Waimea Canyon Kauai & Koke`e Hawaii State Park
Waimea Canyon Kauai, not to be confused with Waimea on the Big Island, is one of my favorite places on Kauai. This rugged canyon is 2,700 feet deep and appears to be right of a Western movie with its muted purple and earth-toned hues.
The Hawaiian name, Waimea translates to red waters. The streams of Waimea Kauai and Waimea Big Island get their red from the red soil. You can view Waimea Canyon from the look out point, the hiking trails or air via a small plane or one of the Kauai helicopter tours.
The Kauai State Park canyon is often sunny and arid, a stream flows through it and waterfalls tumble down its steeps walls. All that's missing are the mules and rattlesnakes (we have no snakes in Hawaii).
For a road side view of Waimea Canyon Kauai, take Waimea Canyon Drive 12 miles into the interior of the island. The road hugs the rim of the canyon, providing a staggering view of the 3,000-foot canyon. There's an excellent viewing area from the parking lot as well.
Koke‘e State Park & Koke`e Lodge
Located in Northwestern Kauai near Waimea Canyon, this 4,325 acre park offers a museum where you can learn about the weather, plants and birds of Kokee State Park and Wildlife Refuge.
There's also the cozy, Kokee Lodge for dining with cabins for overnighters. A myriad of hiking trails, including excellent birdwatching trails, can be enjoyed. The upland terrain (3200 to 4200 feet) is cooler with occassional frost.
Magestic koa trees are among the main attractions at this Hawaii State Park. At the end of the state road that takes you through Kokee is a lookout point to the Kalalau Valley (which extends to the famous Kalalau Beach)
This view of the Na Pali cliffs and verdant valley is not to be missed. It is not only breathtaking but offers a unique feature where a heavy cloud mist rolls in and then seconds or a few minutes later back out revealing the view.
If you go, bring a jacket. Day temperatures vary from a 45°F average in January to 68°F in July. Annual rainfall is 70 inches with rainy periods from October to May.
Koke'e State Park & Kokee Lodge is a Mecca for hikers, campers and Hawaii eco tourist. The park offers 19 different trails, and hiking is one of the most popular activities here.
For a hiking experience that offers you amazing views of Waimea Canyon Kauai, I recommend the Canyon Trail, a popular scenic trail of 1.8 miles that follows the rim of Waimea Canyon and crosses Koke'e Stream.
