ny = document.getElementById(image); Due to increasing popularity, the state limits how many permits are released every day. The Kalalau Trail is one of the adventurous hiking trails in the world. The next day was another bright and beautiful one. Along the beach, you'll find cliff walls and even some shallow caves to explore. During the winter months, huge waves crash against the cliffs. 4516 Alawai Rd. The trail narrows to a couple of feet in some sections with a sheer cliff on one side and a steep drop to the Pacific on the other. A valid Npali Coast SWP camping permit grants access to Hena SP. Aside from environmental concerns, you will face a court date and heavy fines if you get caught. function noshow(star_img,rnid) ), Walk along the Na Pali Coast to the end of the beach for an amazing view.(Update 9/14/15: This area wasdestroyed in a massive landslide during the winter of 2014-2015. var ny; But remembers there is no reef to protect the shore, which leaves it vulnerable tolong shore currents. But there are also local hunters (and I have seen them leave trash in Waimea Canyon) as well as people who come in on private boats with tons of gear, and I bet some of them leave trash too (and not all of them have permits either). We use cookies for analytics tracking and advertising from our partners. Start the hike as early as possible so you're ahead of the day hikers and have ample time to finish the hike before dark. We pulled in around 7 AM the morning of our hike and were rewarded with a good parking spot close to the trailhead. If you look on Nate Yuens blog post on the cave, you can see that sometimes people make more elaborate designs with the rocks. The view of the valley is stunning at every point. here. On the second day of the hike, you can explore some of the many attractions around Kalalau beach, such as the Hanakapi'ai waterfalls, the Hanakoa Falls, and the Kalalau Valley Trail. Lawai Beach It is protected from the deeper ocean by one one of the longest reefs in Kauai. This system helps protect the land from overuse and degradation. A waterfall at the western end of the beach (Ho'ole'a Falls) provides freshwater, but before drinking it, the water must be purified (bring a water filter or water treatment tablets) due to the threat of leptospirosis, a bacterial disease. Naturalists will find a number of points of interest. Please plan accordingly. You can camp on the Kalaau Beach. Equipped with fins, they enter the water at Kalalau and swim over to the even more isolated Honopu Beach, which can only be accessed this way. After this walk, I believe I now know what acupuncture feels like. This section is a popular day hike for able-bodied hikers. Camping at Kalalau: Permits from the Department of State Parks are required to camp anywhere on the Na Pali Coast, including Kalalau, and space is limited, so apply far in advance. Kayaking and swimming (by strong swimmers with fins) from Kalalau Beach are the only ways to reach Honop Beach. ny = document.getElementById(image); Hiking NaPali Coast If the timing is not right for you to have such an in-depth and intensive experience; there are other ways to see the NaPali Coast by land. We walked the beach both days we were in Kalalau. It's better to enjoy the beach, the scenery and its caves while taking a refreshing shower in the natural waterfall. SeeSand Island site for updates. The best part is that the beach will be empty but for your fellow travelers. function mark(star_img,rid) Like previous poster said, unless you have rough water experience, just don't. Especially, especially right now. It is now underwater.). There are no lifeguards on these beaches and help is a helicopter ride away. jebett, the designated campsites are right behind Kalalau beach. el.style.display = 'inline'; Do not loiter beneath the waterfall or near cliff faces as there is a constant danger of falling rocks. document.getElementById('t0').innerHTML="Excellent"; The sea can appear calm here at times (like summer) making it seem safe to swim. One of the many bountiful community gardens. This small beach is no longer accessible.). I also can't imagine a boat company traveling the coast to land there and retrieve campers and do it safely and at a profit. If you are lucky enough to witness this, they are not in distress, and should not be approached or bothered. Click on the Boating Na Pali link to see a list of boating companies that have permits to land - perhaps they would do a private charter: http://www.hawaiistateparks.org/parks/kauai/napali_boating.cfm. else if(i=='5'){ #30. show(star_img,rid); The one way price from Hanalei Bay is usually $75-100 and requires swimming a short distance to the boat. The lookout allows you to walk right to the valley's edge. As you walk down the beach youll encounter several caves. The DLNR personnel have to haul the garbage out of there. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. function textCounter(field, countfield, maxlimit) { Many rare native plants grow along the trail. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. The faces are sheer and you can see that boulders continuously break off.(Update 9/14/15: This areawas destroyed in a massive landslide during the winter of 2014-2015. The trail winds through several green valleys and ends at the cliff-lined Kalalau Beach. This cave is no longer accessible.). They live here because the valley is difficult to access and offers solitude and isolation. Jen and Seth decided to swim down the coastline instead. Hena State Park is roughly 41 miles (1 1/2-hour drive) from Lihue Airport. Today the land is under the protection of the state of Hawaii and all forms of tourism in the area are carefully monitored. It's even more difficult to get on a boat to leave the valley in a surge of surf. It is flanked by sheer canyon walls and it is illegal to boat or kayak there. Save yourself from a digestive nightmare and always sanitize your water sources. A maximum stay of 5 nights is allowed in Npali Coast State Park. Listen to weather and surf forecasts on local radio or check the surf report. selectedVal = '5'; Never swim in murky water and never swim in river mouths. ny.src="../../../reviews/images/blank.gif"; Never allow small children to swim or play in water unattended. Sometimes they even rise completely out of the water in a jump known as a breach. document.getElementById('t0').innerHTML=" "; When we got to the end of the beach, Seth, Jen, Jen, Cory and Troy put on some fins and swam out. UPDATED 2/22/23: Kalalau Trail has REOPENED. } document.write("
