The Nualolo Cliff Trail ends at the much wider and better maintained Awaawapuhi Trail. 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. 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. Guide of Hawaii, LLC is a privately-owned (non-government) business. The hike took us about 2.5 hours each way. But keep your eyes up: there are some tricky parts of the trail, including steep sections and a few slippery sections due to mud, especially in the first mile. The beautiful nature and mountains that rise up from the sea, are a must see on Kauai. The trail does need some clearing done at the end of the trail. It looks like I need reservations through Ha'ena State Park. If you are new to hiking or are curious about what you should bring on a hike, check out our Hiking Gear Guide. Are you a dessert first person? This trail is about 7 miles round trip and if you can do it add in the other trial which makes it a loop however we knew we could not handle that much walking. The trail has a fairly steady and moderate grade all the way down to the viewpoint, which is great, given the aforementioned extreme mud. The entire trail is also forested, with only a few hints of a view before you reach the end of the trail. There are pesky trail markers at every 0.25 miles, which is mildly infuriating, showing you your slow squelchy progress through mudpit after mudpit . Im going to recommend five places to stay on Kauai. After my first slip into the mud, I decided to just own the experience. In this guide, we cover the full loop (the Nualolo Trail to the Nualolo Cliff Trail to the Awaawapuhi Trail) and what we recommend doing instead, if you dont want to do the full loop. a moderate hiker age 40 from socal pretty fit and medium build.Please check the gain and loss in elevation. Its a bummer to see peoples toilet paper, orange rinds and plastic on the trail! Check it again.Takes about an 90 mins down and lots of time will be spent trying to secure a footing. Please familiarize yourselves with our refunds and changes policies prior to purchasing your permits. Shaded and muddy trail . There is no bathroom at the trailhead so stop That record-breaking rainstorm 48 hours earlier certainly didnt help our situation. The trail is a continual downhill hike from 4,120 feet elevation to the valley rim of Nualolo at 2,500 feet. Summed Up The 6.5-mile, out-and-back Awa'awapuhi Trail The scenery and foliage along the way are well worth it. Layers and water helpful! Starting at 4,120 feet youll descend to 2,500 feet to the trails endwhich concludes at a cliff with broad views of the valleys and the immense Pacific ocean. BEST OF MAUI: We have a list about the top experiences in Maui and how to put it all together in our Maui Itinerary. The trail offers a moderately-challenging hike with amazing views of the surrounding landscape, including waterfalls, cliffs, tropical forests, and the stunning Na Pali Coast. Each of these trails can be done individually but the loop is amazing. This is my favorite hike I did in a month on three Hawaiian Islands! It's a steady descent along a narrow path through a jungle. It takes about three hours to hike this West Kauai trail and it has many incredible viewpoints. I will say that we recommend several things before you head out. 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. June 16, 2022; Posted by why do chavs wear tracksuits; 16 . That had to mean the weather was clear enough for helicopter tours, right? The first time we did this hike, Tim and I had run out of water long before this point, and doing this part of the trail hot and dehydrated is torture, not to mention dangerous. 3. The Awaawapuhi Trail is one of the more moderate difficulty hikes in Kokee State Park. Great when dry. Hiking shoes. Total hike time for us was 4 hours but we took our time. 2023 Hawaii Travel Guide. It feels like paradise. By donating to our small business, you accept and acknowledge the donation terms. In mid-January, Schuyler, David, and I took a trip to Kauai, the un-official hiking island of Hawaii. We had to turn back at the 1mile mark because of a heavy downpour and the conditions deteriorating. All downhill on the way out, all uphill on the way back (opposite of what I'm used to) and oddly not as bad as I thought it would be. Your Awa Awapuhi Trail stock images are ready. However, if you plan to hike that loop, we recommend you hike down Nualolo and back up Awa'awapuhi. First off my family of four did the trail after much reading about it, it was very hard for all of us who do not hike on a regular basis. When you arrive at the overlook, the view is spectacular (although no camera will capture it so you cannot show off to anybody). Other hikers had seen the coastline, so we probably would too. DANGER: Do not venture beyond the safety railing at the end of the trail! Hi, caricenzerbush. However, if you plan to hike that loop, we recommend you hike down Nualolo and back up Awa'awapuhi. After around 90 minutes of awe-inspiring and downhill hiking, the trek culminates at the official viewpoint. A woman at the Kokee Museum told us this was the best of the hikes to the west. In my opinion,these are the 15 best hikes on Kauai! Its drop is a massive 2,425ft whereby contrast Niagara Falls only drops 156ft. The hiking I am used to mainly start by walking upwards, but this is a 5km downhill walk from about 1255 masl, descending almost 500m. The Grand Hyatt Resort Best Family Resort:With the bestkids clubon the island,wildlife talksin thelobby, and a five-acrepool complexthat includes an enormouslazy-river pool, awaterslide, and a saltwaterlagoonbig enough forkayaking, the Grand Hyatt is unbeatable for keeping kids busy and parents happy. Maybe thats just because we have done so many hikes around the world that our standards are a bit different now. more, Wailua River Kayak and Sacred Fall Hike Adventure, Kauai's Ultimate South Island Zodiac Boat Snorkel Adventure, Wailua River and Secret Falls Kayak and Hiking Tour on Kauai, Half-Day Kayak and Waterfall Hike Tour in Kauai with Lunch, Guided Secret Falls Tour with Snacks and Drinks, LUCKY LADY - Deluxe Na Pali Morning Snorkel Tour, Kauai Adventure Bundle: 4 Epic Audio Driving Tours, Kauai's Ultimate Guided Shore (NO BOAT) Snorkeling Adventure, A challenging hike leads to gorgeous views. It is considered a moderate hike on paper, but it can be difficult due to the elevation gain and loss. We chose to do this loop in a clockwise direction, starting at the Nualolo Trail trailhead. 