Red Dirt Waterfall — Attraction in Kauai

We stumbled upon Red Dirt Waterfall while driving up Waimea Canyon Drive, and it turned out to be one of our favorite little surprises on the island! It’s a small roadside waterfall, but what makes it so stunning is the deep red clay terrain it flows through—like something out of a Martian landscape. The contrast between the rich red soil, bright blue sky, and green surrounding foliage is simply breathtaking. It felt like we were walking through a painting.

The waterfall itself is modest in size, but absolutely charming. It’s right off the road (near mile marker 23), so there’s no hike required—perfect for a quick stop or a scenic break during the drive to Waimea Canyon. We parked on the shoulder and walked just a few steps to see it up close.

The spot is peaceful, quiet, and incredibly photogenic. We spent about 20 minutes there taking photos, just soaking in the unique scenery. The kids loved exploring the area, though be warned: the red dirt will stain your shoes and clothes—so don’t wear anything white! Also, the ground can be a little slippery when wet, so tread carefully.

It’s not a place to swim but it’s absolutely worth the visit. Free, accessible, and unlike anything else you’ll see on the island. If you’re heading to Waimea Canyon or Koke'e State Park, this is a perfect stop along the way....

Located just off the road while traveling to and from Kokee by way of Waimea Canyon Drive, its really hard to miss. You literally drive right by it. Heading up the mountain it is on your left and down the mountain is on your right. You hopefully get the idea. There are easy trails that you can follow around the area that offer views of the surrounding landscape. Just be careful because there is only road side parking and tourist as we all know do not think alot so if you are visiting please look both ways before crossing the street and if you are driving through the area be mindful that a person may just walk into the roadway without warning. I know the hospital is right down the road, but who really wants to visit that place? There are also no facilities or trash receptacles so please take with you all that you've brought. Pretty yeah this island? So help keep it that way by not littering. Also I understand that if you gotta go you gotta go, so please do not do it right out of your vehicle, so that the next visitor to park there will not end up stepping in your mess. With that all said, I hope you enjoy this beautiful natural...

Absolutely magical place that requires you to pull out on an unmarked shoulder (that can only fit two cars) then cross a road and climb over a car rail (to prevent cars from crossing onto the dirt.)

It's less than a 3 minute walk from the shoulder and it is spectacular. Some people unfortunately left trash in some plants in some reeds that were being crushed by some logs some people moved to dam up the waterfall to create a little pool that was getting gross. I moved the logs that people left the so that the water could flow.

People, this isn't water that you should be damming up to let your baby or dog splash in. Look around, don't take anything except trash and photos. Leave it better than you found it.

Luckily I visited on my way out of Waimea Canyon State Park as the sun was going down, so no other people were there. It was packed with people on my way up the mountains earlier in the day.

Visited:...