16 Best Kauai Hikes: Easy To Hard Trails – 2024 ✅✅

Kauai hikes where you can see amazing coastlines, waterfalls, tropical forests, and other cool stuff.

Explore Kauai’s breathtaking beauty with its rugged cliffs, lush valleys, and the awe-inspiring 14-mile, 3600-feet-deep Waimea Canyon gorge. A visit to the highlands swamp, one of the world’s wettest regions, adds to the island’s natural charm.

To truly immerse yourself in Kauai’s wonders, hit the trails! Whether you’re a beginner or an avid hiker, Kauai has something for everyone. Let’s be your virtual guide and showcase the best hikes, helping you make the most of your time on this stunning island.

Starting with the Kalalau Trail along the Na Pali Coast – a gem among Kauai hikes. Remember, the rule of thumb here is simple: the more challenging the trail, the greater the reward in views and nature encounters.

If you’re a beginner or hiking with family, don’t fret! Many tough Kauai hikes offer an initial stretch suitable for most, allowing you to savor a significant part of the entire journey.

For adventurous souls seeking a challenge, Kauai presents demanding trails, like the renowned Kalalau Trail along the Na Pali coastline. But keep in mind, that Kauai trails are popular, so plan carefully to secure reservation spots and camping permits, ensuring an unforgettable experience!

To make it easier for you to choose, we’ll categorize the top Kauai hikes according to their difficulty levels.

The 5 Best Easy Kauai Hikes

Discover the charm of easy Kauai hikes, perfect for hikers of all abilities, including beginners.

Kuilau Ridge Trail stands out among the best easy Kauai hikes, offering rainforest jungles and scenic views. Kid-friendly and accessible, although some trails may be a bit challenging for younger toddlers.

For expectant mothers or those hiking with older parents, consider the Maha’ulepu Coastal Heritage Trail and the Wai Koa Loop Trail. These trails minimize climbing, ensuring a comfortable experience.

Experience Kauai’s natural beauty and enjoy views on the Pihea Vista Trail and Kuilau Ridge Trail – two of the best easy Kauai hikes.

If you’re yearning for a waterfall adventure, the Ho’opi’i Falls Trail hike is your best bet among easy Kauai hikes.

Short on time and staying in Princeville or Hanalei? The Okolehao Trail Hike to Okolehao Viewpoint might be the perfect choice among the best Kauai hikes on the North Shore for you.

1. Ho’opi’i Falls Trail Hike

Quick Facts: 1.8 miles total distance, out & back, 150 feet elevation gain.

A short, shaded, rainforest hike leading to the Lower and Upper Ho’opi’i waterfalls, among the best Kauai waterfalls.

Lower Ho’opi’i Falls is approximately 0.5 miles in, with Upper Ho’opi’i Falls another 0.4 miles further.

Trailhead off Kapahi Road in the residential area of Kapa’a on Kauai’s northeastern side.

Perfect for families and kid-friendly, but ensure trail etiquette in this residential setting.

Pihea Vista Trail Hike

Quick Facts: 2.3 miles total distance, out & back, 440 feet elevation gain, about an hour.

A short one-hour hike in Koke’e State Park to a viewpoint with stunning views of Na Pali coast and Kalalau Valley.

Rated moderate, but shorter distances still offer spectacular views.

Trailhead starts from Pu’u O Kila Lookout parking lot.

For a more challenging adventure, consider the longer Pihea Trail and a portion of the Alaka’i Swamp Trail.

Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail Hike

Quick Facts: 3.8 miles total distance, out & back, 300 feet elevation gain, 1 1/2 hours.

A beautiful mixed-terrain hike along Kauai’s southeastern coastline, near Poipu.

Family-friendly with accessible parking and facilities.

Explore Makauwahi Cave, a tortoise farm, and scenic beaches like Shipwreck Beach and Mahaulepu Beach.

Encounter nene (Hawaiian geese) and potentially spot an endangered Hawaiian monk seal.

Lined with resorts offering excellent snacking, drinking, and dining options.

Wai Koa Loop Trail Hike

Quick Facts: 3.7 miles total distance, out & back, 580 feet elevation gain, 1 1/2 hours.

A relatively flat and short nature trail suitable for seniors and beginner hikers.

Passes through beautiful Kilauea woods to a pretty waterfall over Stone Dam.

Enjoy picturesque mahogany plantations and multiple resting areas.

Located on private property near Kilauea on Kauai’s North Shore; access through the Anaina Hou Welcome center.

Kuilau Ridge Trail Hike

Quick Facts: 3.6 miles total distance, out & back, 680 feet elevation gain, 2 hours.

