I showered and filtered water from the waterfall near the beach, and pitched my tent in the sand. 12/27/20 - the Kalalau Trail is OPEN. The hike wasn't at all as dangerous or challenging as the blogs and guide books made it out to be. In this blog, we’ll cover all the best hikes in St George outside of Zion National Park and why you should go explore these gems on your next trip to Southwest Utah! Public parking, bathrooms and showers are available at Haena Beach Park located west of Tunnels. 16 miles of jaw dropping coastline featuring gorgeous beaches, waterfalls, sea caves, and colorful mountain ridges. Thank goodness there is a camping option halfway through the hike if you need to break it up into two days. My pack was very heavy (43 lbs with water) and I survived! You can drive your own vehicle to and from the trailhead but you’ll need to reserve and overnight parking permit for the trailhead. Be s... Backpack the Na Pali Coast via the Kalalau Trail. This section is fairly exposed, and can become dangerous in the rain. Besides the plants, the trail is also known to be narrow and exposed in some sections. Take the side hike up to Big Pool and allow yourself to get lost in the valley (always easy to follow the river back down to the beach). You might score a sunny, crowd-free trail or you may get soaked. We left the trailhead around 11am and arrived just in time for sunset at 6pm, which was nice but we didn’t have much time to take it in before hiking back out at dawn the next day. If you are searching for the world's most challenging and breathtaking Kauai hiking experience, look no further than the Garden Island of Kauai. We each had one 16-oz water bottle and after 3 hours of hiking, we had to filter our first round of water here. Around mile 8, there is one more exceptionally exposed section located along a red dirt hillside. We’ll hike to several of the island’s fabled waterfalls, explore the wild NaPali Coast and experience the magic of Hanalei. She has been a blogger since she was in 9th grade and has been seen in media such as HuffPost. Here’s everything you need to know about hiking or backpacking the Kalalau Trail. Here, the trail begins its strenuous undulations and weaves in and out of valleys for the next 5 miles with very few views of the coast. This famous trail is a total of 22 miles along the Na Pali Coast. The third and probably easiest option is to take the new hiker shuttle which runs to/from Princeville or Waipa to Haena Beach. Trekking poles are necessary. Also named as one of the most dangerous hikes in the world by Outside Magazine due to storm conditions that can often create dangerous conditions on the more exposed sections, this hike is not for the faint of heart. Kauai Hiking | Kalalau Trail and Hanakapi'ai Trail (Nā Pali Coast). In mid-April, a record-setting rainstorm flooded the Hawaiian island of Kaua’i, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate and closing the Instagram-famous Na Pali Coast State Park, home to the sea-cliff-topping Kalalau Trail.The closure is indefinite, and state officials say that they expect it to continue for a while as they assess and repair the damage. The Kalalau Trail (Kalalau Trail Description) provides the only land access to this part of the rugged coast. Hiking the Kalalau Trail in the Napali Coast State Wilderness Park is challenging to say the least. Search campgrounds, glamping, and hotels near Kilauea. The trek can still be done in the rain but it gets sketchy. Normally I would appreciate the fact that the state is trying to keep the trail clean and well maintained but unfortunately, the portable toilets are nearly unusable. A family ski trip to Tamarack Resort is sure to be an experience that will create memories of a lifetime! !” to “That must be the most beautiful ocean on the whole planet” and so when my feet were finally planted back at sea level, I had eaten at least half my body weight, I took a holy shower cleansing the sweat, grime, and essentially the shell of an old self—a shell full of ego and consciousness— off of me, and slept 12 hours, it’s comes as no surprise to me that the profound experience of peace that came after made every step worthwhile. Enjoy the view of the Garden Island from the crystal clear waters of the pacific ocean. This winter travel guide will help you plan everything you need to know to visit Whitefish