Beach gear to use! We took it to be our run for the day, and jogged the flat trail portions. Definitely slippery going down but fine, especially if you have poles. Good closed toe hiking/trail shoes are required, and bring extra dry socks. This hike is straight down then straight back up, yet it's so pretty. This is a six-mile, out-and-back trail in Kokee State Park on the island of Kauai. Thank for your continued support. This is a moderate one way trail in Hawaii. Start early: This will help you avoid any potential afternoon storms. If you dont like back tracking you could take the Nualolo Cliff Trail junction on your way out, but it will add 5 miles to your trip and you will have to walk the road back to your car. Don't know about other phones, imagine it would work on an android as it also shows up in google maps. Its been a wild ride. Between November and March, some areas may become inaccessible due to high rainfall. 6miles round trip. The view from your trail is stunning, each and every photo was amazing! These will give you extra traction, which is very important if it has recently rained and the trail is muddy. Even though this trail is fairly even, we recommend sturdy hiking boots since it gets quite slippery when it has been raining. We only discovered this when some hikers told us as they headed back along the Awaawapuhi. Also, try to pick a sunny day (as much as possible). Like an address I can punch in my GPS to start the hike. YELP 365 - 244/365 Hike down the road first, then do the loop. I wanted to write a review about this trail since much has been written about it. All downhill on the way out, all uphill on the way back (opposite of what I'm used to) and oddly not as bad as I thought it would be. Im not going to sugar coat itthis next two miles is a slog on an overgrown trail. Our best chance at hiking to a view of the Napali Coast would be hiking the Awaawapuhi Trail from Waimea Canyon. The photo below shows the location of the Awaawapuhi Trail vista point. Awesome view of Na Pali and Forest reserve. How to Hike the Sliding Sands and Halemauu Trail Loop | Haleakala NP. Its also more crowded than the Nualolo Trail. The Awa'awapuhi Trail starts at 4,120 feet and descends gradually to 2,500 feet over 3.25 miles to the viewpoint, and returns uphill. One of our favorites is the Awa Awa'apuhi trail. The final 0.25 miles is the best, when you are walking on a trail along the cliff, with awesome views north along the Na Pali Coast. The Awa'awapuhi trail is a great option for those who want to enjoy the N Pali Coast but don't feel like braving one of the most dangerous trails in the world to do that. It was muddy, but less of a problem than other hikes we went on. Know before you go. .Stunning views. What time of day did you hike? For a shortlist of shorter hikes on Kauai, you can check out my Easy Hikes Guide for Kauai. Hiking out, you'll no doubt respect each and every foot of that; especially if you're concluding this hike as a part of theNualolo Trail/Nualolo Cliff Trail"loop." Do not use any trail or access road that is not delineated by name and color and that may also be displayed on these maps. I dont care what the other websites say; hiking theAwaawapuhi Trail for 6.7 miles round trip is not easy. The one portion of the Cliffs trail that connects the Nualolo and the Awa'awapuhi is narrow--it is a very short section. Find out what we carry in our day packs and what we wear on the trails. I have a 12 year old and 16 year old daughters and myself and my wife who are in a mid 40's. We chose the Awaawapuhi Trail, and Im glad that we did. For the first mile and a half, you will be descending through the forest. And of (All equipment on The Awaawapuhi trail is a heavily trafficked hike to a viewpoint of the famous Na Pali coastline. Unlike the neighboring Awa'awapuhi Trail, there are no facilities or even trailhead signs. Guide of Hawaii, LLC is a privately-owned (non-government) business. It was a steady climb back to the car, but easier footing. Normally takes us 3. Awa'awa'puhi gets off to a slow start but picks up steam about halfway. Awa'awapuhi Trail. These are four items that I using right now and this list gets updated every year! Take your time and watch your step; in some of the narrower sections you could slip and fall off of the trail. Most people stop on the grassy/sandy cliffs at the turn-around point for lunch as they offer great views of the coastline. This is my Journey Era. Find out what we carry in our day packs and what we wear on the trails. Find out more about me here! You can read more about the "loop" on our Nualolo Trail entry. Both will require walking along Kokee Road at some point. Its a tough, uphill hike in spots to get to this trail. The trail ends abruptly on the ridge top, at 2,500 ft. elevation, affording spectacular views down sheer palis (cliffs) into Awaawapuhi and Nualolo Valleys overlooking the Pacific Ocean. View maps, videos, photos, and reviews of Awa Awapuhi Single Track: Kauai bike trail in Wiamea. See Polipoli site for updates. Another way to do this hike is to park in the Awaawapuhi Trail parking lot. Most of the trail is in a forest, so its shady most of the way. But keep your eyes up: there are some tricky parts of the trail, including steep sections and a few slippery sections due to mud, especially in the first mile. We have our permits for the Kalalau Trail for mid July and are so bummed we wont be able to hike it due to damage. Because of the slick condition of the trail, the return ascent was actually slightly easier, but by the end of the 6+ mile hike my wife, daughter and I were spent and sore. You will feel each and every single step of the way back up as you breathe through the humid air inside the forested path. Please familiarize yourselves with our refunds and changes policies prior to purchasing your permits. For more accommodation recommendations you can check my favorites in the Kauai Where to Stay Guide. But photographer Scott Sharick upped the ante for the vertigo-inducing trek when he decided to hold a GoPro stick while walking along . Awa'awapuhi Trail Best Places to Stay This trail runs through Kokee State Park and passes through various landscapes for a little over six miles round trip. The hike took us about 2.5 hours each way. The