Will be in Kauai for the 1st time for 6 days in February and have been reading up in Ultimate Kauai about all of the great hikes there are on this island. Since there obviously is not enough time to do all (or even most) of them, was hoping to get some advice. So to those of you who have experienced Kauai by hiking its many trails, which 2 or 3 would you recommend?

Thanks in advance for all of your help!

Now come on everyone....I know the beaches are beautiful and all but you can't be spending all of your time frolicking in the sand and surf!?

I really could use your advice ... thanks!!

Doug, Other than the obvious NaPali, Kalalau, Alakai Swamp hikes, one hike I suggest to people with little time on their hands is the Sleeping Giant/Nounou hike.

You can pick up the regular trialhead for a long hike or shortcut it by driving around his backside and park off of 581 and "Lokelani".
Once you get up there, you get a
360 degree view of the entire Coco/Coast, Mt Waialeale, Kawaiikini Peak, Wailua River, King Kong, etc.

One of our favorite hikes is on the beach of Polihale. Walk up towards the west end of the NaPali then turn around and walk back towards a beautiful sunset over Niihau. Then off to Brick Oven Pizza on the way back!
Kal

Doug - I'm sorry! I meant to check my Ultimate Kauai Guidebook for the name of the hike we liked best, but I forgot! It was the best hike I've ever been on. It starts in Koke'e Park, past the lodge up there and goes all the way out to the cliffs overlooking the north shore and back. It's 11 miles total, I think and the last two are uphill. Hard but worth it. At one point, helicopters were flying BELOW us! The second best hike was on the north shore - the first 2 miles of the Napali trail. lots of up and down, kind of muddy but so beautiful. We'll be in Kauai again in February too (1st through 9th). When will you be there?

The trails PDxer is talking about are the Nualolo and Awa'awapuhi trails, which are connected by the Nualolo Cliff trail to make one long loop. Or you can do either of them out and back the same way for shorter hikes. They both lead to some of the most awe-inspiring viewpoints you've ever seen--just don't bother to go if it's raining or foggy, because you won't see much and the trails get slippery.

I also second the votes for the first two miles of the Na Pali coast trail (you need a permit to go farther), and the Alakai Swamp.

Jay is correct. Those are the trails I was talking about. We're going to try to Alakai Swamp trail this time as we haven't done it yet. we have hiked the Sleeping Giant trail Kal mentions. It was okay, but a distant third after the Nualolo/Awa'awapuhi trail and the NaPali coast trail.

We didn't do any strenuous stuff but I bought a book called "Kauai Trails" by Kathy Morey that has a lot of good information in it.
Cheers

Kauai Kauai Kauai

Thanks everyone for all your help.... sounds like the consensus so far is the NaPali coast and the Nualolo/Awa'awapuhi and Alakai Trails. Any other votes out there?

And PDxer: will be in Kauai from the 15th thru the 20th after 5 days on Maui

Try the powerline trail. My husband ran it one way from up above Kapaa to the other end in Princeville. It was easy to pick him up at the other end. Or, a gorgeous, lush green hike I can't remember the name of: You head up the road past Opakea falls & the Sleeping Giant trailhead, almost at the end of the road where it turns into dirt (mud) and the powerline trail, just before you cross the river there's a trailhead on the right. Both are in the Ultimate guide. Beware of lots of slippery, red mud!

My family and I have hiked the Alakai swamp trail, the Na Pali coast trail and the Powerline trail. All are beautiful, but all are anywhere from pretty muddy to absolutely covered in mud. Don't wear anything you want to wear again for anything other than hiking. I threw away our shoes at the end of the trip and ruined one pair of shorts as the mud stains will not wash out. Trails are not steep but are difficult because of huge quantity of mud.

Virginia is referring to the Kuilau Ridge Trail. Directions are in the Ultimate Kauai Guide. I love this hike, the views of the fern covered valley are gorgeous. It is about 3.5 miles round trip (turn around at Moalepe Bridge.) It can be muddy, though.

Thanks for all the info folks -- especially the mud warning.

FYI - I bought a book called "55 Day Hikes in Kauai" by Robert Stone that might be helpful. It has descriptions & trailmaps. I don't know how it compares to the "Ultimate" guide.

Alooohaaaa,
After the crappy last 3 months of 2002 that we've had, the only hiking I'll be doing the first 5 days is up and down barstools!

We do have the Powerline Trail on our "to do" list.
Mahalo,
Kal
2 mo'!

Doug,

My wife and I were in Kauai in Nov. We hiked only the Awa'awapuhi trail. I will say the view from the cliffs at the end of the trail are quite beautiful but overall the hike was prety ordinary, the terrain was very much like here in the east coast, not quite what we expected but maybe we were just expecting more. Also, while it is only a little over 3 miles remember it is around 2000' of verticle, so the trip back uphill is a good workout at around 7000'. The trails are pretty tight in some spots and if it is muddy watch out! Just a few things to think about! Have a great time it is an awesome place.

Doug all depends on the weather you get, you want to make sure that certain paths are dry a tall order in February.

I will tell you that I did the Awa'awapuhi Trail and the Canyon Trail this summer. INCREDIBLE. The Awa'awapuhi Trail looks like a scene out of "lord of the rings" when you get to the bottom with more time I would do extensions to this trail (Nu'alolo - Nu'alolo Cliff - Awa'awapuhi). There are a lot of trails in Kokee that get you away from tourists. I use to love the Napali (Kalalau) trail but you should get there at dawn to beat the others. Something is certainly lost when some parent is diciplining/calling to a number of kids as you are looking at the stretch of the Kalalaus in the distance. Start at dawn on the kalalau and you could skip this. I started at about 9am and still run into this. Also there is an afternoon glare on the water if you start later, a gorgeous blue if you start early morning.

Awa'awapuhi Trail and the Canyon Trail are my two favorite trails Napali is a third only if you get there EARLY!.

I also like alakai swamp but that is sure to be rained out in February.

P.S there is a website on here that shows peoples photos from trips anyone have the link? Good to look up trail photos on here sometimes if you want to make a selection based on appearance.

duane just read your comments. I think it is good to start walking outdoors something like a month before you leave. I was worried by the looks of exhaustion I saw on the trail when I started at 4pm (awaawaphi). Exhaustion from people much younger than myself. It was not so bad for me though and I don't exercise regularly. Went out directly after that 4hour hike. The nine hours it took me to go into Hanapepe beach and then to the waterfall was much more taxing (others do this trail quicker). I do try to get myself ready for hikes in Hawaii and skiing in the the winter. I am still 42 though and a sedintary 42 at that. Sure it is different for everyone but preparing yourself by building endurance 1 hour walking fast every other night/ & stretching (each evening if you can) before trip will help you more than you know. When I do this before ski season I ski through both weekends when I don't it's multiple trips to the lodge for crap food and hot coco . Just a remedy.

Virginia I did the Kuilau trail also a very easy hike and a good choice for families. We laughed a lot on that trail.

Ahh the days of a better economy!