The pali, or cliffs, provide a rugged grandeur of deep, narrow valleys ending abruptly at the sea. As we mentioned, exploring the trail safely is of the utmost importance. Portions of the trail in this section are very narrow and the drop-off on the ocean side is severe. Alternatively, you can park your car at Haena County Park, which is used for Haena Beach and the Haena Beach Park campground. You'll have passed all the major valleys already so the trail from this point on meanders quickly in and out of little valleys. Camping is only permitted at a forested streamside campsite Hanakoa Valley (6 mile mark) and Kalalau Beach. This incident seems to have increased awareness of illegal activity in Kalalau Valley, and may have helped lead to a May 2017 crackdown on illegal campers in Kalalau by officers of the Department of Land and Natural resources (DLNR). Now, only those who acquire proper permits are allowed to step foot on this unspoiled terrain. Watch how to say and pronounce "kalalau"!Listen our video to compare your pronunciation!The video is produced by yeta.io. These terraces were replanted with coffee plants in the late 1800s, which are still growing throughout the valley today. The trail is located between the ocean and the towering bluffs of the Na Pali Coast and drops to sea level at the Hanakapiai and Kalalau beaches. We missed this turn and kept hiking straight following a very well defined trail. This 8-mile trek is tough - not for beginners - and follows the famed Kalalau Trail along the coast to Hanakapi'ai Beach. The stories on this website are provided for entertainment and informational purposes only. (Originally published in August 2011. The rest of the trail can be equally as dangerous in inclement weather, especially at about mile seven where the infamous Crawlers Ledge starts where the path narrows, hugging the mountain closely on one side and dropping off steeply to the tumultuous sea on the other. Each place has a total for the amount of precipitation it usually receives in a year. If you were to head left instead, youd be going up into Kalalau Valley (which you should totally explore one day). As the day got hotter we couldnt take it anymore and gave in. But after some investigation, we realized that what seemed like trails were actually just erosion from water draining off the mountains. The trail runs approximately 11 miles (18km) along the island's north shore from Kee Beach to the Kalalau Valley. The only way into the valley is by foot along the Kalalau Trail or by boat. The objective of this day was to hike the Kalalau Valley Trail to the back of the valley and find Kalalau Falls. If you do decide to go, make sure you swim in a group, have fins on, and return to Kalalau before the midday winds pick up. In 2008, Backpacker Magazine listed it as one of the "10 Most Dangerous Hikes" in the US. Jungle-gym like hau trees surrounded this part of the stream. Hanakapiai Beach is lovely but not safe for swimming. A vast array of verdant valleys, waterfalls, sea caves and gorgeous vistas lay ahead of you. In fact, Hawaiians are said to have still lived here up until the 20th century. We think Kauais hiking trails are simply some of the best weve ever trekked, and were excited for you to explore the Kalalau Trail and more. The thing about hiking up the side of a stream passing waterfall after waterfall is that each swimming hole tempts you to jump in. The 11-mile Kalalau trail along Kauai's Na Pali coast ends at Kalalau beach.The reward for this strenuous often dangerous hike is Kalalau Valley with its pretty stream,cool clear pools,rainforest and expansive beach. If so, you can always book a tour by boat or helicopter and see the valley in all its glory from these two different perspectives. The Kalalau Trail provides the only land access to this part of the rugged coast. It isnt as scenic as the rest of the trail, so for this reason Id say that its not worth it just to hike to Hanakoa and back. Better to wear a hat instead, if anything. Some Kauai residents decry the camping by people they consider to be disrespectful of the land, citing reports of accumulating trash in the camps, and disrespect of the citizenry of Kauai through various illegal conduct of the illegal campers. Visit Rentals.com to rent today. Waialealeone of the wettest places on Earth. HNN Summer Intern. To create your own directions, see this Google Map. Kalalau Valley, Hawaii. The Kalalau Valley is located in the Napali Coast State Park and houses the Kalalau Beach, set on the northwestern side of the Kauai Island in the US State of Hawaii. Hanakoa campsite sits at the approximate halfway point (mile 6), but its set inland by a stream rather than on a beach i.e. The next section connects Hanakapiai stream to Hanakoa Valley, six miles from the trailhead. Walking the first half mile will reward you with excellent views of the coast. Kalalau Beach is a stunner. Maybe occasionally? If you want to play it safe, book your Kalalau Trail permit far in advance (like 6 months in advance if youre hiking during peak time, i.e. After the first leg of the climb, at about half a mile, you emerge on a red dirt path that borders the cliffside overlooking the gorgeous NaPali Coast. Be warned, you must cross the Hanakapiai stream here and its a well-known spot for hikers to run into trouble due to rapidly rising waters. It is also a major archaeological site; although many of the rock walls and intricate irrigation structures were destroyed by cattle brought in by ranchers to graze here in the first part of the 20th century. [9] Klein was later sentenced to five years in prison. For experienced swimmers knowledgeable in local sea conditions, near-shore waters offer limited opportunities for swimming and body-surfing. * Hawaii-Guide.com is not a booking