast. WHAT IS THE BEST CHEAP BACKPACKER TRAVEL INSURANCE? This itinerary gives you great views of both Waimea Canyon and the Na Pali Coast and can easily be done in 8 hours, without doing a massive day hike. And of (All equipment on The Awaawapuhi trail is a heavily trafficked hike to a viewpoint of the famous Na Pali coastline. Because it rains nearly every other dayyou will encounter mud and slippery leaves and mud holes upto 4" deep. The trail is in Kokee State Park on the island of Kauai and is a moderately-challenging hike with stunning views of the surrounding landscape. (LogOut/ We have been doing the Awaawapuhi trail when we come here. Looks tough but not too hard and I am 65 with minor health issues. Not much to see until then. I just had to see those cliffs by the ocean in real life. Beware, however, that the Nualolo trail was closed when we were there. While the end viewpoint can get quite dangerous and steep if you venture down, the majority of the trail is well defined and quite straightforward. The best part about this hotel is that it is right on the beach. 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 Awa'awapuhi valleys at 2,500 feet. Best Defenders In Premier League 2019-20, Starting at 4,120 feet you'll descend to 2,500 feet to the trail's endwhich concludes at a cliff with broad views of the valleys and the immense Pacific ocean. Return hike is easier without slipping but it is all uphill. The trail is 3.25 miles one way, with about 1600 feet of descent (yep, this is a DOWN then UP trail ughhhh). The trailhead is easily google-able (and google actually takes you to the correct location) and is on the main road through the park. There is a decently sized dirt lot and no payment stall (so parking is free, we presume? We didnt get a ticket, at any rate). For this hike you will want to arrive early to get a spot in the lot and a little solitude while hiking. We started around 9:30am and the trail was lightly trafficked, and we had the viewpoint at the end of the trail almost to ourselves. By the time we were hiking back up to the parking lot, the trail was a zoo and the parking lot and surrounding roadside were completely parked up.