Kalalau trail - Kauai

The highlight of our 18 days in Hawaii was the Kalalau Trail – a 22 mile (round trip) hike along the Na Pali coast on Kauai’s northwest side. This trail is one of the most well-known hikes in Kauai, in part for the beautiful views as well as for being frighteningly narrow while traversing sheer cliffs several hundred feet above the thunderous ocean. Fortunately for us the trail turned out to be less sketchy than we expected from its reputation.

We slogged along the muddy trail for nearly 9 hours wandering in and out of lush valleys, across numerous streams, and stopping for lots of pictures of the almost artificially beautiful coastline views. Although exhausting, the reward at Kalalau beach was worth it – a shady wooded campsite squashed between the cliffs and the beach; a serene waterfall to clean off in and drink from; and a beautiful secluded beach with really massive waves (no swimming!). As night fell, we were awed by the sunset. When the forest creatures went to bed, we were left only with the sound of the waves which resonated against the cliffs behind us, lulling us to sleep.

 Our campsite at Kalalau beach.

We spent a day relaxing (and recovering from the rough 11 miles) watching the waves on the beach and frolicking in the waterfall, and watching an even more beautiful sunset. We reluctantly left Kalalau on day 3, but fortunately the trail was less muddy so it only took us 7.5 hours to reach the trailhead (and many tourists sunning themselves on the beach).

 Hanakapia'i beach

The most surreal part of the whole experience happened a few days later when we were visiting Waimea Canyon and came upon the Kalalau lookout point. Just a short walk from our rental car we were standing atop the nearly 5000ft tall cliffs that had towered over us while we lounged on the pleasantly remote Kalalau beach just days before. It was odd to look down upon the massive valley we had worked so hard to reach from this vantage point, especially since the lush foliage made it impossible to see the beach or campers in the area. None of the other tourists standing around us gazing into the valley even knew this wonderfully remote beach exists.

The trail finally descending to Kalalau beach.

Carissa on the final stretch to Kalalau beach.

Rich in front of our campsite on Kalalau beach.

Mortimer chasing sand crabs, again.

Rich at the waterfall.

Cloudy sunset from Kalalau beach.

Very tall (and pokey) plants abound on this trail.

Rich on the trail and being squished by the horizon.

20 miles down and still smiling

The view of Kalalau valley from above in Waimea Canyon.

In the middle of a waterfall in Waimea Canyon.