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. Vegan Activist T-shirt, The hike goes gradually downhill for 3 miles primarily through the trees (but with some scenic outlooks), before ending at a ridge with a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean, Napali Coast, and the Awa'awapuhi and Nualolo Valley. We wore shorts and short-sleeved shirts. And out of the two, all four of us unanimously agree that the Nualolo Trail is the more thrilling and enjoyable of the two trails. Awa'awapuhi Trail is a spectacular hike, with the most magnificent views of the Na Distance: 6.5 miles, round-trip Location: West side, Kohe e State Park Difficulty: Moderate. Points of Interest & Landmarks Historic Walking Areas. If you have any questions about how to hike the Nualolo Trail and Awaawapuhi Trail Loop, or if you want to share your experience, let us know in the comment section below. I dont care what the other websites say; hiking theAwaawapuhi Trail for 6.7 miles round trip is not easy. 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. Well worth the 6 mile round trip hike. This hike primary trail can be used both directions. 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. For the first mile and a half, you will be descending through the forest. Of the two, I think the Nualolo Trail is the better choice. There were no signs or other indications of the closure. Beware, however, that the Nualolo trail was closed when we were there. Momoa was working at an outdoor shop in Des Moines, Iowa, and after he agreed, the crew packed into vans and headed off. Young And Dangerous 2 Netflix, Don;t worry too much and carry what you need but don't load yourself down as it is a long day. The trail meanders through a wet cloud forest before making some steep descents down muddy terrain. Take your time and watch your step; in some of the narrower sections you could slip and fall off of the trail. These photos were taken on the helicopter ride we did two days before this hike. At 3.75 miles, you reach the end of the trail. Hi. You get a bigger bang for your buck if you only hike the Nualolo Trail OR the Awaawapuhi Trail out-and-back. The trail is in Koke'e State Park on the island of Kauai and is a moderately-challenging hike with stunning views of the surrounding landscape. We arrived at the official viewpoint and were blown away by the view. The trail skirts the upper rim of the precipitous Nualolo Valley and permits a "loop" route from the head of Awaawapuhi Trail to Kokee State Park Headquarters or vise versa. These views are great but they do not compare to those from Kalaua or Nualolo. Magnificent vista at the end! The scenery along the three-mile, downhill hike . For more experienced hikers I could see this being done in 3 hours. This photo gives you an idea of how narrow the trail can be in some sections. Kekaha Beach Bungalow FREE WIFI, 2 min walk to the beach. The state was found at fault last year in the case . Best hike we did during our visit! Mahaulepu Heritage Trail: Map, Photos, & Is It Worth It? Walk-ins permitted. . Join our newsletter for exclusive features, tips, giveaways! Its been a wild ride. 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. 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. June 17, 2010: I went back to hike Awa'awapuhi Trail to a vista lookout that I have bypassed the first time when I did the Nu'alolo Cliffs Trail. Do I need a permit/ reservation to enter the park (or just to park my vehicle)? Its mind-blowing to stand at the lookout and take it all in. The trail is quite wide in most parts and even though it had been raining a lot, the trail was in good condition. Start early: This will help you avoid any potential afternoon storms. The trail is known for its views and its diverse terrain, which includes muddy parts, rocky parts, and some sandy parts. If you decide to take all the connecting trails, you're looking at a 9-mile trek. Distance: 6.2 miles out and back. One of our favorites is the Awa Awa'apuhi trail. Discover this 9.7-km out-and-back trail near Kekaha, Kaua'i. We were standing in the Napali Coast. It was so unbelievably beautiful and we decided that this was a must-see for us. I made my way as about halfway down the spine to the end point before stopping. 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. The trail is easy to follow and well maintained. I do workout a lot on a peloton but my wife does not. The Awa'awapuhi Trail on the island of Kauai, Hawaii is breathtaking, offering gorgeous views of Kauai's famed Na Pali coast. If you can walk six miles and are on the island of Kauai, go on this hike! There isn't one, but if type it in on an iPhone it will take you to the parking lot. These landscapes are what thousands of people travel to Kauai for. Growing up in the small town of Norwalk, on the outskirts of . 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.