agent, accommodation provider, establishment, or tour operator. Fourteen years ago, when he graduated from Meharry Medical College at the top of his class, he was called the doctor most likely to succeed. The water in front of it is nice and deep. Hotels, flights, car rentals, experiences and more! Kalalau Valley, Hawaii. The trail crosses the stream well back in the valley, therefore there is no shoreline access at Hanakoa. If you end up at this swimming hole, make sure you jump in the mini-waterfall that fills it. The trail from miles 2-6 runs mostly inland and can be muddy in winter or after rain. After crossing the stream about a mile up the valley, the trail becomes more difficult as it meanders over rocks and fallen trees. In the early days, a similar foot trail linked traditional Hawaiian settlements along the rugged coastline. Lots of water You dont need to pack much water, as there are plenty of streams and waterfalls from which to refill your bottle or bladder along the way. Violation of this rule is a petty misdemeanor under Hawaii law, and a conviction will result in a criminal record in addition to penalties. This parking lot is about a half hour walk from the trailhead (or a mile). The rest of your gear youll just leave at camp. This beach is only accessible by swimming as boats are not allowed to land here. And it looked like this clearing was a junction for about 5 trails. The sheltered spots in the bluffs within the 1-2 miles before Kalalau Beach which have amazing views of the coast. During the winter months, you will be rewarded with views of outstanding waves, while in the summer you may see a group of kayakers floating along the current on the calm seas. We set out to find the falls, got lost and ended up on a different trail that follows a stream full of waterfalls. Check out these Kauai hiking trail information links and get ready to explore! It contains 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. All the streams are susceptible to contamination with leptospirosis, a bacterium that is transmitted from the urine of infected rodents. Guide of Hawaii, LLC is a privately-owned (non-government) business. I would say 3 nights is the absolute minimum to allow for the Kalalau Trail, but you will want more once you reach Kalalau Beach trust me on this one. (4 miles round trip), This KalalauTrail.com website is primarily designed to provide general. If you wish to continue on the Kalalau Valley Trail, turn right after the stream crossing and follow this stream into the valley. An estimation of 50,000 visitors uses this spectacular trail annually. This is the stream everyone says not to cross if the water is too high or flowing too fast (seriously, people have died here it can be dangerous!). [6], Camping permits are only issued for Kalalau Beach and are limited to 5 consecutive nights. I felt extremely safe the entire time I was on the trail. Please note this is an additional 2 miles (4 miles round trip) not included on the Kalalau Trail. It is estimated that Kalalau Valley could have been home to as many as 2000 people, which is amazing considering the fact that resources were extremely limited and access to other parts of the island very hard to impossible at times. Kauai Island, which is the home of the valley, is considered to be the oldest inhabited of the main Hawaiian Islands and the only island that King Kamehameha did not occupy to unite all the Hawaiian Islands. Lush green rainforest, colorful and prominent mountain ridges, and the sound of ocean surf will accompany as you make this 11 mile coastal journey through this magnificent landscape. As you keep going, you'll begin the hike intoHoolulu Valley, which is the first major valley after Hanakapiai Valley along the Kalalau trail. Personally, I had 4 days and 3 nights for the hike. Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head State Monument, Oahu. 6# Valley of Flowers - India. Its mostly dry with only occasional mud, and offers the most sensational coastal views of the entire trek. We came back to camp to eat lunch and then went for a walk on the beach. Tucked away along the N Pali Coast is Kalalau Valley, arguably one of the earth's greatest natural wonders. Even if it doesnt rain during your trek, youll experience mud in every possible consistency, which can really slow you down. January 2020: The Npali Coast is arguably one of the most beautiful places in the world and the Kalalau Trail that hugs the towering, fluted sea cliffs of the Npali wilderness, maybe on of America's best trails. The Kalalau Valley is at mile 11, just before arriving at Kalalau Beach. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Throughout the year, temperatures seldom drop below 60F. Visitors cannot drive into the state park as the terrain is to rough. But during off peak times, its less likely anyone will check for permits. There are two designated campsites on the Kalalau Trail which you need to book a permit for in advance: Hanakoa and Kalalau. Its not a designated campsite, but people do (illegally) camp here. This adventure is the perfect chance to get away from the real world and completely unwind while meandering through hidden paths in the rainforest and relaxing oceanside sans cell phones and televisions. Kalalau is the largest valley along the coast spanning two miles wide and two miles in depth to the back of the valley. The only problem is, theres a creepy hermit (not pictured) living on the other side of stream. Kalalau was home to hundreds of young hippies during the late 60s and early 70s. 619 E Kalalau Dr, Oro Valley, AZ 85755 is a 0 bath home sold in 2022. Getting to the view points for Kalalau Valley is easy. The natural environment and relative isolation, despite the noise of constant helicopter traffic, are the major attractions of the valley.