The Kalalau Trail in Kauai - Path to the Secret Paradise Beach - Hawaii Travel Guide

The Kalalau Trail is one of the most beautiful, strenuous, epic, and dangerous hiking trails along the Na Pali Coast on the Hawaiian Island Kauai. The trail is around 11 miles or 18 kilometers long and runs along the island’s north shore from Ke’e Beach to the Kalalau Valley. Depending on your speed and expertise, it is possible to complete the round trip in two to three days, but I highly recommend planning enough time. Camping is only permitted at a campsite in Hanakoa Valley and in Kalalau Beach.

The first 3 kilometers until Hankapiai Beach of the trail are moderately strenuous and does not require a camping permit. To continue past Hankapiai Beach to Hanakoa Valley you need a camping permit, which you need to register for online at the Hawaiian Office for Natural Resources. Only hikers with valid camping permits may legally proceed beyond the sign. Beyond that point, the trail to Hanakoa Falls is not always well maintained and sometimes difficult to find.

The trail can be very narrow and steep at times. Moreover, three major streams cross the trail that can rapidly rise upon sudden rain. Because of the special location and the constant wind that bring humidity only to one side, you cross both the wettest region of the US and the fourth driest region in the world on this trail. And in addition to that, fallen rocks have also reported to result in serious injuries or death. All this together makes it no surprise that the Kalalau Trail is often refered to as one of the most dangerous hikes in the world. At some point, when we crossed a sign indicating how many people have died at this location (83+ at that time), we were seriously considering to return.

But it was worth it that we endured. The trail ends in Kalalau Valley, which is a Paradise and Kalalau Beach arguably the most beautiful beach I’ve ever seen. What makes it even more special is that Kalalau Beach cannot be reached via any other way than to hike the Kalalau Trail. There is no road that leads to the beach along the steep Na Pali Coast, a Helicopter cannot land there, and most of the times, the waves are too strong for boats to land there. This makes Kalalau Beach a paradise for Hiking enthusiast.

When we arrived there after an entire day of strenuous hiking, we were simply overwhelmed. There also was an interesting community of enthusiastic campers present who lives off what they can catch and hunt at Kalalau.