9 of the Top Hiking Trails on Kauai

The Na Pali Coast is a 16-mile (25.7-kilometer) stretch of towering cliffs dotted with waterfalls, coves, and beaches. While you can view it from afar via a helicopter tour or boat tour, you can see even more on foot via the 22-mile (35.4-kilometer) round-trip Kalalau Trail.

This must-try Kauai hike requires you to traverse across mountains, valleys, beaches, and streams over two days. While the trail is tough, you’ll be rewarded with unbeatable views of the famed cliffs. To hike the Kalalau Trail, you’ll need a series of permits for entering the park, camping, and shuttling or parking.

If you’d like a shorter—but no less challenging—sample of the stunning Na Pali Coast, you can hike just a portion of the Kalalau Trail, turn at the secluded Hanakapiai Beach toward the 300-foot (91-meter) Hanakapiai Falls, and retrace your steps back. This 7.7-mile (12.4-kilometer) path is difficult yet doable in just one day.

While you don’t need camping permits to hike to Hanakapiai Falls, you do need a park reservation, along with a shuttle reservation or parking permit. It’s also best not to swim at Hanakapiai Beach, as the conditions are often unsafe.

Named after a giant from Hawaiian legends and the mountain’s sleeping giant–esque shape, the Nounou East Sleeping Giant Trail offers incredible views of eastern Kauai. Although the hike is just 3.2 miles (5.1 kilometers), it rises nearly 1,000 feet (300 meters) in elevation. It’s a leg workout, but the ocean and island views at the end are well worth it.

Insider tip: There are a couple of variations of the Nounou Trail, but the views from the East Trail are by far the best.

While many Garden Isle hikes weave through waterfalls and mountains, the Mahaulepu Heritage Trail offers something a little different. The 3.8-mile (6.1-kilometer) hike follows the island’s southeastern coastline, past rare golden ‘ilima (sida fallax) blossoms, spotted kolea (Pacific golden plover), distant whale spouts, and ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs. Although the path along this Kauai nature trail can be a little rocky at times, this is some of the best Kauai hiking for beginners.

Waimea Canyon, the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” certainly lives up to its name with its stratified, iron-rich layers. There are a handful of hikes that meander through this landscape, but the Waipoo Falls Trail is one of the best.

Despite being one of the most popular hiking routes on Kauai, you actually don’t see many views of Waipoo Falls during the 2.6-mile (4.2-kilometer) trail. But when you reach the end, you’ll get a unique view of the 800-foot (244-meter) cascade. Many of Kauai’s best hiking tours take you through Waimea Canyon.

One of the most scenic hikes on Kauai, the 5.8-mile (9.3-kilometer) Awaawapuhi Trail is located at the gorgeous Kokee State Park. Along the way, you’ll pass all sorts of native plant life, such as ‘ohi‘a lehua (metrosideros polymorpha) and a‘ali‘i (Dodonaea viscosa). Seemingly out of the blue, the trail will end at the top of a 2,500-foot-tall (762-meter-tall) mountain ridge. Take a moment to soak up the views of the westernmost parts of the Na Pali Coast and the Pacific Ocean in the background.

The Hoopii Falls Trail is one of the top hiking trails on Kauai, particularly if you’re looking for a Goldilocks option—not too easy, but not too hard. At 1.8 miles (2.9 kilometers) and 157 feet (48 meters) of elevation gain, the path seems relatively easy on paper, but the stray tree roots and the slick path add a bit of challenge.

Hoopii Falls is actually split into two parts, so it feels like there are two waterfalls on this trail. Whenever you hear rushing water getting louder, take a look toward the river so you don’t miss it.

With the muggy air, the chattering birds, and the greenery on all sides, you’ll feel like you’re in a tropical jungle while hiking the 3.6-mile (5.8-kilometer) Kuilau Ridge Trail. And somehow, the verdant jungle atmosphere is only half the fun. The trail starts at the Keahua Arboretum, and at the end, you’ll get unobstructed views of what feels like endless rolling greenery. For a post-hike meal, the many food trucks in nearby Kapaa are the place to go.

Though it’s one of Kauai’s lesser-known treks, Pihea Trail still definitely deserves to be called one of the best hikes on Kauai. Based out of Kokee State Park, this hike winds its way around the back of the Na Pali Coast cliffs, offering exceptional views around every corner.

Beginners take note: There are certain scrambling sections at the end of the hike. If those don’t seem doable to you, that’s OK. The view from the very end is very similar to the views you’ll see along the way.