Awaawapuhi Trail is one of the more moderate difficulty hikes in Kokee State Park. Guide of Hawaii, LLC is a privately-owned (non-government) business. For the majority of the first part of this hike, you will be descending as you hike out towards the coast. Permits cost $35 per person per night and must be reserved ahead online. Show 16 More Check-Ins Feb 24, 2019 Daniel Alba. When kids went ahead it was sunny and bright. There were several groups of older hikers and it seemed to be the trail that was being attempted by all types of tourists. As you are heading back, you might notice a spur trail to the left about 0.3 miles from the endpoint. The trailhead for the Awa'awapuhi Trail is off Kokee Road. The trail is only 2 to 3 feet wide in some spots. I hiked all over Kauai for over a month and documented all of my adventures. I do workout a lot on a peloton but my wife does not. It is possible to be both of these trails in one trek but will add on over 5 miles to your total [], HONOPU RIDGE TRAIL ON KAUAI, HAWAII - Journey Era, [] Honopu Ridge Trailhead is just after the AwaAwapuhi Trailhead. This hike primary trail can be used both directions. An elderly man reportedly fell 30 feet head first off the Mariner's Ridge Trail Sunday during a club outing. The view from here is very nice, but its not nearly as good as that from the Nualolo Trail. It was nice, but it didnt live up to our memories. Distance: 7.6 miles out-and-back Total Ascent: 2,200 feet Difficulty: Strenuous Length of Time: 3 to 5 hours, Distance: 6 miles out-and-back Total Ascent: 1,800 feet Difficulty: Moderate Length of Time: 2 to 4 hours, Distance: 11.9 miles Total Ascent: 3,200 feet Starting Elevation: 3,700 feet Highest Elevation: 4,100 feet Lowest Elevation: 2,300 feet Difficulty: Strenuous Length of Time: 5 to 7 hours. I believe it was a little over 6 miles round trip. The trailhead is on the left of the parking lot. ALL PERMITS REQUIRE A FEE - THERE IS NO FREE CAMPING IN HAWAII STATE PARKS OR FOREST RESERVES. Please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stay on the trail, pack out what you bring to the hiking trail, properly dispose of waste, leave areas as you found them, minimize campfire impacts, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife. Any confident hiker can make the journey to the top. What would you like to know about this attraction? Ride ONLY on designated trails and obey all traffic controldevices. The trail starts near mile marker 17 at a parking area and takes . Some reviews called this an easy to moderate hike. Archaeological Sites in camping areas are protected by law. For a nice day hike, you can backtrack to the Nualolo junction and continue along the Nualolo Cliff Trail to the Nualolo Trail which ends at the Kokee State Park headquarters. Going to Kauai in 2 weeks and looking to hike the Napali Coast and the Awa'awapuhi Trail in particular. Enjoy the awesome views from here. It takes about three hours to hike this West Kauai trail and it has many incredible viewpoints. So when there is a fresh rain you will want to go slow or you have a good chance of wiping out. The views along Nualolo are reputed to rival Awaawapuhi. BEST OF MAUI: We have a list about the top experiences in Maui and how to put it all together in our Maui Itinerary. Not much to see until the very end, but absolutely magnificent when you reach it. Because the Awaawapuhi Trail drops you so low, you feel like you are almost down in the valley looking up towards the top of the other ridges. Youll hike through tall brush, slip and slide on wet, muddy ground, and be a hot, sweaty mess at the end of this hike. 3 miles into the hike, the views really start to get good. The Awa'awapuhi/Nualolo trail is a longer hike and moderately strenuous but pretty easy to follow. Don;t worry too much and carry what you need but don't load yourself down as it is a long day. However, Hawaii can experience sudden changes in weather throughout all seasons, so youll need to plan your hike for a day when the skies are mostly clear. Bottom line: loved it but would do a longer but flatter hike next time. Mud!!! For more information read our privacy policy. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. A walking stick is a great help and you are sure to find them at the trail head, it took us 2 hours to the lookout, we stayed about an hour which did help with rest then it took us 3 hours to get back out we were passed many times by young fast hikers. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. From the edge of the trail, there are drop-offs to the canyon below. Visitors will be treated to diverse tropical flora and fauna along the trail as well as spectacular views of the ocean and Napoli Coast. " Awesome hike with breathtaking views of the Na Pali coast " Aug. 2022 The trail is 3.25 miles one way, with about 1600 feet of descent (yep, this is a DOWN then UP trail ughhhh). The trailhead is easily google-able (and google actually takes you to the correct location) and is on the main road through the park. There is a decently sized dirt lot and no payment stall (so parking is free, we presume? We didnt get a ticket, at any rate). For this hike you will want to arrive early to get a spot in the lot and a little solitude while hiking. We started around 9:30am and the trail was lightly trafficked, and we had the viewpoint at the end of the trail almost to ourselves. By the time we were hiking back up to the parking lot, the trail was a zoo and the parking lot and surrounding roadside were completely parked up. 95% of travelers recommend this experience. The Awaawapuhi Trail will take you on an ultimate journey as you ascend from 4,120 feet elevation in the Kokee State Park to the valley rim of Nualolo and Awa'awapuhi valleys at 2,500 feet. Dramatic green cliffs set against a deep blue sea. This 6.2 mile out-and-back hike offers amazing views from cliffs of Awa'awapuhi and Nualolo Valley. Turn left here to head out to the vista point. Your email address will not be published. [HAWAII] UPDATED 1/20/23: Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area WATER OFFLINE in the park, facilities impacted. If you can walk six miles and are on the island of Kauai, go on this hike! The 6-mile round trip hike is" The park will REOPEN by 3:00 PM on Friday 3/3/23.