Waimea Canyon State Park — Attraction in Kauai

During our stay in Kauai, we took a day trip from Kapaa to Waimea Canyon State Park, and it was an incredible experience that I highly recommend. The journey was filled with stunning lookouts over both the canyon and the Na Pali coastline, offering some of the most breathtaking views we've ever seen.

We were particularly fortunate to have unobstructed views, as the skies were clear and bright blue with no clouds in sight. A couple we met at our hotel pool later told us that they had visited Waimea Canyon State Park multiple times before finally getting a clear view. We felt lucky to have such perfect conditions on our first visit.

The park boasts six lookout points, each offering amazing views. Five of the lookouts were easily accessible, while the sixth required a short walk due to a blocked road. If you encounter the same roadblock, be prepared for about a 3-minute walk to reach the lookout. Make sure to bring water, as the walk can be a bit challenging. Also, be aware that the temperature at the top is about 15 degrees cooler than at the base, so dress accordingly. Interestingly, despite the park being known as one of the wettest places on earth, we didn't experience a single drop of rain that day.

It's important to give yourself plenty of time to reach the top. The drive up is slow-going, with speed limits of 25 mph or less, winding roads, and several S-turns and switchbacks. Some sections of the road are quite narrow, so caution is necessary. After the second lookout, there's a picnic area that's perfect for a lunch stop. Just be mindful of the chickens, as they can become aggressive if they think you have food.

Overall, visiting Waimea Canyon State Park is a must-do activity if you're in Kauai. Our Na Pali Catamaran guide recommended going early in the day to avoid clouds filling the canyon, as it has its own microclimate. Be sure to bring a camera or at least a phone for photos, as the views are truly spectacular and a paradise for photographers.

This park offers a unique blend of natural beauty and adventure, making it a highlight of our trip. Don't miss the chance to see this "Grand Canyon of the Pacific" during your...

Hawaii's Kauai is the sleepiest and most relaxing, yet still tourist focused islands of the chain. Waimea Canyon State Park on the western side of the island is one of those places that make you go, "wow, I can't believe that's here!" Things in Kauai just operate slower and the signs of commercialization are nothing like places in CONUS. You won't see any big signage or tourist trap meccas. I had an opportunity to go solo while my wife attended a work conference. Local's refer to this place as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. While not as great in scale as the Grand Canyon, it is impressive. I decided to hike down to the bottom and wander (it took me about an hour). I loved the fact that I saw literally no one on the trails. Even if you don't choose a walking tour there's so much to see off the road way as well. Check out the pics I took and you can see a varied terrain, ranging from a Pacific Northwest river streams to high dessert canyon. This is a park I certainly recommend. When I visited last I don't remember paying anything either, which is a nice change of pace. Get your hiking shoes and camera ready for a...

I set out early from Lihue at around 6am and I'm glad I did as there barely was any traffic on the road. It's easy to miss the first road going up but I'm glad I did because I took the second road and it was a beautiful drive up, although at some point, I did wonder as didn't meet anyone on that road, if whether or not I'm gonna run a deer over anytime soon. Dress for cool weather. Another reason to drive up early, you'll have the entire lookout for yourself, and truly great if you brought your photography gears with you. There are several lookouts, and you'll be tempted to stop at every single one of them. The road eventually ends at the Kalalau valley lookout. Yet another reason to be there early is because of visibility, try to avoid afternoon drives because the clouds descend by that time. You'll see nothing but clouds at the Niihau island lookout area. There are plenty of short trails you can take as well. Waimea is stupendously pretty. The canyon is completely different because of the vegetation, yet has similarity...