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"); Subscribe for exclusive city guides, travel videos, trip giveaways and more! You must ascend and descend a rocky trail twice. All rights reserved. else if(star_img=='2'){ Portions of the trail in this section are very narrow and the dropoff on the ocean side is severe. ny.src="../../../reviews/images/star.gif"; Anini Beach. (Update 9/14/15: This areawas destroyed in a massive landslide during the winter of 2014-2015. countfield.value = maxlimit - field.value.length; if(i=='1'){ There are no facilities on the beach, except for composting toilets. Just remember that Kalalau Beach does not have a protective reef to break the waves. I knew you could camp close to the beach but I didn't think on the beach. Kee Beach (pronounced Keh-AY) is located at the end of the road. So if you're afraid of heights, you may not like this trail, especially around the middle of it. Also, there are strong rip and alongshore currents, which may be difficult to spot, even if the ocean appears calm. Heres what they saw. This trail passes through extensive agricultural terraces where Hawaiians grew taro, the staple crop, from ancient times until about 1920. Commercially guided camping trips are not authorized. Anini Beach is a gorgeous blue lagoon with golden sand and shallow water along the north shore of Kauai. Isobutane fuel with a screw top for Jetboil, MSR, and other backpacking stoves is available at Kayak Kauai. After crossing the stream about a mile up the valley, the trail becomes more difficult as it meanders over rocks and fallen trees. ), At the end of the beach theres a massive rock that looks like it fell from high above.(Update 9/14/15: This areawas destroyed in a massive landslide during the winter of 2014-2015. The large waves at Kalalau Beach can make a landing by boat extremely treacherous. They often sell out and some people make reservations up to a year in advance. The people come together to share meals and talk story of their days adventures. This special spot is beautiful at sunset. Kee Beach is also the beginning of the Napali Coast and the Kalalau trail that leads to Hanakapiai and Kalalau Beach. for (i=1; i<=star_img; i++) { selectedVal = '1'; As we said above, one of the best Cedar Key activities is going to the beach! Walk up the short hill. From the beach, the valley extends 2 miles inland, with the high plateau of Kokee State park looking down upon it. Plan your trip accordingly. Our Terms and Conditions, which contain an arbitration provision, may be viewed here. There are plenty of other tucked-away beaches in Kauai that are not quite as hard to get to as this one, which we didn't list here because the effort-reward quotient isn't quite right. Its like being in the desert. Kee is protected by a reef that makes it a safe place for snorkeling and swimming. It's a surreal scene. Then they told everyone to go out on the observation deck. The trailhead is located in Hena State Park at the northwest end of Khi Highway (Route 56). If you google Ben Stiller on David Letterman you can see a clip of him on Dave telling about a company that took him by boat to the end of the trail and then hiking the 11 miles to Ke'e. } There have been issues with car break-ins here in the past and authorities advise caution when leaving a car overnight. If youre a good swimmer, theres a hidden beach called Honopu Beach right around that bend. Never turn your back on the ocean, an unexpected wave can knock you down and drag you out. And then Cory slipped on his grippy aqua-socks and climbed straight up the crack. There are three river crossings on the trail that become a flash flood hazard during heavy rainfall and may be impassable. Though exact dates vary between sources, in the past, Native Hawaiians lived and worked in the valleys, cultivating taro and harvesting fish from the sea. The Kalalau Trail is a 22-mile out-and-back coastal hike located on the northwest side of the island of Kauai. This gap forms a channel that gets filled with water as the waves rush in. While the crew was away we explored the rock garden and wet cave over here. Share your great experiences with me, please? There is a natural stone arch that you can walk beneath and another waterfall that you can stand under. } There are permanent residents in the valley that live off the land despite the fact that it is illegal. The ledge is rocky, you're up against a cliff and the ledge drops off into deep, violent ocean water. Must climb rock . And I apologize to LosAngelosAnd, I was wrong for misinterpreting their inquiry. Salt Pond Beach Plan on spending 10 hours in hiking boots if you do this. It is 11 miles to get to Kalalau Beach - so if you are talking about going there and having someone pick you up and bring you back You'll still have to hike 11 miles to get there - difficult trail - especially past Hanakoa, and you will need a permit from the State to camp there, even for one night. Other inhabitants of the valley include feral goats. You may not be able to use your cell phone to call for help in an emergency. document.getElementById('rat').value="3"; If you're staying in Nassau Paradise Island, set aside a full day to visit the swimming pigs. A hat is nice to have too. Nonetheless, you'll find beach areas with calm waters to swim and even snorkel without any issues. A) no one will be there to help, b) if anyone was, you'd be taking up critical medical space. Camping on Kauai anywhere other than designated camping areas is considered illegal. The trail drops to sea level at the beaches of Hanakapiai and Kalalau. Simply drive up to Waimea Canyon through Kokee all the way to the end of the road. It is a difficult and sometimes dangerous hike. After selecting your trip dates, you may experience a bit of sticker shock during the payment portion of the permit process. And blueflamingo, I wouldn't hike it either. Cory and Troy picked them off the rocks in between waves. Campers are allowed a maximum length stay of 5 nights. Keep driving until the road absolutely ends at a circular parking lot. Many of the months during the year, beach landings there would be dangerous due to rough surf . There are also wild goats, pigs, deer, fish, lobster, and shellfish for people to eat as local as it gets. If you get a late start or are a slower hiker, this may be a good option for you.