One of the many types of traveling and adventures that attracts many people and is full of many things to discover is hiking into new places. Hiking comes with many benefits and challenges at the same time. Hikers get to challenge themselves not only physically but mentally when climbing various terrains and trails, which is something they enjoy. At the same time, they come across new places to discover.
Kaui is a region in Hawaii known for having the best hiking trails in the region. As a result, many people dream of hiking there. Here are the 10 best hikes to take in Kauai that few know about.
10 Awa’awapuhi Trail
Awa’awapuhi trail is found in the Western region of Kauai. It is a trail that starts with trekking from the very deep jungle in the region and the landscape is quite dry. On this trail, however, there are amazing views of several valleys below, especially along the coastline of Na Pali. Additionally, the Awa’awapuhi trail starts off easy but slowly becomes more challenging as one continues on the trail. In the beginning, there is a high forest and ease. As one climbs, it rises to 2,500 feet.
9 Honopu Ridge Trail
The Honopu Ridge Trail is in a circuit design and starts and ends at the Koke’e State park which marks the 5-mile trail. It is also known to have many turns which can be difficult for beginners starting out. However, the turns are well marked with orange and pink tape for easier navigation. This is also a challenging trail but it is manageable for hikers who are serious. The trail incline is 450m and it will take around 3 to 4 hours to climb it through shrubs, and brutal terrains.
8 Nualolo Ridge Trail
Nualolo Ridge is a trail that covers a distance of 7.6 miles of track. For this trail, a person will need to prepare themselves for altitude changes. However, for someone who is used to trekking and the challenges of hiking, it will take half a day to complete the adventure. The terrain can be very muddy as it passes through some dense forest. The scenery is quite beautiful with views of Na Pali coast and Nualolo Valley hence making it worth the challenge.
7 Mahaulepu Heritage Trail
Mahaulepu Heritage Trail is one of the best one can find in the whole of Kauai. The main reason this is a good hiking trail is its low elevation gain. The trail is easy to complete hence ideal for beginners or inexperienced hikers as it only covers 4 miles. It all starts at the Shipwreck Beach and moves through trees all the way to Makauwahi caves. It is a trail that offers many things to see including cliffs, caves, marine life, and more.
6 Sleeping Giant Trail
The Sleeping Giant Trail moves along the Nounou Mountain trail. It was named by the locals as a result of the tails of a giant who drifted to eternal sleep after feasting at a celebration. The ridgeline makes the views beautiful alongside the great dense forests. A hiker must be prepared to cover a distance of around 3.6 miles on this trail and tackle an elevation gain of 948 feet. However, it is a trail of moderate difficulty good for middle experienced hikers.
5 Canyon Trail
Canyon Trail is another well-rated and interesting hiking trail one will find on the western side of Kauai. The trail is popular among people who are interested in exploring the inland side of Waimea Canyon. What one gets for this type of trail is incredible views of the Waimea Canyon and the regions far ahead. On managing to reach the top, one arrives at the Waipoo Falls whose views are breathtaking. The hike takes around 2.5 hours and it covers around 3.5 miles.
4 Kalepa Ridge
Kalepa Ridge trail is ranked as the most interesting and epic cliff hike one will find in Kauai. However, it is not a long hike and offers great views and experience on the cliffs. The viewpoints are also interesting enough although very narrow making them challenging. Additionally, hikers on this trail get a chance to view the Cathedrals and the Kalalau valley. On this trail, hiking around the evening gives hikers a chance to witness a beautiful sun sunset on the horizon. It is a hike with a small incline of 200m, covers a distance of 1.9 miles, and should take around 1 to 2 hours to complete.
3 Kalalau Trail
Kalalau trail is quite a long one to take with a distance of 22 miles. This makes the trail very difficult as it takes 2 days to complete with an incline of 2000m. For this trail, it comes with many challenging parts that can be even dangerous. As a result, hikers taking the route must be well-experienced and physically fit. However, Kalalau Trail is still a beautiful and extremely interesting trail for those who are up for the challenge. It is a trail that offers some of the most amazing views of the majority of Kalalau and the surrounding areas. Hikers get a chance to camp and take on various challenges along the way.
2 Okolehao Trail
Okolehao Trail is found on the north side of Kauai. It is a trial that has several challenges and hence making it a difficult one to tackle. In many instances, hikers will be faced with muddy trails hence they must be strong enough for the challenge. The trail passes through dense forests and covers a distance of 5 miles. The reward for this trail is amazing views of Hanalei Bay, the Kilauea lighthouse, and the valley below. The elevation gain is 1250 feet.
1 Makawehi Lithified Cliffs
It is one of the most scenic trails one can take. The trail is full of archeological sites and great attractions. Although it is a difficult trail, the views of the limestone cliffs and vegetation are amazing.