How to Hike the Kauai Napali Coast

The dramatic Napali Coast

The Napali Coast of the Hawaiian Island of Kauai is one of the goals of many serious hikers across the globe and one of the most challenging. The focus of this article is to prepare even the most experienced adventurers for the exhilarating journey.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Recent history of strenuous exercise
• Stamina
• Good balance
• No fear of heights
• Fluids
• Energy bars or equivalent
• Basic first aid supplies
• Backpack or fanny pack
• High quality hiking boots
• Proper hiking apparel

Plan the Hike

1. Rugged path to stunning views

   Make sure you are in excellent health and have been exercising regularly before attempting a hike on the Kalalau Trail. The terrain is extremely rugged and many sections can be very slippery. Good balance is important too. The trail is only 2 feet wide in places and right along very steep drop-offs. You'll be walking on damp or wet rocks and roots much of the time. Making sure your ankles, knees and hips are strong is important to minimize sprains.

2. First beach on Kauai's Kalalau Trail

   Be wise and schedule your day properly. Unless you are planning on stomping through the luscious foliage for more than a day, at the very least you need to back time your round trip from the projected time of sunset. You really don't want to be hiking this trail in the dark. An early morning start is best so you can take your time. Your first destination is 45 minutes to an hour one way and it is a marvelous one. The trail crosses a small river. Just on the other side is a majestic beach tucked away in the coastline.

3. Looking down the coast from high on the trail

   Know your limitations. Do not set an unreasonable destination for yourself or others who may be hiking with you. Plan for the weakest person on the team and proceed at their level of ability.

4. 

   Things to pack. To keep up your stamina, be sure to have at minimum one bottle of water and one energy snack per person for each day's excursion. Also, a basic First Aid Kit is a good idea with bandages, scissors, knife, tape and a clean cloth.

Safety First

1. Crossing boulders and roots is challenging, especially when they are wet. With rocks, it's usually best to cross the tops and avoid stepping on the sides. The opposite is true with roots. If there's enough space, step in between.

2. Don't go thud in the mud. If it's wet, avoid the same spots that all the other hikers have used to step. They leave a coating of mud just for you to slip on. Try to step where mud from their shoes has not accumulated. If you see an obvious place where someone has slipped, don't step there. Also, every so often, scrape your boot bottoms on a root or rock to get the excess mud off. Try not to do it where someone else will walk though. Be courteous.

3. Trenches. Much of the trail has been worn to a trench down the middle and often it's muddy down there. When navigating this stuff, don't even think about trying to stay clean. Don't try to walk the steep slippery sides of the trail; line your steps up right down in the bottom of the trench, even if it's under water. There's less chance of falling that way and besides, coming back with Kauai mud on you is a badge to wear proudly.

4. Happy trails

   You can be tall or you can be short but never take short cuts. The most injuries take place when hikers see what looks like a short cut and try to maneuver it. The short cuts end up being a long detour because they are much steeper than the main trail, therefore you're more cautious and it slows you down. They are dangerous, so stay on the main trail.

Relax and Enjoy

1. 

   Take your time. The majestic beauty of the Napali Coast is unmatched anywhere in the world. Stop often along the way and look out over the coast line. You'll see a "curvature of the earth" view of the Pacific. You won't see one speck of land out there--that's how remote the Hawaiian Islands are. You are on a rock in the middle of nowhere.

2. Thar she blows! During whale season, stand out on a point off the trail and just stare over the ocean far below for a while. You may catch sight of humpbacks swimming and breaching along the coast. It's a sight you will never forget.

3. 

   Incredible edibles. Take a taste of the trail's tempting treats and use a guide book of Kauai's natural fruits. There are many along the way and they are delicious.

4. 

   At the first beach, take time to sit and enjoy a packed lunch. Feel free to stroll around or climb the massive pile of boulders that border it. There are some wild cats that live there too who wouldn't mind at all if you shared a few crumbs of your meal with them. What you don't want to do though is go in the ocean there. The current is very strong with huge waves. No matter how macho you think you are, do not swim off of this beach.

Other Destinations

1. 

   There's a waterfall about another 40 minutes up the river from the beach at your first destination. Just head up the river away from the beach. The trail head is very small and hard to find but what you see at the end of it is marvelous. Be sure to have three hours before sunset if you trek up there. It's a great hike.

2. Keep on truckin'. You can hike for a week on this trail all along the coast. You will need a camping permit. You'll also need a map of the various destinations along the way. Some of the more adventurous take very little in the way of food and live off the land but you need to be very experienced to do this. Plan well ahead and take a surplus of items you will need. This is only recommended for the most hearty of hikers.

3. Alternative route. Some prefer to launch off of Ke'e beach in a Zodiac or canoe. They head to the left off the beach a few miles and skip the first section of the trail.

4. 

   Reward yourself. The Kalalau Trail head is at the very end of the road on the North Shore of Kauai. Lucky for hikers, there is also Ke'e Beach. It's simply fantastic, especially in the summer time. A protective reef makes for a great swimming hole; it's much like a great big pool in the ocean. There's crystal clear water that's no more than 20 feet deep. It's a great way to cool off and wash off after the hike. You'll find plenty of trees that line the beach for shade and it's a perfect location to see the sunset.

Tips & Warnings

• Take sunscreen and stay well hydrated.

• If the weather is threatening, don't go on the trail or in the water.

• Don't get cocky on the trail; it leads to injury.

• Hike at your own risk.

• Lives have been lost at the first beach on the trail. Do not go near the water.

• People have suffered broken bones and various other injuries on the trail. Use common sense.

• It's up to each individual to decide if they are capable of hiking this trail.