You may be able to get away with parking at Haena County Park, but do so at your own risk. Hiking and trail running the Kalalau Trail are also popular, but the trail is about 11 miles (18km) long, quite strenuous for those not in good shape, and can be dangerous at parts for inexperienced people. 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. Npali Coast is one of the most recognizable and beautiful coastlines in the world. The Kalalau Valley is located on the northwest side of the island of Kauai in the state of Hawaii. dont plan to spend any more time than necessary here. Map of Trail. This is a great day hike while staying at the beach. Learn about the best time to visit Kauai , Our Kauai travel tips & recommendations , Explore Kauai Hotels & Resorts Search Now. The only way to gain access to this esteemed locale is for the athletically-inclined as it requires an 11-mile hike from Kee Beach. This beautiful valley is located on the island of Kaua'i. It's also home to one of the most beautiful beaches that you ever come across, the Kalalau beach. However, some birds are continuously endangered due to the approach of invasive species and changes in land utilization. James Randklev/Getty Images The trail does have a history with erratic behavior, mysterious deaths and baffling discoveries. 2023 Frugal Frolicker All Rights Reserved. All Rights Reserved. The Kalalau Trail truly is a bucket list hike. Since the N Pali Coast is too steep for any motorized vehicles, all access to the valley is by boat or foot, except for emergency helicopter landings. 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. The valley is surrounded by cliffs more than 610 meters (2,000 feet) high. The trail traverses 5 valleys before ending at Kalalau Beach where it is blocked by sheer, fluted pali. A limited number of permits are sold for camping in Kalalau Valley every year by the Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), although parking for campers is no longer allowed at the trail head. [10], In February 2013 a woman drowned while trying to cross Hanakapiai stream during a flash flood. The trail traverses 5 major valleys before ending at Kalalau Beach where it is blocked by sheer, fluted cliffs. The terraced gardens in the Kalalau Valley are threatened by the introduced, invasive trees which create underground root networks invading the rock walls. The sites on the far end of the beach, near the waterfall, are the most popular and have the best views of the beach. Azure blue waters lie beneath you to the right overlooking Kee Beach below. Any time! Some pit toilets, that leave much to be desired, are also to your left (near where the trail continues and/or heads back to Hanakapiai Falls). Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}221201N 1593713W / 22.20028N 159.62028W / 22.20028; -159.62028. Both campsites have compostable toilets, shelters, and easy access to drinking water (which you must treat before drinking). Watch how to say and pronounce "kalalau"!Listen our video to compare your pronunciation!The video is produced by yeta.io. Summer weather (May to October) normally brings steady tradewinds and occasional showers while winter weather (October to May) is less predictable. The N Pali Coast is rugged and is inaccessible to automobiles. 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. Just a short walk up from where we crossed the stream, youll see a fork in the trail. Mahalo! We were sore but after breakfast, coffee and a few Advils, we were good to go. The valley is part of Na Pali Coast State Park which is an inhospitable area with rugged, unfriendly terrain. Space Rock is 3.25 miles from the trailhead. The only legal ways to access the valley are by kayak or by hiking the Kalalau Trail. There are natural forests spread all over the valley that are home to many species of animals such as the rare giant panda. Because Kalalau was historically an agricultural valley, there was one experiment of allowing a caretaker to go in and replant a taro and vegetable patch, sort of as a token gesture to the Hawaiian community. 2023 Hawaii Travel Guide. Kalalau Valley is full of climbable boulders but these boots were made for walking. These easy to wear deet-free mosquito wristbands to minimize bites. The Kalalau Trail offers the only land access to this part of the uneven coast and is usually presented in guide books, on travel websites, and on travelers blogs. The second mile is a steep downhill walk to the beach. Leaving Hanakoa, the mud party continues. It gets more crowded closer to the waterfall at the other end of the beach. Also, the valley hosts a trail that stretches two-mile leading to the beautiful Hanakapiai Beach. Camping is not allowed anywhere else along the trail or at the trail head. Some people camp in places outside of the designated campsites, such as: Im not sure what exactly happens if you get busted camping outside of the designated campsites, so do so at your own risk! Haena State Park including theKalalauTrail, which hadbeen closed due to the flooding that occurred in the Spring of 2018, re-opened on Monday, June 17, 2019. The Kalalau Trail provides the only land access to this part of the rugged coast. At approximately the 4.5-mile mark is the entrance ofWaiahuakua Valley. Kalalau Beach is a stunner. Na Pali means "High Cliffs". 