Beware, however . Difficulty: Moderate. Cheers, Julie, Your email address will not be published. When we reached it was bit cloudy, but we waited 15 minutes and it cleared. We got to the trailhead decently early, but even so, the main parking area was full and we had to park at the next one down and walk back to it. The hike back up wasn't as bad as we thought it would be. My mind filled with doubt about the end view at the Awaawapuhi Lookout. The 3.25 miles down to the valley is almost all downhill. (LogOut/ The trails in Kauai are often slippery and muddy. Because the Awaawapuhi Trail drops you so low, you feel like you are almost down in the valley looking up towards the top of the other ridges. After the first mile the forest begins to dissipate, only making guest appearances once in awhile as the barren terrain of NaPali comes into view. And just note that there is no cell service along the trail, so dont expect to text, send photos, or be able to contact friends or family by phone while hiking this trail. WHAT IS THE BEST CHEAP BACKPACKER TRAVEL INSURANCE? Wailua is a city on Kauai located on the East side of the island, near the airport. Are there many hikers there? Any views at smaller lookouts along the way did nothing to boost my confidence. ~ Trusted by Millions of Hawaii Visitors Annually ~. GREAT HIKES FROM AROUND THE WORLD: For more great hikes, check out our article listing the 20 Best Day Hikes in the World. We arrived at 9am and the parking lot was almost full. Join our newsletter for exclusive features, tips, giveaways! 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. Visitors will be treated to diverse tropical flora and fauna along the trail as well as spectacular views of the ocean and Napoli Coast. If you are looking for another hike to do, consider hiking the Waipoo Falls Trail. NUALOLO CLIFF TRAIL ON KAUAI, HAWAII - Journey Era, [] way to continue to the lookout. 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. We had a group of 7 middle aged folks with college kids and allotted 4 hours for the hike but ended up being close to 6 hours with 3 of them barely making it back. I believe it was a little over 6 miles round trip. Awa'awapuhi Trail & Napali Coast access? And dont miss the Kilauea Iki Trail, one of the best hikes in the park. Swimming holes should be avoided after rains, because of quick rising waters and the possibility of flash flooding. 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. Having said that we all agree we are glad we did it. The one portion of the Cliffs trail that connects the Nualolo and the Awa'awapuhi is narrow--it is a very short section. KAUAI: Plan your visit to Kauai with our guide to the Best Things to Do in Kauai. The trail is much wider than the Nualolo Trail and the Nualolo Cliff Trail, so no more thorny bushes on your legs or tree branches whacking you in the face. By donating to our small business, you accept and acknowledge the donation terms. Muddy but vista is epic. Chilly if you start early, but toasty on the return. It felt good to stretch out our legs and since it was downhill, it went by fast. Then Awa'awapuhi Trail is your cup of tea.
Awa'awapuhi/Nu'alolo Trail--how scary is it? - Fodor's Impeccable views due to sunny weather with blue skies.
Everything To Know About Hiking Hawaii's Awa Awapuhi Trail Kokee State Park is in the northwest of Kauai; the closest popular tourist area is Waimea, to the south. 98% of travelers recommend this experience. Use caution and do not go too close to the edge as some of the viewpoints are eroded. 37 reviews of Awa'awapuhi Trail "Great 6-mile round-trip hike with a very rewarding ending. Check the forecast: Dont even think about attempting the trail if theres any significant rain in the forest. As other have mentioned, not much to see in the way of views until the end, but interesting flora. The Awa'awa'puhi Trail is yet another Kokee trail which promises sweeping views and a trek through dense jungles and dry landscapes. Pinhook Bourbon War Vertical Series 5 Year, You start above the clouds and hike down under the clouds to the viewpoint and then the way back is the strenuous uphill. Some of the links in my content may be affiliate links. Turn left here to head out to the vista point.
Awaawapuhi Trail (Kekaha) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go We have been doing the Awaawapuhi trail when we come here. The Nualolo Trail is the tougher of the two. The dramaticdrop-offs on either side of the Awaawapuhi ridge were something you dont see anywhere else in the world. Small lookouts along the way feed your motivation to reach the end. No, you do not need a permit for the Nualolo Trail. Clouds started to sock us in around 2pm.
Awaawapuhi Trail - Activities On Kauai Waimea, Hawaii - LookIntoHawaii You may run into a few fellow hikers on your way, as mountain goats like to cling to the steep slopes. More Stats for Awa'awapuhi Trail hike trail trail Altitude change -1,612 ft Altitude min 2,453 ft Altitude start 4,064 ft Altitude end 2,454 ft Grade -10.7% Grade max -59.5% Grade min 21.8% Distance climb 1,115 ft and Comments (RSS). We wanted a shorter day hike that would provide us with expansive views of the Napali Coast of Kauai. The man, reportedly in his 70s, was near a scenic outlook when he fell onto some boulders. Thanks for sharing this alternative!!