Located 15 minutes from Wailua, near the Keahua Arboretum parking lot.

A beautiful ridge hike through dense rainforest with spectacular views on both sides.

Offers a taste of Hawaiian nature with rainforests, mountain layers covered in jungles, and phenomenal ridge-views.

Bonus: 6. Okolehao Trail Hike to Okolehao Viewpoint

Quick Facts: 2.6 miles total distance, out & back, 920 feet elevation gain.

The Okolehao Trail, located near Hanalei and Princeville on Kauai’s north shore, is a short yet challenging hike.

Despite its brevity, the trail involves a significant climb, rewarding hikers with fabulous views of the North Shore, Hanalei, and Hanalei Bay.

Offers stunning perspectives of Hanalei Bay and the Na Pali range.

Considered one of the best easy Kauai hikes near Princeville and Hanalei, the trail provides a memorable experience.

Perfect for those short on time, as you can turn back at the first vista point and still enjoy the main views.

For those seeking more, continuing to the second viewpoint plateau reveals panoramic views of Hanalei Bay and the Pacific Ocean, showcasing key landmarks on the North Shore of Kauai.

Note: Beyond this point is more suitable for experienced hikers, involving technical climbing with rope sections.

The 5 Best Moderately Difficult Kauai Hikes

The best Kauai hikes of moderate difficulty are a bit longer than the easy Kauai hikes, usually 2-4 hours, and typically involve more climbing.

These Kauai hikes are kid-friendly, and I’ve seen families with different age groups on these Kauai trails.

Panoramic views from the Sleeping Giant Trail, one of the best Kauai hikes near Wailua, Kauai

Panoramic views from the Sleeping Giant Trail, one of the best Kauai hikes near Wailua, Kauai

If you have toddlers or pregnant women or seniors in your group, they will likely find these Kauai trails hard, so be prepared to turn back if needed.

7. Waimea Canyon Trail to Waipo’o Falls

Quick Facts: 3.0 miles total distance, out & back, 790 feet elevation gain, about 2 hours

Experience Waimea Canyon, a deep gorge carved by the Waimea River and its tributaries.

The trail showcases lush Hawaiian rainforest and breathtaking views of the red canyon against the emerald green rainforest.

Wide trail with fenced viewpoints for safety.

Ends at the top of Waipo’o Falls, an 800-foot waterfall over a steep cliff.

8. Sleeping Giant Hike (West) & Sleeping Giant Hike (East)

Quick Facts (West): 1.7 miles total distance, out & back, 660 feet elevation gain

Quick Facts (East): 3.2 miles total distance, out & back, 1260 feet elevation gain

The Sleeping Giant (Nounou) is a mountain peak resembling a giant lying on his back.

The hike takes you up the giant’s head, nose, and chin, ending at a chest picnic location.

Two trails: west (shorter) and east (longer with a bit of scramble and rope section).

Waterfalls, forested sections, ridge views, and a small cave make the hike diverse.

Breathtaking panoramic vistas of the ocean, coast, inland mountains, rivers, and jungles at the summit.

9. Hanakapiai Beach via the Kalalau Trail

Quick Facts: 3.7 miles total distance, out & back, 1240 feet elevation gain, 2 1/2 hours

A section of the renowned 22-mile Kalalau Trail, leading to Hanakapiai Beach.

Offers some of the best views of the Na Pali coastline and Ke’e Beach.

Careful planning needed due to its popularity and limited access.

10. Alaka’i Swamp Trail Hike

Quick Facts: 7 miles total distance, out & back, 1230 feet elevation gain, 3 1/4 hours

Through the wettest areas of Kauai, winding through the Alaka’i Swamp in Koke’e State Park.

Unique Hawaiian hike with boardwalks over swampland and two swamps.

Starts at the Pu’u O Kila Lookout, intersecting with the Pihea Trail.

Highlights include open swampland, a rainforest, a second, prettier swamp, and ends at Kilohana Lookout with spectacular views of Wainiha and Hanalei Bay on clear days.

11. Awa’awapuhi Trail Hike

Awa’awapuhi Trail:

Quick Facts: 5.8 miles total distance, out & back, 1863 feet elevation gain, 3 1/2 hours

The Awa’awapuhi Trail, one of the best Koke’e State Park hikes, concludes at a ridge summit viewpoint.

Offers fabulous views of the rugged Na Pali coast, the beautiful turquoise waters of the Pacific Ocean, and the emerald-green lush valleys of Awa’awapuhi and Nualolo.

The trail begins with a descent of about 1850 feet, providing stunning views starting from an elevation of almost 4,350 feet.

Energy conservation is crucial for the challenging uphill hike back.

