Be smart and don’t cross streams when they are flooded, and you’ll be just fine. Had I done that, I would have been sorely disappointed to find the dates I wanted already booked. Possibly the most exclusive beach in the world—complete with your own private waterfall—Kalalau Beach is accessible only by an 11-mile hike along the Na Pali Coast Trail. All of the spots were taken. There is no cell service. From there, you immediately start hiking upward, with great views of the beach down below. As of August 1, 2019, permits will be available 90 days in advance. I went back to the park reservations page to copy the link (something I wouldn’t have done if I wasn’t writing this post). A vast array of verdant valleys, waterfalls, sea caves and gorgeous vistas lay ahead of you. People have died on this trail, but it’s typically not from falling off one of the cliffs. It rains more on Kauai than anywhere else in the world, and rainfall high up in the mountains has to come down. The group is moderately sized, and posts in there typically garner something like a few dozen likes. September is an ideal time to visit the Na Pali Coast Trail. I initially planned for us to hike to the beach in one day, camp overnight, and return the following day. Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park & Kalalau Trail: In-order to access the Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park as well as the Kalalau Trail, visitors have to go through Hāʻena SP. Stay aware of falling rocks from overhead, Na Pali's coastline is crumbling and fragile; Pack your trash and protect the environment; You'll be hiking along a cliff, don\t use your phone or camera while walking. The Na Pali Coast Trail in Haena State Park is one of the most beautiful, difficult, and dangerous hikes in the world. There are no lights. Amazingly, no injuries resulted from the flooding, but landslides damaged roads and caused highway closures which cut off access to the northern part of the island entirely. Wait it out. 11 miles of hiking along the Na Pali Coast on the North Shore of the island of Kauai. Photo: Aaronbernstein | CC BY-SA 3.0 (used with permission). While these Kauaʻi hikes can be muddy, slippery and strenuous, you will be amply rewarded for your effort with sweeping views of the most dramatic middle sections of the famous 17-mile-long Nāpali Coast – from unique vantage points that can only be accessed from the cliff top ridges of Kōkeʻe State Park. It is a minimum 3-day round-trip journey for most people to hike all the way to Kalalau and back, which means that you h… Photo: Keven Siegert (used with permission). In preparing to publish, I figured I should include a link to obtain a Napali Coast Park camping permit as a convenience for those who may come across this post via search. A week later, I checked the reservation system again—this time, in the morning. Message from the DLNR, "PLEASE NOTE: Camping permits for Nāpali coast are extremely popular, and often sell out well in advance, particularly during the summer. Best nearby. Nā Pali Coast State Park (1,953) 1.6 mi. Kauai is able to maintain its “garden island” reputation in large part because it receives more rainfall per year than any other place on earth, raining 330 out of 365 days. Besides being miserably muddy, it’s far too risky to attempt something as precarious as Crawlers Ledge with anything less than optimal weather. You’ll want to top off whenever you can so you’re not left parched in the stretches of trail that have no cover and leave you exposed to the baking sun. Opakapaka Grill and Bar (139) 4 mi $$ - $$$ Bar. It begins with a gentle, two mile hike to the spectacular Hanakapiai Falls. In this environment, safety is critical. If there’s a holy grail of all hikes in Hawaii, it’s got to be the Kalalau Trail on Kauai. Continuing beyond this point requires a permit which you must purchase in advance, and permits can be difficult to obtain. To think I was only a few weeks out from running into Mark Zuckerberg. Bridges are still undergoing nightly reconstruction work as of August, 2019. They were increasing the reservation window from 14 days to 90 days! “Wow,” I thought. If you are searching for the world's most challenging and breathtaking Kauai hiking experience, look no further than the Garden Island of Kauai. While the trail is open to the public, most visitors only ever hike the first two miles to Hanakapi’ai Beach. While the trail is open to the public, most visitors only ever hike the first two miles to Hanakapi’ai Beach. All the while carrying a 30-40 pound pack of camping supplies. Since our trip is in September, I hadn’t planned to check back in to the reservation