Wailuku River State Park Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Wailuku River State Park. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• 2-Hour Hilo Ghost Walks Tour

• Private - All Inclusive Big Island Waterfalls Tour

• Private Hilo Shore Excursion - Volcanoes and Waterfalls

• Private - All Inclusive Big Island Circle Tour

Wailuku River State Park in Hawaii is always free to visit. Beyond the cost of transportation, there are no entrance fees, parking fees, or permits required to access the park's attractions, including Rainbow Falls and Pe'epe'e Falls. To enhance your experience, fun guided tours are available too, and they start at around US$60 per person.

Wailuku River State Park is the site of the famed Rainbow Falls, where morning sunlight creates reliable rainbows in the mist. Pe'epe'e Falls and the fascinating Boiling Pots, a series of connected pools with bubbling water during high flow, are also highlights of the park. Should you visit, look forward to pretty walking trails, photography opportunities, and lush tropical vegetation throughout the landscape.

Absolutely. Wailuku River State Park offers spectacular natural beauty with minimal time investment, and there’s no admission charge. If nothing else, visit Rainbow Falls, which is visible from a viewing platform just steps from the parking area. But all in all, the combination of dramatic waterfalls and rainforest makes it a worthwhile stop, and it’s easily accessible from Hilo.

Swimming is strongly discouraged and often prohibited at Wailuku River State Park. The Boiling Pots and river areas are extremely dangerous due to flash floods, strong currents, submerged rocks, and sudden water level changes. Several drownings have occurred here—just don’t do it. Luckily, the park's beauty is still fabulous from the designated viewing areas.

Don’t miss seeing Rainbow Falls in the early morning, 7–9am, when sunlight creates rainbows in the mist. (Go on a weekday morning when it’s less crowded, if you can.) The falls are most impressive after moderate rainfall when they’re flowing strongly, but not dangerously high. If you’re running late in the morning, visit the falls first and then wander the rest of the park.