Kaua'i
from Bob Cantor's National Parks Photo Gallery
There are no national parks in Kaua'i, but there is a concentration of amazing scenery and great trails which can compete with the best of them.
| The Wai'ale'ale Crater is a spectacular sight, but the only way to see it is to take an expensive helicopter ride. The top of Wai'ale'ale is the rainiest spot on earth, averaging almost 450 inches a year. |
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| The best known trail on the island is the Kalalau Trail, which hugs the side of the Na Pali for 11 miles (one way), taking you to several secluded beaches. |
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| The first stop after 2 miles is Hanakapi'ai Beach. The trail is steep and muddy with several stream crossings, so give yourself plenty of time. Start early because it's a very popular trail. |
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| At the beach, another 2 miles of very rough trail follows a creek to the base of Hanakapi'ai Falls. |
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| The road ends and the Kalalau Trail starts at Ke'e Beach, which is where these late afternoon and sunset pictures were taken. The beach gets crowded, but walking a short distance from the parking lot will get you away from the crowds. Be sure to check out the short but beautiful trail at the southwest end of the beach. |
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| The other end of the road takes you past Waimea Canyon to the Pihea trail. The trail quickly leads to spectacular views of the Kalalau Valley and then to the high-altitude Alakai Swamp. |
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| Several trails at the top of Waimea Canyon can be combined to create dayhike loops of varying lengths. These pictures were taken from the Canyon Trail. This is the dry side of the island, so if you've been hiking on the wet side, a day of sunshine is a welcome change. There are at least 2 other excellent dayhiking options nearby, and some short ones also. |
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| The Iliau Nature Trail is a short, easy loop with excellent views of Waimea Canyon. This is also where you'll find the start of a trail taking you into the canyon, the first mile of which provides many more wonderful views. |
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| The arch at Honopu Valley can only be reached by boat. This view came from a half-day boat tour on the Napali Coast. |
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| Lithified limestone sea cliffs are just a short walk between Poipu and Shipwreck beaches. |
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| An excellent overlook of Wailua Falls can be found by the side of the road, but this view came during my helicopter tour. |
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©2003 by Robert Cantor