You’ll slide all over and/or twist an ankle. This trail should not be done in flip flops. Careful! The rock here is soft and crumbly, and the drops on both sides would hurt more than just a little. Once you get into the open, you can descend to a small rocky perch with some great views of the valleys on both sides. This grass indicates the end of the trail. You’ll see some plants that look oddly out of place considering what you’ve just hiked through, and that’s some very tall grass creating a tunnel for the trail. The trail takes you past a variety of vegetation, and the park has installed small wooden signposts in the beginning of the trail indicating the Hawaiian names of these plants. Yes, gravity helped more going up than it did going down. Descending the 1,500 feet was actually more difficult than the climb up, due to the slickness and lack of footholds. Because of this though, the trail doesn’t dry as quickly during rainy periods. The Awa’awapuhi Trail is under jungle canopy the entire way (except the very end) and provides excellent protection from the sun. After a few undulations in the terrain, you’ll start your descent to the viewpoint right above the Awa’awapuhi Valley. The beginning of the trail is mostly flat but very muddy after rains. If you don’t have a hiking stick (it’s advisable), you may be lucky enough to find one in a pile at the start of the trail. Going up Waimea Canyon and into Koke’e State Park, the trail starts at a small parking area right at mile marker 17. The Awa’awapuhi Trail is just over 6 miles round trip and “safer” than the Nu’alolo trail, though the mud adds a degree of excitement. A compromise between these two is the Awa’awapuhi Trail. The Honopu Trail is only four miles but the vistas aren’t considered as good. This trail is often closed during heavy rains. Up at the top of the cliffs, the Nu’alolo Trail is almost eight miles and tricky due to the terrain and hazardous drops. The Kalalau Trail is perhaps the most famous, but this actually starts at sea level and is done over a few nights. There are a number of trails in Koke’e State Park that lead to remote vistas of the pristine Na Pali Coast. Best Time for Photography: Late afternoon will give you the best light on the cliffs of the Napali Coast. ![]() The slick mud can add a degree of difficulty to the steep terrain. The trail starts at 4,100′ and descends to 2,500′. Trailhead: Mile marker 17, Hwy 550 (Kokee Rd) – Open in Google Maps.The Awa’awapuhi Trail is one of a few trails in Koke’e State Park that provide some awe-inspiring views of the legendary Na Pali Coast on Kauai’s west shore. Awa’awapuhi Trail, Koke’e State Park, Kaua’i I earn a small commission of product sales to keep this website going. Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |