The Kalalau Trail on the island of Kauai offers some of the most spectacular views of the North Shore and the Na Pali Coast. However, with beauty comes risk. According to Backpacker Magazine, the Kalalau Trail ranks high on the “Top 10 Most Dangerous Hikes in the United States”.
My name is Anthony. I will be your guide for this exciting and somewhat dangerous hike. I will be providing as much true-to-life information regarding our four mile {round trip} hike as possible. To say the trail is challenging is putting it rather mildly. Let’s get started with this exciting adventure.
We were shuttled from the Ha’ena State Park and dropped off at the Kalalau trailhead. The park’s trail manager gathered us up and gave some last minute instructions. He made it very clear to not leave the trail, always look down at where you are walking and if you get hurt or into trouble, wait for help to arrive.
There were 4 people in our hiking party; two were thirty something men, me and my wife which both of us are in our mid sixties. The hike started out rather simple but as we got further down the trail, things got progressively tougher.
The trail itself has been modified in various places to help hikers maneuver the rugged terrain. Hawaii is well-known for its unpredictable storms. When red clay gets saturated, it becomes very slippery. Having a walking pole(s), hiking shoes, and appropriate attire is a must. You should also take plenty of water and snacks.
Even though you have to direct your attention on your footing, there are several places to stop and enjoy the views. The Napali Coast is some of the most beautiful shoreline this South Sea Island has to offer.
At times it’s important to rest and yield to other hikers. No matter what your physical abilities are, you will need to rest during this gruelling hike.
The Pacific Ocean is on one side of the trail and the Makaleha Mountains are on the other. Through this entire hike, we saw plenty of beautiful scenery. When I watch documentaries showing people hiking along mountainous paths, this is exactly how I felt along the Kalalau Trail.
There is an abundance of lush and colorful foliage everywhere you look. The damp climate is needed to maintain this tropical wonderland. This in turn made our hike that much more adventurous. It was an absolutely invigorating experience!
There are several mountain top run-offs that flow across the trail. These steady streams of water can sometimes be difficult to cross over. The buddy system – being hand-to-hand assistance – made it easier to stay dry by not falling or slipping into the water. I would advise anyone who hikes the trail to have a companion with them.
We surprisingly came across a helipad – as small as it was – with a great view. It seemed like a peculiar place to land a helicopter but again, we are hiking on a very renowned trail.
At this particular spot, we were more than halfway to our destination. We were on a mission and nothing was going to stop us. No matter what, we just kept trucking right along.
After hiking up and around the mountainside, we finally caught a glimpse of the Hanakapiai Beach and Stream. We are over 2 miles from the trailhead. We hiked down to where the path split. We either continued on to the falls or go to beach. Since we weren’t fully equipped or had the time to continue on, we chose the beach. I was somewhat surprised we had made it this far!
At this point, we had to make another decision. We either cross the rushing stream or climb over and around the boulders. We decide to take the dryer route.
This way was probably just as dangerous as trying to cross the water. However, we took our time and mapped out our path and yes, we stayed completely dry. It worked out perfect for us!
Once we found our way onto the sand, we felt relieved and at the same time, accomplished. The waves were crashing against the rocky cliffs that guarded the hidden cove. It felt like we stepped onto a piece of halo ground that humanity has yet had the opportunity to spoil. Mother Nature is amazing..
Our time was running out. We had to head back in order to catch the shuttle. The hike back was going to take a few hours and considering the constant drizzle of rain, we needed to move out now. We took a final look and gathered our thoughts before making our way back to the trail.
With the rain comes slippery red clay. We had to really concentrate on where we were stepping. We took our time and when it came to the difficult parts of the trail, we teamed up to make sure everyone made it through safely.
As we got closer to the trailhead, I had to stop and take a last look at where we had been. It was sad to think I was leaving it all behind but at the same time, it’s a memory I will never forget!
Check out this awesome video and stay tuned for the final episode of our visit to Kauai!
Photography: Anthony & Maureen Scopel
Video: Anthony & Maureen Scopel
Article Creator & Formatting: Anthony Scopel
Video Production: Anthony Scopel & Matt Kemper
Associate Editor: Maureen Scopel
Technical Mastering & Web Support: Matt Kemper
Publishing Provide By: You, Me and The Dock
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