97% of travelers recommend this experience. Mainlanders and uneducated travelersthey are a trip. It is wide enough to let ATVs pass by, which look like they are coming despite the barrier at the entrance of the trail. The Kuilau Ridge Trail is a scenic and moderately easy trail that starts near the Keahua Arboretum. Enjoy this 4.4-mile out-and-back trail near Honolulu, Oahu. I will be taking my 2 teen age kids, A fair amount of mud, but not difficult to hike. We ran into two bird hunters. Your email address will not be published. Not only will this let you get much better photos from above, but there is something pretty exhilarating about Kayak the Wailua and Hike to Secret (Uluwehi) Falls. Many birds. The trail-head is at the end of the pavement on Olohena Road in the upper Wailua Homesteads. The Route The trail begins just before the park area on the right. Directions from Honolulu: From Kalanianaole Highway heading east, take a left on Kuliouou Street toward the back of the valley. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. Loved the last segment full of stairsnice workout. Taking one star off for that. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. My tips are bring water, shoes that can get muddy and maybe even a picnic. The trail has many slippery muddy places, hike with caution, need to wear bug sprays. Rained hard that morning prior to our hike, so the trail was pretty muddy. lol anyways this hike was amazing breathtaking(actually) but if your in oahu and looking for something beautiful to see take this hike! Not too big of a deal going up, but be careful coming back down as its easy to slip on the muddy spots. We took this hike with our 2,3,5,7 year olds and 70,75 year old parents because of the positive reviews about hiking with kids. The trail leads through dense rainforest with spectacular views along the way. Bodies of Water Points of Interest & Landmarks, This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. If you turn on a right angle to your right and follow the path down the hill, this will lead you in the right direction to the end of the Kuilau Ridge Trail. Make sure you go PAST the picnic tables, as the trail continues to the right. Description Waypoints (3) This beautiful hike through the Hawaiian rainforest is perfect for an exciting day out with the whole family. Wide, easy trail, but uphill. Would this trail be safe to carry a 1 year old in our backpack? Also, keep in mind that there is some hunting along the Moelepe portion if that bothers you. Not sure how far in that was but up to there the hike was all uphill but very gradual. Pretty views. The Kuilau Ridge Trail is one of the lesser known trails in the area, so it is generally less crowded. The raspberries are in bloom and every once in a while are just a special bonus for the efforts. After a first trip around the Pacific Ocean by plane and a long 3 months stay in Hawaii, we left to discover Iceland for 3 months on board our 4WD pickup truck and truck camper. The Kuilau Ridge Trail is an easy hike convenient to the east shore of Kauai that offers some gorgeous views of Mount Waialeale and the Makaleha Mountain Range. Along the way, take time to admire the panorama that opens to your left as the vegetation spreads. We are two parents in their mid-fifties, and 18-year-old girl and an almost 16-year-old son. The park around the corner was also nice to visit. After a quick ascent you'll be treated to a lovely view of Nounou Mountain - better known as The Sleeping Giantcan you find his chin? I think the only trouble would be the very beginning of the trail because they are longer steps to get up hill. The best views are beyond the picnic tables, and it won't be very far (less than half a mile) until you see the gorgeous views. As others have noted, the Kuilau Ridge trail is far superior to Moelepe. Trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. It had rained the day before and sprinkled in the morning, it was very muddy. There are two parking lots on the right side of the road. Parked about a quarter mile down the hill up to the trailhead on street parking. Every turn of the trail I was reaching for my camera. - https://youtu.be/SJmeqq6CIco, Trail was really busy but it is a Saturday. Rained twice while I was hiking, so bring the right gear and expect to get muddy and wet. To reach the Kuilau trailhead take Highway 56 to Highway 580 (just north of the Wailua river, south of Kapaa). Even though your view for the first part of the trail is blocked by the ridge, you are treated to a smorgasbord of native and non-native plants from