resort! Hiking Kalalau requires a bit of planning and general conditioning. Kauai is its home and you can see the coast by foot, boat, helicopter, or kayak - there are no roadways or vehicles allowed. In short, it was one of the most rewarding experiences in recent memory. If your heart hasn't sank into your chest yet, then you'll be rewarded once you hit mile ten, with gaping views of the Na Pali cliffs and your destination shortly ahead - Kalalau Beach. It’s challenging, stunning, long, strenuous, and simply breathtaking. Though this isn’t an essential must-know, it’s nice to have the re-assurance of mile markers during the whole trail. Also note that ALL trash must be packed out. This hike is on the beginning section of the Kalalau trail, at Ke'e Beach. One more mile through the forested Kalalau Valley and along the sandy trail that leads to the beach, and you have reached paradise, otherwise known as Kalalau Beach. The Na Pali Coast (Kalalau Trail), on Kauai's North Shore is widely considered to be one of the world's top hikes (at least in the magazines). Notify me of follow-up comments by email. No two consecutive nights are allowed at Hanakapiai or Hanakoa. The trail traverses the untouched, rugged Na Pali Coastline in Kauai and gives access to Kalalau Beach, often said to be the number 1 beach in the world. This trail that weaves its way in and out of more than a dozen valleys and coves never lacks in elevation change and contains more traipsing through dense brush than any other designated trail I’ve seen, aside from the adventures I experienced in Alaska. The Kalalau Trail is no walk in the woods. Hawaiians relied on canoes to access Na Pali's numerous valleys, nearby Ni`ihau and outlying Hikers should not wander out in the ocean at this beach though, as the currents are very strong and warning signs are posted to prevent anyone from doing so. Back then, we weren’t really adventurous and even the short 4 mile roundtrip trek to Hanakapi’ai Beach felt like a lot for us. During our week long trip, we made two trips out the Kalalau Trail, to each of … The 11-mile Kalalau Trail, the area’s only thoroughfare, is by reservation only. The next day, with a lighter pack, a couple of hours brings you to the saddle of … Na Pali Coast stretches fifteen miles along the north west coast of Kauai between Ke`e Beach in Haena State Park to Polihale State Park in Mana. It all depends on what you want to do. What a life changing experience, full of emotions, gorgeous views, waterfalls, stream crossings, sounds of waves, birds, boats, and helicopters. In the first 6 miles or so of the trail, mud is inevitable cause it rains a little every day. Learn how your comment data is processed. At the bottom of this final valley, you’ll cross 1 more river and a short 15 minutes walk from that river and will bring you to beautiful Kalalau Beach. The Kalalau Trail is an 11-mile trail that leads from Ke’e Beach to Kalalau Beach along the Nāpali Coast on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. So. This can be signified by extra fast running water and red-ish orange sediment in the river. Kalalau is a literal paradise within a paradise. Here’s a quick guide to make it easier to understand: Do I need a permit if I want … Kalalau Beach is stunning and is by far one of the most beautiful campgrounds in Hawaii, if not the world. I enjoyed the boat tour on the third day for a new perspective of the beautiful Na Pali Coast. You'll wish you had when it comes time to pack up and hike the 11 miles back. Distance: 11 miles (each way); Out and backElevation gain/loss: 5,000 feet (each way)Trailhead: Ke’e Beach, Na Pali Coast State ParkNearest city: Hanalei, Kauai. One of the most important things to know about the trek is that if you’re going to go through the long hard hike to get to Kalalau Beach, you’re going to want some time to enjoy it. I had no idea bathrooms could be so disgusting (and dude, I’ve seen some gross bathrooms) plus, dozens of massive orb spiders filled the bathrooms at Kalalau Beach. Backpacking Waimea Canyon. There are a few different options for getting to the trailhead: Since reconstruction of the Haena Beach, the trailhead now feels more like a national park and includes bathroom facilities, water, outdoor showers, trash cans, and parking. A valid camping permit for Napali Coast State Wilderness Park is required for anyone that