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Top 6 Hiking Trails on Kauai


Hikers on Kauai in Hawaii look out at the grand view while walking
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Hello. Hola. Bonjour. Ciao. 你好. Viator's global community has traveled the world in search of local knowledge and connections to help travelers find and experience the best things to do.

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With trails leading to waterfalls, coastlines, cliffs, and rainforest, Kauai is a hiker’s paradise. Discover the best of its natural wonders by hitting up the following paths while you’re on Hawaii’s fourth-largest island.

Kalalau Trail (Na Pali Coast Trail)

Bright sun touches the Kalalau Trail path as hikers set forth.
Hikers take on a path on the Na Pali Coast Trail. | Photo Credit: Juergen_Wallstabe / Shutterstock

11 miles (17.7 kilometers) one-way

The Kalalau Trail is Kauai’s most popular trail, and for good reason—it stretches along the Na Pali coastline, traverses steep cliffs and lush valleys, and provides dramatic coastal scenery at every turn. A permit is required to hike the full trail, but day hikers can enjoy a shorter route that leads to Hanakapiai Beach.

Nounou East Mountain Trail (Sleeping Giant)

A hiker climbs a lush ridge on Nounou East Mountain Trail.
A lush portion of Nounou East Mountain Trail. | Photo Credit: on Reinhardt and Co / Shutterstock

4 miles (6.4 kilometers) round-trip

Accessible from Wailua, the Nounou East Mountain Trail climbs through dense forest and across a ridgeline that resembles a Sleeping Giant. It culminates with views of Kauai’s east coast.

Kuilau Ridge Trail

A rich red path through green trees on the Kuilau Ridge Trail.
A forested portion of Kuilau Ridge Trail. | Photo Credit: Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock

4 miles (6.4 kilometers) round-trip

A former road, this trail is one of the easier hikes on the list, making it perfect for families. The trail takes you through lush eucalyptus forest and provides views of the Makaleha Mountains and Kauai’s interior.

Ho’opi’i Falls Trail

Verdant trees around a waterfall on Ho’opi’i Falls Trail.
The island is known for its waterfalls. | Photo Credit: Abbie Warnock-Matthews / Shutterstock

4 miles (6.4 kilometers) round-trip

The short Ho’opi’i Falls hike leads to two waterfalls, the second of which you may recognize from the film Jurassic Park. The trail can get quite muddy and be difficult to follow in places, but traversing the dense rainforest terrain is quite the adventure.

The Waimea Canyon Trail

Hikers look at the huge rocky views from a high outlook on the Waimea Canyon Trail.
Hikers enjoy a lookout on the Waimea Canyon Trail. | Photo Credit: Chase Clausen / Shutterstock

3.4 miles round-trip (5.5 kilometers)

The Waimea Canyon Trail is the most popular trail in Waimea Canyon and leads hikers to Waipo’o Falls, an 800-foot (224-meter) cascading waterfall. The trail offers incredible views into Waimea Canyon and ocean views from the Kumuweka Lookout.

Maha’ulepu Heritage Coastal Trail

Red rocks edge a blue ocean on Maha’ulepu Heritage Coastal Trail.
Photo Credit: Martin B. Smith III / Shutterstock

4 miles (6.4 kilometers) round-trip

One of the easier hikes on Kauai, the Maha’ulepu Heritage Coastal Trail follows the coast from Shipwrecks Beach to the Makauwahi Caves, famed for their abundance of fossils.

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See all Kauai tours
170 tours & tickets
Things to do in Kauai
See all things to do in Kauai
A waterfall-goer in Hawaii
Top Waterfalls on Kauai