Kalalau Trailhead
Kuhio Highway, Hanalei, Hawaii, United States
About the Kalalau Trailhead
Kalalau Trailhead, located in Hanalei, Hawaii, is the starting point for one of the most adventurous hiking trails in the world, the Kalalau Trail. This trail, originally built in the late 1800s, provides access to the stunning Napali Coast via land, traversing five valleys before ending at Kalalau Beach. The 11-mile trail offers breathtaking views of towering sea cliffs and lush tropical valleys.
Visitors must have day-use reservations or a valid camping permit, as well as parking reservations to access the trail. Hiking the full 22-mile round trip in a day is not recommended, so camping permits are essential for those planning to stay overnight in Kalalau Valley. The trail is recommended for experienced hikers, with the first 2 miles to Hanakapi'ai Beach being a popular day hike.
The trail offers opportunities for swimming and body surfing in nearshore waters, but caution is advised due to dangerous rip currents. Naturalists will appreciate the abundance of native and introduced plant species along the trail, as well as the chance to spot wild goats.
Camping areas along the trail do not have tables or drinking water, but composting toilets are available at designated spots. Hikers will pass through diverse landscapes, from lush valleys to open land with panoramic views of Kalalau Valley's cliffs.
For a challenging and rewarding hiking experience, the Kalalau Trailhead is the perfect starting point to explore the beauty of the Napali Coast on foot. Make sure to plan ahead, as camping permits for the Nāpali Coast Wilderness Park can sell out quickly, especially during the summer months.
Photos of Kalalau Trailhead
Kuhio Hwy, Hanalei, HI 96714, United States
Opening hours of Kalalau Trailhead
Monday:
07:00 - 18:30
Tuesday:
07:00 - 18:30
Wednesday:
07:00 - 18:30
Thursday:
07:00 - 18:30
Friday:
07:00 - 18:30
Saturday:
07:00 - 18:30
Sunday:
07:00 - 18:30
Reviews of Kalalau Trailhead
"Wow, what an absolute blast of a trail! You're going to get some incredible breathtaking views here. This trail isn't for the weak either, to get to the beach, it feels like 1 mile up hill, 1 mile down hill. It's super muddy, the red mud WILL STAIN your clothes, so bring stuff you don't care about. It does take about 90min one way to the beach - listen to the park guides, they're not exaggerating the difficulty and time it takes for this hike. Try to get their early if you want to see the waterfall. We were able to see some whales surfacing along the coast as we went. I feel like this is an absolute MUST DO for visiting Kauai."
"Absolutely wonderful hike! It took us approx. 6 hours to reach the Kalalau beach where we spent the night. The next day we went back, blessed with sunny and dry weather. Might be quite dangerous in wet and windy conditions. Good trekking shoes are very important. You need a permit to do the whole trek. Book well in advance! Kalalau Trail is an 11-mile trail that leads from Ke’e Beach to Kalalau Beach along the Nāpali Coast. The Kalalau Trail provides the only land access to this part of the rugged coast. The trail traverses 5 valleys before ending at Kalalau Beach where it is blocked by sheer, fluted pali. It is graded but almost never level as it crosses above towering sea cliffs and through lush valleys. The trail drops to sea level at the beaches of Hanakāpīʻai and Kalalau."
"Stunning hike 7 hour to Hanakapi’ai Falls on a wet and rainy day. Took the shuttle in and started at 7:30, got to the falls at 11, and made it back to the shuttle at 3. Spot the mango, avocado, orange, macadamia nut, and coffee trees hiding near the trail. Highly recommend!"
"Favorite trail on Kauai. The Napali Coast is just something that needs to be experienced and appreciated. This is rugged and beautiful territory with dramatic drops into the ocean. It is very remote. Although there are a lot of other hikers, it feels very special and wild. We got rained on the way back, but it didn't diminish the experience. It was just gorgeous. Wish we had time to hike to the falls."
"Shuttle leaves very much on time! We had a 6:40am pick up but was the first one to arrived there. When 6:20 rolled around, they were able to squeeze us in to the shuttle. Shuttle was gone by 6:21am. We started our hike at 7am and arrived to the beach at exactly 8:45. I wore training sneakers (Metcon 5) and was perfectly fine. You can get away with the hiking tevas from lot to beach but i would not suggest it from beach to falls. The hike from beach to falls is very wet and muddy. If you wear sandals, you will have a difficult time. Doable but you really will be better off with closed toe. !!! Pick up a hiking stick just pass the napali coast sign. It will def help you. !!! Bring lots of water. The hike back was sunny."
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