wants to continue hiking beyond Hanakāpī‘ai. There are only three ways to access these stunning sea cliffs – by air, land or sea – each offering a different perspective and experience than the other. Blogs that appear on this website may contain affiliate links. In addition, Gabi has been traveling the world full time with her family of 7 since she was 15 years old. Related – Ultimate Backpacking Pack List: Everything You Need to Hit the Trail. A State Park ranger who was informing us of trail conditions at the beginning of our trek told us that hikers are encouraged to use the toilets but also warned us that you probably won’t want to. The Kalalau Trail is the only way for foot traffic to access the Na Pali Coast, the famous lush coastline on the Northwestern corner of the Hawaiian island of Kauai. The mile markers are a teensy bit off but even still, it helps to know how far you have to go. Click here to search for permit availability Hawaiian DLNR online reservation system. Experience the Nā Pali Coast scenery face-to-face, a Kauai hiking experience to never forget. It seems obvious, but just as a reminder, don’t try to cross the river during a flash flood. Hiking in the sunny summer and fall months is beautiful and often usually free of any storms. At Hanakapi’ai Beach, you can fill water here, use the bathrooms, and take a short rest on the beach. At mile marker 6 (about 3-4 hours in), you’ll reach the second of the three main valleys, Hanakoa, where there are more compost toilets and a stream to fill water. Permits cost $20 per person per night. Ultimate Backpacking Pack List: Everything You Need to Hit the Trail, Reserve overnight parking permit here (must be done after obtaining camping permit), 12 Best Hikes in St George, Utah [Hidden Gems Outside of Zion], Ski + Ride Whitefish Resort, Montana: Winter Travel Guide, Family Ski Trip to Tamarack Ski Resort, Idaho, Lava Hot Springs, Idaho: What to Do + Where to Stay, Middle Teton Hike Via Southwest Couloir Route, 11 Epic Hikes On The East Coast USA To Add To Your Bucket List, 5 Best Hikes in Glacier National Park: Easy, Moderate, and Strenuous Day Hikes. I was glad to have lightweight hiking poles, and I didn't need a sleeping bag or pad. The first 2 miles of this trail is highly trafficked and extremely well maintained. Copyright 2012 - 2019 Avada | All Rights Reserved | Powered by, South Dakota Residency For Full Time RVers, Sacral Chakra Healing: 10 Ways to Balance Svadhisthana. The trail is extremely overgrown but not in the way that you worry about getting lost. If you walk towards the waterfall (great for showering) at the very end of the designated camp area, those are the best ones. The trailhead is located 10 miles down the windy, paved road at the northwest tip of Kauai. This section is perhaps more precarious than the edge at mile 7 mile it’s nothing to worry about, just be cautious. Though it’s merely 22 miles round-trip (short by backpacking standards), it’s a trek that makes you question how tough you truly are, how rugged, and what being an outdoorsmen really means when the energy of a thousand trees threatens to consume any open space available. Grassy hillsides emerge filled with adorable little mountain goats and you have fantastic views of the mountains layered along the horizon. Rain forests, waterfalls, deep canyons not to be believed, and a wilderness shoreline without equal– Kauai is a hiker’s fantasy. Here’s how to do it best. The Na Pali coast, translating to “high cliffs” of Kauai, is a place that surprises you with its tenuous difficulty. Experiencing the coast by water allows for private beach access and exploring amazing sea caves! Another relatively dull mile, much like the last 4, will bring you to mile 7, the most exposed section and at last, one of the truly beautiful sections of trail that will make you realize why the Na Pali coast is so famous. While all of the campgrounds are pretty far away from the ocean, during large swells combined with high tides, take extra caution to make sure your site is away from the shoreline. Together they are inspiring others to explore the outdoors, get outside their comfort zone, and #BraveForAdventure. For nearly 10 years, I took annual trips to Kauai’s north shore with my family and no trip was complete without a day spent hiking the Na Pali Coast. 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