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All 300 Kauai Attractions »

Kalalau Trail

Kauai, HI
808-587-0400
Ranked #3 of 169 attractions in Kauai
5.0 of 5 stars 159 Reviews
Type: Hiking Trails, Nature/ Wildlife Areas
Activities: Hiking
Traveller Description: Hiking the Kalalau Trail is one of life's most spiritual adventures, full of wonder and awe at nature's beauty, but also can be hazardous to your... more »
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159 reviews from our community

Visitor rating
    136
    21
    1
    0
    1
Date Rating
U.S.
Senior Reviewer
10 reviews 10 reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 26 May 2012 NEW

This trail is amazing which attracts lots of people, so get there early to have the place to yourself. We arrived at 8am and hiked the 4 miles round trip down to Hanakapiai beach which I would say is the minimum to get the full effect. Would have loved to go further.

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San Francisco, California, United States
1 review
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 24 May 2012 NEW

We just got back from hiking the Kalalau trail, all 22 miles of it (11 miles there and back). It is definitely a strenuous hike, but doable if you’re in shape. We did the hike in 2 stages. We camped at mile 6 on the way in and out, and then finished the hike the following day. The vistas were... More

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Jacksonville, Florida
Senior Contributor
25 reviews 25 reviews
Reviews in 10 cities Reviews in 10 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 23 May 2012 NEW
1
person found this review helpful

We only did the 4 mile hike.It took us about 3 hours and 15 minutes. It was no walk in the park, but well worth it. The views were breathtaking!!! The one thing I would do differently is get there earlier. It was very hot and a good part of the return trip was in the sun. Going earlier in... More

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Grand Rapids, MI
Senior Contributor
37 reviews 37 reviews
Reviews in 30 cities Reviews in 30 cities
56 helpful votes 56 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 21 May 2012
3
people found this review helpful

We got camping permits in advance and hiked all the way to the end of the trail. Needless to say, the scenery was stunning and memorable. My wife and I are both experienced backpackers and in reasonably good shape, and I can honestly say that this is probably the most difficult and most dangerous trail I have hiked. The first... More

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Niagara Falls, New York
Senior Contributor
37 reviews 37 reviews
Reviews in 16 cities Reviews in 16 cities
24 helpful votes 24 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 17 May 2012
3
people found this review helpful

We hiked to the beach with our 9 year old daughter. We are NOT an athletic family. This hike is "REAL" as opposed to some hikes we've been on where it's really a trail, with some inclines. There are cliffs, slippery conditions, and it's hard on your legs if your not used to rock climbing. ;) That said, the views... More

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See 6 more reviews by Sapphiremoon for Kauai
Haena, Hawaii
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 17 May 2012

Moderate to strenuous hike to Hanakapiai beach (2 mi.) and Falls (2 mi. further) for 8 mi. round trip. Often muddy and slippery but well worth the effort.

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See 2 more reviews by tpkdmd for Kauai
chicago
Reviewer
4 reviews 4 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 11 May 2012
2
people found this review helpful

My dad and I did the 2 mile hike to hanakapiai beach (4 miles total there and back) and as someone who has traveled a lot and appreciates natural beauty, this was by far one of the most incredible things I've seen. Sometimes, my dad and I didn't know where to look - look back and see lush mountains and... More

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West Coast USA
Contributor
11 reviews 11 reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
11 helpful votes 11 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 3 May 2012
3
people found this review helpful

By far the most challenging hike I've ever been on. I brought my old athletic shoes. Glad I did. The trail wasn't even that muddy and the shoes we covered with red dirt. You hike over slippery rocks and slippery trails. The return trip things were a bit drier so not so dangerous. I kind of worried about the people... More

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Mystic, CT
Contributor
11 reviews 11 reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
8 helpful votes 8 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 26 April 2012
4
people found this review helpful

We hiked the first 2 miles of this trail to the Hanakapiai Stream & Beach. Medium difficulty hike but fabulous views of the Na Pali coastline around every corner. We crossed the stream and had lunch on the rocks at the beach before hiking back. It took about 3.5 hours total and was well worth it. Bring a camera, water,... More

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Paonia
Reviewer
5 reviews 5 reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 23 April 2012
1
person found this review helpful

Incredible views of the Na' Pali coast. We only went in 1.5 miles but it was far enough to get some great photos. Next time, I'd like to go 2 miles and then head inland to the waterfall another 2 miles.

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