admin“On Kauai’s legendary Na Pali Coast, a trail carved into emerald cliffs leads adventurers to a hidden 300-foot waterfall that feels like the edge of paradise, the Hanakapiai Falls trail!
The most important thing to know: NO, YOU DON’T NEED A PERMIT FOR THIS HIKE! You’ll find out what you do need further in this article.
The north of Kauai is breathtaking. Many travelers choose to spend a few days in Princeville to soak in its charm. The area offers plenty of rewarding hikes, but one trail rises above the rest: the Hanakapiai Falls Trail. While the Kalalau Trail is the island’s signature trek, its demanding multi-day journey is more than most visitors are prepared to tackle. Hiking the Hanakapiai Falls Trail gives you a taste of that same atmosphere. The first two miles to Hanakapiai Beach are surprisingly accessible, even for less experienced hikers.
From Hanakapiai beach, the ocean looks irresistibly inviting, but appearances are deceiving. Swimming here is extremely dangerous. Even when the water seems calm, powerful currents can prove fatal, even to the strongest swimmers. The trail from the beach to the falls is more challenging, with river crossings and rugged terrain, but the reward is unforgettable: a waterfall soaring more than 300 feet, cascading into a lush, paradise-like valley. Time your hike to arrive around midday, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more spectacular lunch spot anywhere on the island.
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Distance and difficulty of the Hanakapiai Falls Trail on Kauai
- Total length: 7.6 miles (12 km) round trip. It will take you about 6 hours to complete the trail.
- Elevation gain: approx. 760 ft (230 m).
- Rated as a challenging hike with steep, muddy terrain and river crossings.
Reservations and access
The trail begins at the point where the road around the northern part of the island ends. You find all information about reservations here. The first two miles of the Kalalau Trail from Ke’e Beach to Hanakāpīʻai Beach is open for day-use without a hiking permit. After these two miles you can hike another 2 miles until the falls also without needing a permit. But visitors must have reservations to enter Hā’ena State Park. Hā’ena State Park has a 900 visitor per-day limit. Reservations can be made up to 30-days in advance, and no later than the day before your visit. Although there is a large parking area, spaces are limited and fill up quickly. It’s best to reserve parking well in advance too. An alternative is to park a few miles back along the road. A shuttle service operates to the trail head. When you make a reservation for the shuttle your park entrance is included. Make reservations HERE.
Even with a reservation, there’s no guarantee the hike will proceed as planned. The trail is often closed for safety reasons, like bad weather. Unfortunately, they canceled our hike too the first time I visited Kauai. This happened two days prior due to a norovirus outbreak at the camping area along the trail. This 11-mile journey (one-way) is a tough trek to complete in a single day. Most hikers take two to three days and camp overnight. The virus outbreak affected several campers. Some could not make it back on their own. This required evacuation efforts and a temporary trail closure. A year later I was finally able to hike to the falls!
Trail head
The trail is situated in Ha’ena State Park and is part of the famous Kalalau Trail. The trailhead of both Kalalau and hanakapiai begins at Ke’e Beach.
What you need to know before you start this hike
The first two miles, running parallel with the Kalalau Trail, are well maintained. They need to be, with the steep cliffs right beside you. It’s always important to stay alert, and as emphasized during the safety briefing before you start: you either hike the trail or you take photos. Trying to do both at once leads to accidents!
The two miles leading to the waterfall are much more demanding. The path begins with a river crossing, followed by a relatively easy stretch. But soon you face three more challenging river crossings. Often you’ll find yourself scrambling on hands and knees, hoping you don’t slip! I brought my hiking poles, and that turned out to be an excellent decision. They gave me that little extra stability I needed.
Highlights of the Trail
- The Hanakapiai Falls: a spectacular 300-foot waterfall in a lush valley. You can take a swim, but don’t go too close to the falls as rocks may fall dawn
- Scenic views of the Na Pali Coast. The helicopter and boat tours are spectacular, but exploring this area by foot is impressive too!
- Tropical vegetation and jungle landscapes along the way.
What you absolutely need on this trail
Sturdy hiking shoes are a must, even when the trail is dry. This is definitely not a hike you want to start out in flip-flops!
Hiking poles can be very helpful. You’ll manage without them, of course, but if you’re like me and tend to trip easily, a little extra balance definitely comes in handy!
Make sure to bring plenty of water. There are no refill stations along the trail, and two liter per person is really the minimum you should carry! Bring some energy bars too, you will need it!
Sunscreen is a must. While most of the trail winds through the forest, there are plenty of exposed sections too and the sun on Kauai can be relentless!
Phone. There’s no reception on this trail. Luckily, you’re never completely alone out here, so if you need help, you’ll have to rely on fellow hikers. Your phone will mainly come in handy for taking photos!
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