The Grand Canyon of the Pacific: Waimea Canyon on Kauai
Written: Jul 30 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: great hiking; breathtaking scenery
Cons: the crowds at some of the lookouts
The Bottom Line: Waimea Canyon is a breathtaking attraction on the island of Kauai that should not be missed!
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| whitty's Full Review: Waimea Canyon, Kauai |
When we told people that we'd be traveling to Kauai as a part of our honeymoon trip, those who knew Kauai would always respond with a recommendation to visit Waimea Canyon. In fact, this was the only consistent recommendation that came from almost everyone.
Kauai was our first island stop, just days after our wedding. We chose to go there first to relax, and not have much to do, but we knew that if we were only to do one thing at all, it would be to visit Waimea Canyon.
What is it?
Located on the west side of the island, Waimea Canyon is famous for having been dubbed as the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific" by Mark Twain. It is ten miles long and 3,600 feet deep, making it the largest canyon in the Pacific Ocean. It is easy to see how Twain gave it this nickname. Standing on the ridge and overlooking the vastness of the Canyon, anyone who has been to the Grand Canyon remembers that same awe-inspiring rock, cliffs and scenery.
There are two major differences between the Grand Canyon and Waimea Canyon: 1.) The colors-- the vibrancy of the colors in the canyon here will amaze you. These were caused from centuries of various clay, water from flooding, rock and lava forming on top of one another. (The lava obviously causing a new aspect that the Grand Canyon does not have.)
2.) Size-- the other obvious difference is the size of Waimea. It dwarfs in comparison to the Grand Canyon, but this doesn't diminish the experience at all. Really, it just means that you are able to see much of Waimea Canyon in a day. (Whereas, it would take you a lot longer with the Grand Canyon.)
Being only ten miles long makes it easy to drive and visit the major stops along the way.
How do I get there?
It depends where you are coming from, but the majority of tourists will be coming from the south side of the island, and the resorts in Poipu and Lihue. You'll take highway 50 to get to the town of Waimea, and then turn onto Highway 552 (Kokee Road), which is the road that goes up and through the Canyon that has the many lookouts.
Your best best is to ask your concierge, or get directions from the place you are staying. All roads lead in this direction in the end -- Kauai is a small island and it is possible to drive most of it in a day
The Waimea Canyon drive can take anywhere from a half-day to full day, depending on how fast you drive and how many times you stop. Mile markers along the road clearly mark your way.
Precautions to take when visiting
Fill your gas tank. The road through the Canyon is 40 miles long, and there are no gas stations along the way. Filling up in one of the towns on the shore is definitely recommended before hand. (Since most tourists will be coming from the town of Waimea, on the south side, this is a good place to fill up.)
Bring a map. If you plan on hiking, it is wise to bring a map. Some of the smaller hikes are well-marked but it is better to be safe than sorry, especially if you plan on taking a longer hike or deviating from one of the more popular hikes. We had with us the "Kauai Revealed" travel guide, and we also picked up a free map of the area before we drove over.
Bring a tour book. It isn't a necessity, but it was nice for us to be able to read the history of the Canyon, and read about each lookout as we passed the way. I can't recommend taking some sort of guide enough. Again, I have to recommend the "Kauai Revealed" book. Not only did we find it to be a helpful guide, but others who have gone have said the same.
Eat beforehand, or bring food. There aren't any restaurants or "tourist stops" along the way really. There are some vendors at certain lookouts, but they are basically selling snack food, sodas and postcards.
Lookouts and hikes
One of the top lookouts is called Kalalau lookout. The stop here offers you a panoramic view of the Kalalau Valley and the Na Pali coast, which boasts having one of the "greatest views of the Pacific." There is an 11-mile hike here that will take you down to the ocean and Kee Beach, visiting many waterfalls (notably, the Hanakapiai Waterfalls) along the way.
Being one of the more popular stops and hikes, you will find restrooms and a picnic area here. If you have traveled from the south side of the island (where most of the resorts are), this will be one of the last lookouts you come across.
A little beyond Kalalau is Pu'u o Kila Lookout. The paved road actually ended at Kalalau, and you have to drive along a dirt road to get to Pu'u o Kila. Given this reason, not as many tourists travel on. We drove on, wanting to see the additional lookout because of the recommendation in our travel guide.
Other activities
Waimea Canyon is actually a part of Koke'e State Park. The State Park allows fishing, hiking and camping as long as guidelines are followed.
Also, if you don't like the idea of driving the Canyon, or camping out, you can see the Canyon via helicopter. There are several helicopter tour companies on Kauai that will take you on a detailed tour, giving you a view from a different angle! We did not do a helicopter tour but I can say that the best way to get information on this is to get to the island first, and then pick up the brochures and information at the airport or at your hotel.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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whitty
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Location: Philadelphia, PA
Reviews written: 142
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