9/14/2023 0 Comments Awa awapuhi trail mapPihea and Alaka’i Swamp Trails to Kilohana Lookoutħ.6 miles 1200 feet of elevation gain allow 5 hours More information: Trip descriptions here, here and here Yelp page here Descending through woods on the Awa’Awapuhi Trail Tree by the overlook at the bottom of the trail Nu’alolo Valley from the overlook Na Pali Coastline as seen from the end of the Awa’Awapuhi Trail Many hikers will likely want to enjoy the views from the safety of behind the railing before making the long climb back uphill. Whether you want to go past the railing and follow a narrow ridge to its end depends on how much you are willing to risk for a selfie. Formidable metal railings separate you from the edge. Tiny shapes of touring helicopters and boats can be seen far below. The cliffs abruptly drop 2,000 feet to the valley floors and the ocean. The next mile or so is in and out of shade and after a few tight switchbacks, you reach a junction with the Nu’alalo Cliffs trail (currently closed due to hazardous conditions.) The Awa’awapuhi trail continues about 0.3 mile to its ending at two vista points, a site featured in the movie Six Days and Seven Nights.īoth views – the Nu’alolo Valley on the left and the Awa’awapuhi Valley straight ahead – are memorable. At about 1.25 miles the trail exits the woods and previews the coastal scenery that is to come. The trail starts out innocently enough, leaving from the parking lot and briefly heading uphill through a thick forest (plaques identify some of the local trees) before beginning the main descent shortly after the half mile marker. The trail can get muddy if there has been recent rain and on hot days, the return trip (climbing some 1,600 feet) should not be underestimated, but with good planning and a little bit of luck, the Awa’awapuhi Trail is a seminal Kauai hiking experience. If conditions are ideal, this is one of Kauai’s best day hikes, featuring a vista point with outstanding views of the island’s northwest shore. Recommended guidebook: The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai Revealed THE HIKESĦ.2 miles 1,600 feet of elevation gain allow 4 hours If you are in a rental vehicle, make sure you check the company’s dog policy. Exercise caution on warm days and be careful around steep cliffs. Dogs are allowed on leash at Koke’e State Park. If you are unable to bring your dog from home, you can borrow a dog for the day from the Kauai Humane Society in Lihue. Summer months tend to get less rain than winter.Ĭell phone reception: The developed areas of Kauai (mainly along the coast) typically have reliable cell phone reception, but don’t count on it when you’re on the trails.ĭogs: Bringing pets into Hawaii requires an elaborate process that must be started at least 120 days in advance. The temperatures are pretty consistent throughout the year, usually ranging from the high 40s to the high 60s. hikes of comparable distance and elevation gain. In my personal experience, the hikes took between 25 and 50% longer than L.A. Two of the hikes described below are “reverse” hikes (down then up) and the third also has some significant elevation gain on the return, so plan accordingly. In addition to muddy trails (some of which are fitted with netting to help with traction) you will also be dealing with a lot of humidity. Koke’e State Park receives an average rainfall of 70 inches per year. averages 15) while Wai’Ale’Ale Mountain, only a few air miles away, registers 440 – making it the second wettest place on earth. The town of Waimea, at the mouth of Waimea Canyon, usually averages about 20 inches per year (L.A. Weather: Though the island is relatively small (at 552 square miles, it’s slightly larger than the city of Los Angeles) Kauai has a huge variety of weather. For information about non-camping lodging on Kauai, click here. Here is a description of the camping experience. Staying on Kauai: Camping is available at Koke’e State Park starting at $12 per night. Hawaii is 2 hours behind Los Angeles from November to March and 3 hours behind for the rest of the year as the state does not observe Daylight Savings Time. (If you are coming from SNA, ONT, BUR or LGB, expect to have to change planes in Maui or Oahu). Getting to Kauai: A few nonstop flights are available from LAX to Lihue. This write-up will discuss three trails in Koke’e State Park, a neighbor of Waimea Canyon, the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” They are the Awa’awapuhi Trail, the Kilohana Lookout via the Pihea and Alaka’i Swamp Trails and Waipo’o Falls via the Canyon Trail. For the past two years I have had the good fortune of being able to visit Kauai, Hawaii and do some terrific hiking. area hikes published on the site, I am proud to introduce a new series of write-ups featuring hikes outside of southern California.
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