The majority of the hike traverses a typical Hawaiian rainforest trail, transitioning to an exposed ridge hike around the 3-mile marker, near the trail’s end.

The official end of the trail features a viewing platform with a metal fence/gate.

Caution is advised on the final section, as some hikers may attempt to scramble to further ridge summits, risking a sheer 2000+ feet drop.

Safety first: Views remain impressive, so it’s essential to stay safe!

Read More: Best Waterfalls Hikes On Kauai: Easy To Hard Trails

The 5 Best Difficult Kauai Hikes

Challenging Kauai Hikes:

Given the rugged Kauai terrain, you can expect the hard Kauai hikes to be really difficult, and you will be right!

The below hikes are meant only for experienced hikers in good to excellent physical condition.

Kalepa Ridge Trail, one of the difficult Kauai hikes, with sheer drops is now indefinitely closed.

While few of these require technical climbing skills or have rope sections, they are rated difficult for specific reasons: significant climbing, long distances, backcountry camping, navigation skills, and a head for heights.

12. Kukui Trail Hike

Hard Kauai Hikes:

Given the rugged Kauai terrain, you can expect the hard Kauai hikes to be really difficult, and you will be right!

The below hikes are meant only for experienced hikers in good to excellent physical condition.

13. Kukui Trail to Waimea River

Quick Facts: 3 miles total distance, out & back, 2200 feet elevation gain, 3 hours

The Waimea Canyon Trail to Waipo’o Falls takes you along the rim of the Waimea Canyon.

What about the canyon floor? You can hike the Kukui Trail in the Waimea Canyon State Park all the way down the west side of the canyon to the Waimea River at the bottom.

The Kukui Trail starts from Highway 550, roughly 3/4 mile beyond mile marker 8.

The first section of the trail is high country forest, and you have a few beautiful viewpoints along the way of distant waterfalls and the canyon.

Much of the trail is out in the open, a series of sharp switchbacks, descending quickly about 2200 feet.

Make sure you wear hiking shoes with a good grip, and make your way carefully down.

You will get some amazing views of Waimea Canyon on the way down. You might spot some jungle fowl and goats, and don’t forget to take a photo of the kukui nut trees after which the trail is named!

If you have time, you can enjoy a refreshing swim in the pool next to the Wiliwili Camp. The Waimea river water has a reddish-brown color.

The hike back up is the much harder part, make sure you stay hydrated.

14. Hanakapiai Falls Trail Hike via Kalalau Trail

Quick Facts: 7.7 miles total distance, out & back, 2480 feet elevation gain, 5 hours

The epic 22-mile Kalalau Trail has subsections like the Hanakapiai Beach Trail above that are distinctly easier to manage for less experienced hikers, or experienced hikers who don’t want to camp.

The Hanakapiai Falls Trail via the Kalalau Trail is one such hike, where hikers can go up to Hanakapiai Beach on the Kalalau Trail and take a 2-mile long (4-mile round trip) side trail to the Hanakapiai Falls, one of Kauai’s best waterfalls!

The total out & back distance from the start of the Kalalau Trail (Ke’e Beach parking lot in Haena State Park) is roughly 8 miles, and expect to spend 5-6 hours on this hike, with significant climbing up and down.

The Hanakapiai Falls Trail from the beach is significantly harder than the hike to the beach, and you will cross the Hanakapiai stream multiple times (be very careful of flash floods).

For the experienced hiker, this trail is amazing: dense tropical forest, bubbling streams, and the occasional pretty birds!

Hanakapiai Falls is a spectacular 300-foot waterfall with a base pool where you may find locals swimming, but note that the water can be quite cold!

If you do choose this hike, make sure you plan your Hanakapiai Falls via the Kalalau Trail hike and the visit to Haena State Park well in advance!

15. Nualolo Trail & Awa’awapuhi Trail Loop

Quick Facts: 12.6 miles total distance, loop, 3600 feet elevation gain, 7 1/2 hours

Not satisfied with the views from the end of the Awa’awapuhi Trail? The unfortunate part of the Awa’awapuhi hike is that the views are mostly at the end of the trail, and for some that is not enough payoff.

You can extend the hike by making a loop of the Awa’awapuhi Trail with the Nualolo Trail, which takes you along a ridge overlooking the spectacular Na Pali coastline to a deeper viewpoint.

You can now expect a 7.5 – 9 hour, roughly 13-mile long hike, but with fabulous views of the Na Pali coast for a substantial portion of the hike.

I found the connector trail (Nualolo Cliff Trail) quite overgrown and a bit difficult to navigate, so be careful.