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. We ended up crossing a second stream and ended up at this huge clearing. The Kalalau trail traverses 11 miles one way across Kaua i's rugged N Pali coastline, from K Beach to Kalalau Valley. Camping along the Kalalau Trail is otherwise prohibited. The thing about hiking up the side of a stream passing waterfall after waterfall is that each swimming hole tempts you to jump in. Many rare native plants grow on inaccessible cliffs. The natural environment and relative isolation, despite the noise of constant helicopter traffic, are the major attractions of the valley. There is a nice 2-tier waterfall about 1/2 way to Kalalau - it is a good place to rest before your final push to the top of Red Hill. Be aware that it is not safe to swim to Honopu Beach during winter when the surf is too strong. A very special place. . If you do not agree with any part of these terms and conditions, you should not use this website. The N Pali Coast is rugged and is inaccessible to automobiles. If you're planning to visit this enchanting valley, you must give up your vehicles and other means of transport since it is inaccessible to any sort of . Take that with a grain of salt, though you really never know when the park authorities will show up. Violation of this rule is a petty misdemeanor under Hawaii law, and a conviction will result in a criminal record in addition to penalties. The valley is located in the N Pali Coast State Park and houses the Kalalau Beach. Camping is only allowed at Hanakoa or Kalalau. The Kalalau Trail has 3 main landmarks / stopping points / segments: Trailhead to Hanakapi'ai Beach (Mile 0-2) A popular day hike suitable for any level hiker, this segment of the trail is slippery and muddy (particularly in winter). The reserve harbors a variety of native lowland forest plants. If you are doing a day hike past Hanakapiai, this a good place to turn back and head for the trailhead. The valley walls tower steeply more than 2,000 feet above the lush valley floor where people built magnificent, terraced gardens, and tended to fruitful taro patches, the remnants of which can still . Personally, I had 4 days and 3 nights for the hike. For experienced swimmers knowledgeable in local sea conditions, near-shore waters offer limited opportunities for swimming and body-surfing. Also, Kalalau Trail permits can now only be booked up to 90 days in advance. Sometimes there is a rope tied across the river to help with crossings; however, the general rule is to not cross unless you are sure you can do so safely. Sleeping bag It doesnt get too cold at night on the trail (upper-50s at the lowest), so instead of a sleeping bag consider buying a cheap sheet and fleece blanket ($20 total at Walmart) or just wear extra layers. ), ^ Top of page | Home | Search | Archives, Unreal Hawaii is a digital magazine for people that love the Hawaii outdoors. Tradewind showers are more frequent during the night and early morning. Trekking poles and aqua socks with grippy bottoms (typically used by scuba divers) helped with the stream crossing. Hikers camp overnight on the trail, but there are also day hikes to Hanakapiai Beach (four miles round . Past the waterfall, there are some caves on the beach where some people (illegally) camp. After crossing the stream about a mile up the valley, the trail becomes more difficult as it meanders over rocks and fallen trees. This sort of looks like a good jump off spot too but the water under this waterfall was churning like crazy. Also, a portion of the Kalalau Trail is shown as a black line. The water at Hanakapiai is usually clear and ankle-knee deep with enough rocks visible above the surface to rock-hop across. This beach is only accessible by swimming as boats are not allowed to land here. 619 E Kalalau Dr, Oro Valley, AZ 85755 is a 0 bath home sold in 2022. I suspect that these two trees suck up all the water and prevent anything from growing around it. The 11-mile trail is graded but almost never level as it crosses above towering sea cliffs and through lush valleys. All you need is a car and a map that includes Highway 550, Kokee Road. Many native Hawaiians lived in the valley into the 20th century, farming taro from a vast complex of terraced fields. The 2,000 sq. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. In fact, Hanakoa is a hanging valley without a beach the stream exhausts itself over cliffs at the oceans edge. Many people opt to camp in hammocks rather than tents: youll find plenty of trees fit for hammock hanging here. [2], A fatality occurred in June 2012 at Kalalau Beach campsite when a 30-year-old woman fell to her death near the beach waterfall. napali coastline, pu'u o kila overlook, waimea canyon state park, koke'e state park, kauai, hawaii - kalalau valley stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images .