guava to the hala tree. Tevas and light sneakers can get sucked off your feet in the sloppy mud. The views were breathtaking and birdsongs complemented the lush tropical environment. Hiking boots worked for going up, but micro spikes were extremely useful for preventing slipping or falls and ensuring footing on the way down, especially on the stairs and exposed tree roots. This isnt the end of the hike, although it is an important marker. If you like mud, then this is the trail for you. Views are okay. Wouldnt recommend this hike after some fresh rain. But it is very beautiful and lush, it's like you are walking in the Jurassic Park, very worth the hike. The Kuilau Trail is located in the Keahua Arboretum. When you book your Hawaii Rental Car online, I personally recommendand always useDiscover Cars. This is a great hike and a great view at the top! Just as I imagined Kauai would be. Makaleha Trail Hard 4.3 (1648) Kapaa, Kaua'i Photos (1,127) Directions Print/PDF map Length 5.2 miElevation gain 984 ftRoute type Out & back Enjoy this 5.2-mile out-and-back trail near Kapaa, Kaua'i. Kuilau Ridge Trail is a muddy but well-maintained hiking trail south of the Makaleha Mountains on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. There usually is parking after the trailheaddo it during the week, as the weekend usually is busy at the Arboretum and parking might be full there. Rain gear (as needed) Kauai's Kuilau Ridge Trail is a moderately easy trail that takes hikers into the lush, vibrant and green tropical interior of the island. Park at the end of the cul-de-sac, and proceed on foot past the cable gate on the access road. Low on mud compared to other Kauai trails, but still a bit muddy. We did the whole trail and even continued for a few miles past the bridge. don't pass the bridge; it gets pretty boring and significantly warmer if sunny. The trail was great and the views were amazing. Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more. The views of the coastline and ocean are magnificent! Then we continued our adventure in North America. Use good waterproof and sturdy hiking shoes. It starts out following the roadbed, which is now just a double track cleared by the tracks of the moderate number of hikers that this trail sees. Parking was scarce but not many people there. Get outside! Great view to the black wall/weeping wall. Good for a quick hike out, but Im certain there are other hikes on the island with far better views. If your feet are accustomed to Vibrams, they provide a natural "barefoot" experience with minimal weight and distraction. Great hike. This is a very popular area for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. A bit of mud in spots but I did fine with one pole for stabilizing. About a half mile past the bridge you could turn around if youre looking for views. There is also a sign indicating the trail head. Its only a 2-mile, out-and-back trail, which is easy for all levels of hiking ability. I turned around there. 36 3.6K views 4 years ago KUILAU RIDGE TRAILHEAD Another featured Kauai, Hawaii hike is up! * Hawaii-Guide.com is not a booking agent, accommodation provider, establishment, or tour operator. A brown and yellow state sign marks the entrance and clearly says Kuilau Ridge Trail. Guide of Hawaii, LLC is a privately-owned (non-government) business. Explore different ways to experience this place. The hike is easy if you're in shape and also passed an elderly man using cane towards the top of the hike which was good to see. The path climbs past trees and to opening views. The grassy area offers a picnic table and a forest of native ohia trees which often produce a bright red bloom. Fairly easy to moderate in the first half of the hike. See a problem? Encountered only a handful of people of the trail. Trailhead around 8am on a Thursday morning. In total, it took us 2 hours to make the round trip, which was very muddy when we came, which slowed us down a lot. This is one of the most beautiful waterfalls on the island of Kauai. Beautiful trail but not maintained to direct water off the trail. Still very grateful to have access and for maintenance! Beautiful moderate hike up to a nice ridge showing Kauai forests. I turned around at the picnic table. Given the forecast this week, I suggest a raincoat, synthetic long sleeve shirt, and towels and change of clothes at the car. A couple folks told us they couldnt find the waterfall at the end, Im sure its a great hike if you dont have really young or old ones hiking, but this was a bit of a flop for us. If you continue on forwards you will reach a dead-end. Hallelujah! 