I felt the views at the end of the Nualolo Trail were significantly better that the Awa’awapuhi Trail viewpoint, but the Awa’awapuhi Trail is much better maintained, and easier to hike.

You can do the loop clockwise or counter-clockwise, and see if you can hitch a ride for the stretch along the road. I prefer to park where I plan to end up after the hike.

16. Kalalau Trail Hike

Quick Facts: 22 miles total distance, out & back, 800 feet elevation gain

For nature adventure tourists and hiking enthusiasts, the Kalalau Trail

Map of the Best Kauai Hikes

The below map shows the locations for the best Kauai hikes described above. You can expand the map to locate the trailhead and get directions to the trailhead.

Tips for Hiking the Best Kauai Trails

Sturdy hiking boots are recommended for the bulk of the trails described above; many of them will be muddy and slippery.

Hiking poles are advisable for many of the hikes.

You need bug spray and mosquito repellent for most of the above hikes, especially ones that include a rainforest section.

Several of the hikes are in Kauai’s state parks, and you will need to pay an entrance fee and / or a parking fee.

Some of the hikes like the Kalalau Trail hike will need reservations and camping permits, you will need to book these immediately when the booking window opens.

Cell service and reception will be spotty to non-existent on the trails; make sure you download all the maps and information you need.

For the ridge hikes, you will need a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

Carry a light poncho or rain jacket for hikes in areas prone to rain, like the Alakai Swamp Trail hike.

Start as early as you can. Your best views will be in the morning; later clouds tend to drift in obstructing views.

Best views are early morning, before the clouds drift in.

Typical weather in Kauai is hot and humid, so make sure you carry a lot of water; dehydration is a real risk here.

Finally, heed all the warning signs.

Best Kauai Hikes: FAQ

What are the best hikes in Kauai for families with kids?

Best hikes in Kauai for families with kids:

The best easy Kauai hikes for families with kids include:

1. Ho’opi’i Falls Trail hike

2. Wai Koa Loop Trail hike

3. Kuilau Ridge Trail hike

4. Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail hike

Best Kauai waterfall hikes:

What are the best Kauai waterfall hikes?

1. Ho’opi’i Falls Trail hike

2. Canyon Trail to Waipo’o Falls Hike

3. Uluwehi Secret Falls via Wailua River (kayak+hike)

4. Hanakapi’ai Falls via the Hanakapiai Falls Trail and the Kalalau Trail

5. Waialeale Weeping Wall via Waiaileale Blue Holes Falls Trail

6. Hanakoa Falls via Kalalau Trail

While Kauai is famous for its beautiful waterfalls, unfortunately, most of these waterfalls are inaccessible by foot, so consider a Kauai helicopter tour instead!

Top Kauai guided adventures:

1. Sunset catamaran tour of the Na Pali Coast

2. Doors-off helicopter tour of Kauai

3. Kayak on the Wailua River plus hike to a waterfall

4. Raft trip to the Na Pali Coast plus snorkeling

5. Eurocopter ECO-Star helicopter tour over Kauai

Renting a Car in Kauai:

Explore the island with a rental car. Use Discover Cars for the best deals, free cancellations, and no hidden fees.

Lihue Airport-Hotel Shuttle:

Pre-arrange round-trip transfer from the airport to your hotel with a shared shuttle. It serves hotels or vacation rentals in Princeville, Kahala, Poipu, Kapaa, or Lihue.

Where to Stay in Kauai:

For vacation rentals, browse options on VRBO. Check our comprehensive guide for detailed recommendations on the best places to stay in Kauai.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Kauai offers a diverse range of hiking experiences for enthusiasts of all levels. From the breathtaking beauty of the Kalalau Trail along the Na Pali Coast to the family-friendly adventures like the Ho’opi’i Falls Trail, the island’s trails provide a unique immersion into its stunning landscapes. The varying difficulty levels cater to both beginners and seasoned hikers, ensuring there’s something for everyone. Kauai’s lush rainforests, cascading waterfalls, and panoramic coastal views make each hike a memorable journey. However, visitors should heed important tips, such as preparing for unpredictable weather, securing necessary permits, and respecting trail etiquette, to make the most of their hiking experience in this enchanting Hawaiian paradise.

As you embark on your Kauai hiking adventure, remember to equip yourself with sturdy boots, hiking poles, bug spray, and other essentials. Respect the local environment by paying entrance fees, obtaining permits, and adhering to all safety guidelines. Whether exploring the family-friendly trails or undertaking the challenging Kalalau Trail, starting early, staying hydrated, and being prepared for changing weather conditions are key. Kauai’s diverse trails offer not just physical challenges but also the reward of experiencing the island’s natural wonders, making each hike an unforgettable exploration of this Pacific gem.