"Waimea Canyon Trail to Waipoo Falls" is an approximately 5km long hiking trail with 150 meters of elevation gain. It leads through beautiful forest, past wonderful viewpoints and ends at a waterfall. It starts between Milemarker 13 and 14 towards Kokee State Park.
One of the absolute "must-sees" on Kauai is a visit to Waimea Canyon. The canyon was formed thousands of years ago by several volcanic eruptions, shaped by powerful earthquakes that almost split the island. The canyon is about 1500 meters wide, 22km long and over 1000 meters deep. Because of its similarity to its big "brother" in Arizona (Grand Canyon), Waimea Canyon is also called the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific". However, it is not as big but much more colourful because, besides the red, brown, grey and other earth tones, there is also green.
For a visit to these natural highlights, you should reserve the early morning hours or the late afternoon - this is when the light conditions in the gorge are particularly impressive. An enchanting play of red, gold, grey and green colour changes, depending on the position of the sun and clouds, lead to dramatic spectacles.
Depending on how active you want to be while exploring the canyon, there are different ways to get to know the highlight of Kauai. The most expensive option is a helicopter ride but it is a very different perspective than inside the canyon.
The easiest way to get there is by rental car. To do this, drive southwest from the Kaumualii Highway to the coastal village of Waimea. There, Hwy 550 (Waimea Canyon Highway) branches off north into the interior of the island. After driving about 20 kilometres, you will arrive at the first of numerous lookouts, all of which offer a different view of Waimea Canyon and the Waipoo Falls .