system until the end of August. October is when Kauai starts to get an increase in rainfall and trails get really muddy. Dogs are also able to use this trail. Beginning at Ke`e Beach and ending at Kalalau Valley, this challenging but rewarding hike, earned the Sierra Club's rating of "9" out of "10" in degree of difficulty. Haena State Park, which saw over a million people per year, had its visitors reduced to zero. I had to try one more time. Zero available. It took over a year for the parks to finally re-open in June of 2019. it may have just been the rainiest day in U.S. history, obtain a Napali Coast Park camping permit. This is what creates the signature waterfalls Kauai is known for, but it’s also what causes streams to swell. You’d think the risks would deter most people, but they seem only to enhance the allure. Na Pali Coast Ohana is a non-profit foundation dedicated to the preservation of the natural and cultural resources of the Napali Coast State Park, Kauai, Hawaii. Reddish orange terrain contrasts with lush green grass and, when there isn’t a spectacular blue sky, the canyon takes on a purplish hue in overcast weather. What does one have to do to get a permit? ... • Select Location “Napali Coast State Wilderness Park”. The Kalalau Trail (Kalalau Trail Description) provides the only land access to this part of the rugged coast. Something must be broken.”. Sometimes the Hanakapi`ai River can be impassable and it has been known to strand people on the western side. Are those who make reservations in person given a longer time frame? The Kalalau Trail is an 11 mile long trail which winds through several valleys, hugging the Pacific ocean along the Na Pali Coast as it goes. The hike begins at Ke'e beach, at the end of the road on Kauai's North shore. The next day, I checked and, once again, all of the spots were taken. The Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park, including Kalalau Trail, is run by the DLNR. I selected my desired location, filled out all of the fields on the form, and instead of using the date picker, I manually typed the future date I wanted in the input box. This hike begins at the parking lot of Ke'e Beach at the Northern most point you can drive to on the island. Zero available. But after reading enough trip reports from other hikers urging others to “not make the same mistake we did,” and to “stay at least two nights,” I thought better of it and decided we will stay two nights and make the hike back on day 3. Even if you could, it would be a long time before anyone could get to you. The trail head is clearly marked and so is the trail. Day hikers are surprised to find the stream they just crossed 30 minutes ago swelled to much larger than it was before. On August 1st, when the reservation window extended to 90 days, I was able to secure camping permits for our trip in September. While my planned trip wasn’t until September of 2019, I decided to look at the system for acquiring a camping permit back in July. As soon as the second hand on my Apple Watch struck 5:00:00 AM, I clicked “Continue”. I figured their online system would probably let me book 14 days out starting at midnight Kauai time. Anyone going farther than Hanakapi`ai will need a permit. The next morning, I set my alarm for 4:56 AM. It takes 8 hours to complete the 11-mile hike one way to the destination beach, assuming the weather is good. Following some key tips can help make your experience on this coastline safe and fun. This is a moderate pace that accounts for occasional photo breaks. Hawaiians relied on canoes to access Na Pali's numerous valleys, nearby Ni`ihau and outlying islands. A starry night on Kalalau Beach. The Nā Pali Coast State Park is a 6,175 acres (2,499 ha) Hawaiian state park located in the center of the rugged 16 miles (26 km) along the northwest side of Kauaʻi, the oldest inhabited Hawaiian island. • Click Browse for Availability. The state park was formed to protect the Kalalau Valley. The cliffs feature lush foliage from top to bottom with folds as though the landscape were draped in green satin. Buy permit online (click the "Reservations Tab" and create an account). The full Kalalau Trail spans 11 miles along the Na Pali Coast and requires permits and overnight camping. • Click “Continue” at the bottom of the page. NOTE: The Na Pali Coast is currently closed indefinitely due to flooding. I started to worry I might not be able to secure a permit, and that these months of dreaming, researching, and preparing had all been for naught. There is no potable water available on the Kalalau Trail, and all river water should be filtered. 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