Hike the Awa'awapuhi Trail on Kauai's Napali Coast AWA'AWAPUHI LOOKOUT - 42 Photos - Kokee State Park, Waimea, HI - Yelp Also arrive early, once in Waima its still about 45 minutes up the mountain. Copyright 2023 Guide of US, LLC. For the first 2 miles, you will be hiking downhill, either through a forest or through dense brush and grass. Awa'awapuhi Trail. 3 comments share save hide report Disclaimer of Warranty and Limitation of Liability. And this time around, we could share the experience with our kids. You decend close to 2000 ft we got up early and hit it before too many people showed when getting there we were the third car there when leaving there was 20-25 cars and no more parking if you do it go early. Hawaii's official trail and access website administered by the N Ala Hele Trails and Access Program, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, State of Hawaii Heading down the Awaawapuhi Trail might give you some false confidence about how easy the hike will be. Permits are not needed to hike this trail and the best time to visit is spring and summer. Its a long hike, there is a lot of elevation gain, and it can get very hot. The only lookout is at the end. Outside Magazine - By: Alexandra Gillespie 3h.
Other hikers had seen the coastline, so we probably would too. For best results, use the customized Trip Planning Widget for Awa'awapuhi Trail Parking on your website.It has all the advantages mentioned above, plus users to your site can conveniently access it directly on your site. The Honopu Ridge trail is not well kept, so it is somewhat more difficult to follow, moderately strenuous but much shorter in length. Although I cant compare it to the Kalalau Trail, the Awaawapuhi Trail was a major highlight of our Kauai trip and led to one of the most beautiful coastal views Ive ever seen. When you reach the falls, you will be in awe of its size and beauty. 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. Because it rains nearly every other dayyou will encounter mud and slippery leaves and mud holes upto 4" deep. There isn't one, but if type it in on an iPhone it will take you to the parking lot. Then I would visit the sights along Kokee Road. Longitude: -159.6486396. Beach gear to use! Please Note: Due to erosion, Nu'alolo Cliff Trail is occasionally closed near the junction with Nu'alolo Trial. There is no bathroom at the trailhead so stop That record-breaking rainstorm 48 hours earlier certainly didnt help our situation. Worth the hike with breathtaking views at the end where you see the Napoli coast line and the mountain ridges. Sign in Sign up for FREE Prices and download plans Like the Awaawapuhi Trail, you will lose quite a bit of elevation on the way out, and then gain it all back on your return. There are four pieces of gear that I simply never travel without. Know before you go. 106 Likes, 12 Comments - Eric Chen (@cheneric924) on Instagram: "Awa'awapuhi trail is hands down my favorite trail of all time now. Find out what we carry in our day packs and what we wear on the trails. I tip-toed around the muddy trail with my brand-new hiking sandals at first. Honestly just an ok view unless you're willing to hike the last .1 mi sketchy section. Normally takes us 3. The Awa'awapuhi Trail is about a 6 mile out and back hike through Kokee State Park on the Island of Kauai. The photo below shows the location of the Awaawapuhi Trail vista point. I think it was actually both the height of the cliff and the accomplishment of making it to the lookout that made me weak in the knees. I used them last year while in oahu and next week I'll be heading to kauai. The beautiful nature and mountains that rise up from the sea, are a must see on Kauai. All Rights Reserved. Entries (RSS) 7 reviews of Awa'awapuhi Lookout "There are 2 ways to get there. The iconic Awaawapuhi Trail is rated as one of the best hiking trails on Kauai for an all-day adventure. We took it to be our run for the day, and jogged the flat trail portions. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Its important that you carry enough water because this part of the trail is hot and can be challenging. Another way to do this hike is to park in the Awaawapuhi Trail parking lot. Penoke, Rocky Gap, and Willow Creek trails, maximum machine width allowed is . The beginning of the trail is a relatively mellow stroll through the high forest. Great views! Downhill most of the way uot and be ready for gradual climb the whole way back. Julie Last updated: January 27, 2023 United States 2 Comments.
Awa'awapuhi Trail | Map, Guide - Kaua'i, Hawaii | AllTrails If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. There will still be many steep descents, sometimes on a sandy trail and at other times on muddy dark red clay. I dont know of any guides to recommend. Best Defenders In Premier League 2019-20,
How to Hike the Nu'alolo Trail and Awa'awapuhi Trail Loop | Kauai Momoa was working at an outdoor shop in Des Moines, Iowa, and after he agreed, the crew packed into vans and headed off. Awa'awapuhi Trail, Kaua'i - September 6, 2015 What an amazing view in Kaua'i. Awa'awapuhi Trail. 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. As the forest starts to thin out, you'll get some brief views of the Napali Coast. What time of day did you hike? You can buy snacks, cold drinks, and ice cream from the general store here. 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. It took me 2 hours to get back up with frequent stops to rest. Copyright 2023 Journey Era | Mediavine Trellis Child - Journey Era on Trellis Framework by Mediavine. Footing is extremely unstable, and the drop to the valley floor below is over 2,000 feet. This is pretty much your view the entire hike. Youll hike through tall brush, slip and slide on wet, muddy ground, and be a hot, sweaty mess at the end of this hike. None of us are obese, nor do we work out regularly. Found solitude along this somewhat rugged trail but no flowing water at the stream.