95% of travelers recommend this experience. The first 3/4 of the trail is in the forest and shaded but there really arent any views. Has all the various aspects for a good hike. On a Tuesday morning, the parking at the trailhead was full. At the 1 mile mark, you will come across a medium-sized grassy meadow perched upon the ridge. My go to hike! I was lucky enough and it was dry. Good footing except for brief muddy sections, gentle grade. Heading into Kauais interior and remote terrain offers dome of the most beautiful backdrops on the world. 91% of travelers recommend this experience. Super fun moderate hike with great views. We started about 4:30 pm and finished a little after sunset, 7:30 pm. It's a great way to get away from the beaches and feel like you're in the middle of a tropical rain first. Dont do the loop. Today, if we can continue this adventure, it is above all thanks to our blog, Smartrippers! Small parking lot but has some road-side parking available too, came on a weekday around 8AM, not too many cars, didn't see too many people. I clocked this trail to be a little over 5 miles round trip starting from the entrance gate. I love to hike and the Kuilau trail is my overall favorite. Required fields are marked *. The trail is muddy . Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use. Last 25% was underwhelming compared to the rest of it. I turned back shortly after this. I take my dog up there all the time. Check the wx beforehand because the top has a lot of clay and red dirt that would get slicker. Read our. * Hawaii-Guide.com is not a booking agent, accommodation provider, establishment, or tour operator. Last bit of stairs is a little rough. Loved the stairs on the way towards the top as the wind picks up when you climb in elevation. It felt Jurassic, primordial. Beautiful views before and after the picnic tables, then a nice forest walk until you reach a swing with a sweeping scenic overview. We will be in this area June 10-15. On the second leg of the L-shaped trail, at the point where you enter a barbed corridor, you might choose just to go back. If at the end of the hike your shoes and legs are muddy, you can go and clean them on the Keu00e4hue Stream which flows 100 meters upstream from the road. Once you are finished here, the trail picks up to the east and descends slightly into a switchback. The scenery is spectacular. The Kuilau Ridge Trail is an easy, incredibly pleasant jaunt up into the highlands of Kauai's Makaleha Mountains, with views and lush vegetation aplenty. These beginner-friendly hikes are appropriate for all abilities and showcase its variety of terrain. 9. The trail doesnt have any drastic changes in altitude and the trails are mostly well tended with few tripping hazards. Moelepe is essentially a slow descent, with the last 2 miles spent hiking between two fences surrounded by overgrown pastureland. Kuilau Ridge Trail 4.5 233 reviews #3 of 23 things to do in Kapaa Hiking Trails Write a review What people are saying By Robin D " Would do again. Next time we do plan on taking the entire hike that connects with other trails. Incredible views from vista at the top. Trail was pretty easy to follow; not much signage or marking, though. We are Sandrine and Flo, French thirty-somethings. " Day hike " Jun 2022 Gradual climb. Thanks. Backtrack until you reach the trailhead and enjoy further expansive views of the Garden Isle! Kuilau Ridge Trail. In the depth of the forest, the trail suddenly finishes abruptly as a sign says End of the Kuilau Ridge Trail. The beginning of the trail will introduce you to a variety of native and non-native plants. Gorgeous hike lots of shade nice people sharing the trail. No beach views or beautiful panoramas. View at the top is great but not much to see before you get there. Bring good hiking boots and sticks. I did it in sneakers. Once you get to the bridge you can continue the hike doubling the distance. Popular trail for a reason. The starting elevation point at the Kuilau Trailhead is 500 feet and ascends gently to 1,140 feet at the 1.5 mile marker (for an elevation gain of 640 feet). Completely dry the entire way. I wore hiking pants and appreciated having them as several sections of the trail have overgrowth. I hope my travels give you the motivation to set off on an epic adventure of your own. Very muddy, which you just need to embrace and enjoy the experience. I hiked all over Kauai for over a month and documented all of my adventures. No facilities, please be prepared for hiking in this area. You'll cross over a couple of streams and when you reach a Y, take a left. This trail joins another at a bridge, but only about the first mile of that is interesting. Muddy with a few decent spots to walk on. There are a few different approaches for this hike - you can take either the East route, West route, or the Kuamoo-Nounou route. Print/PDF Map. There are two parking lots on the side of the road. At 1.8 miles, you will start to hear the trickle of a small waterfall which is near a wooden bridge marking the end of the trail. Here are my hiking essentials. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Pas de vue, rien de particulier. This old road turned trail gently guides you up 760 feet to a glorious view of the Makaleha Mountains. If you dont have poles look for walking sticks lined up at the official trailhead. Most areas were passable. Rated 4.5 / 5. This was nice morning hike. Learn about the best time to visit Kauai , Our Kauai travel tips & recommendations , Explore Kauai Hotels & Resorts Search Now. Took a look at maybe attempted the rough trail to the left to the next peak over but looks like you need a death wish to try that. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Copyright Journey Era, 2022 | Sitemap | Privacy Policy. It was pretty muddy in several spots so you just navigate around it as best you can. About 700 vertical feet to finish off the hike in the last half mile. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location. Wonderful to walk a bit past the trailhead and clean off the mud and cool off feet in river. Own or manage this property? Copyright 2023 Guide of US, LLC. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. A little mud this morning, not too bad. It was definitely in the jungle, so that was really cool, got to hear the birds, feel the life all around us. I am 26 weeks pregnant and was wanting a hike that provided a beautiful experience while also not pushing my limits. Its been a wild ride. Trail was muddy and slippery, but not overwhelmingly so. Gentle inclines, nothing too steep. Lot full on return. Clocked in at over 5 miles for us. Saw a few others in the afternoon, but relatively quiet which was nice. Beautiful specimens of ferns and eucalyptus also line the path at times. Very slick when its raining best to do in dry conditions and avoiding wet conditions. But we will only talk here about the Kuilau Ridge Trail since we only went there and back to the small wooden bridge marking the border between the 2 trails. The deciding factor is -- how muddy will the trail be? You'll also pass a small waterfall. Have fun. Not much to see. Don't miss the waterfall " May 2023 Beautiful hike with a waterfall 1/2 mile past the picnic tables. The one star is for all the reviewers who left reviews for a hike which is NOT where Trip Advisor says it is. Definitely muddy but the walking sticks at the beginning served useful. All in all. Basically like trudging through the rain forest. If you're visiting Kauai soon, be sure to download your copy of one of our updated 2023 Kauai Visitor Guides. The Okolehao Trail on the North Shore of Kauai is a 2.5 mile trail that will give you a workout as you climb to 1,250 foot elevation. Your email address will not be published. Heard plenty of birdsong. Use bug repellent. Once you get to the stairs, it begins to ascend pretty quickly from there. A lot less busy on a weekday. It was really warm even with the rain though. And our answer is most often the Kuilau Ridge Trail! As you enter Hanalei cross the iron bridge over . Once you park, head back down the road on foot to the trail head which is also on the right. This was August 7th. Plants we had only seen in botanical gardens with their, blossoming in full glory. After that, it's just a long dirt road downhill along a barb-wire fence. You hike through dense forest up to Kuilau Ridge. Sort by: Show more photos. If there has been a lot of rain, you might not want to do that as the current might be too swift. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. For example, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Both the sounds and the scenery on this trail are unforgettable. Beautiful day!! Mahaulepu Heritage Trail (4 miles) Canyon Trail to Waipoo Falls (3.5 miles) Hoopii Falls Trail (2 miles) Kuilau Ridge Trail (3.5 miles) Enjoyed hiking to the picnic shelter (1.8mi & back), great views, jungle was fun. Really enjoyed it!! Kuilau Ridge Trail 24 reviews Unclaimed Hiking See all 55 photos Write a review Add photo Share Save Review Highlights "It's gonna be muddy as are most hikes in kauai so expect to get your shoes very dirty." in 5 reviews