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Kalalau Trail
The beauty of Kauai is epitomized by the 11 miles that composed the Kalalau Trail. The long trek in is, by far, one of the best hikes available in Hawaii. The trail is, without a doubt, an awesome experience for the beginning or experienced hiker. If you are a beginner, then it behooves you to talk to someone with experience or to read as many reviews as you can. You should be in shape. If you are an experienced hiker, plan on enough days and nights to truly enjoy the trail. The State of Hawaii Department of Land & Natural Resources limits your stay to five days. If you can, maximize your stay by planning for all five days. Travel with plenty of liquids and a minimum of food. Hardy lightweight hiking shoes with good traction are a must. Sleeping bags are for the most part unnecessary during the summer. A light blanket is all that may be necessary. You will find that you will not have much of an appetite at the end of the day or during the hike so pack easy to prepare food items. Make sure you bring sandals, slippers or other light footwear for walking around camp. Mosquito repellent is a must. A tent is also essential. The initial segment of the journey, i.e., two miles from Ke'e Beach to Hanakapiai, is a moderate hike over a rocky but easily traversed trail. The trail ascends at the outset until you reach a stretch that plateaus out. You cross some wet spots where the trail is muddy. Guava and lilikoi are abundant alongside the trail. Your arrival at Hanakapiai Beach is rewarded by a nice stream, beautiful views, and a nice stretch of sandy beach where, in the summer time, good body and board surfing are available. Parked under a tree is a kindly old man who freely disperses guava, lilikoi and other fruit to weary, thirsty and hungry hikers. The trail leading out of Hanakapiai to the next stretch of the Kalalau Trail is rigorous. With Hanakoa Valley the next destination, plan on a strenuous four miles with continuous, relentless switchbacks, narrow segments of the trail, but spectacular views. Make sure your camera is readily available so that at any turn you can snap a memorable shot. Make sure you are armed with plenty of water or other liquids as you will be gulping down the fluids after tackling the steep trail. Some parts of the trail are dangerous as there are loose rocks on portions where you are descending. In addition to guava and lilikoi, there are groves of mountain apple which contain delicious red fruit. There are some streams which you can fill your water bottle if you have already consumed what you brought. Make sure, however, you have a water filter and chlorine drops to purify the water. Your arrival at Hanakoa Valley is announced by a sign. Descending into the valley will result in your encounter with Hanakoa Stream which is fast flowing and clear. There are camping areas available if you have arrived later in the day and are not able to continue the hike to Kalalau. The camp sites are nice. Mosquitoes need to be dealt with, however. But Hanakoa is an excellent midpoint to camp for the weary. Leaving Hanakoa, the trail continues to climb. Plan on an early departure to avoid the heat and sun. There is very little shade along the way to Kalalau. The views continue to be spectacular. There are streams along the way which provide some relief. Goats perch on the hillside as you pass. Approximately three miles out of Hanakoa, you will have a chance to see Kalalau Beach, a vast expanse of white sand surrounded by sheer verdant green cliffs and azure blue ocean. This view lifts the spirits, especially because you have just completed a tough stretch of the trail. When you reach the sign announcing Kalalau, it is all down hill from there. Beware, however, of Red Hill, a stretch of barren red dirt that descends into the valley. It is hard on the knees. You will cross Kalalau Stream where you have to do some rock hopping to cross. The water is fast moving but clear and inviting. There are a number of camp sites under the trees that you encounter as you reach Kalalau Beach. If possible, find a camp site closer to the falls which are at the far end of the beach. There you can shower or re-fill your water bottles. Plan a day to recuperate or to take the two mile hike to the end of the valley and a pool. My journey with my two sons, 12 and 10, began with some trepidation that the hike might be too difficult. However, they showed a lot of mettle, resilience, grit and perseverance. The hike proved to be a test of character as each of my sons reached down deep for reserves that they and I did not know they had. The repeated climbs up the seemingly endless switchbacks under the glaring sun forced them to dig deep for strength that they thought had been left behind in the last valley. They appreciated the availability of water and the need to conserve liquids and energy. They marveled at the plentiful fruit on the trees along the way. They enjoyed guavas that were sweet and juicy, and became connoiseurs of ripe yellow guavas that were blemish free and therefore, without worms. Along the way, hikers that we encountered repeatedly gave them compliments and encouragement for having undrtaken such a difficult hike at such a young age. They were somewhat heartened to learn that a group of older Boy Scouts and adults had taken longer to hike in than they did. The return hike from Kalalau Beach was uneventful and equally challenging. Overall, the Kalalau Trail has to rank among the best (for scenery and experience) trails in the country.
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About Our ReviewsMany people ask us to recommend a place to go hiking. Instead of us deciding what places are best, we let the backpacking community help out. The reviews on budget-travels-tips.com have been submitted by our viewers. Some reviews are positive and some are negative. If you don't agree with a review, feel free to submit your own trail review.
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