recommendation for best hike

As a long-time lurker on this board I first want to thank all the helpful posters who make this such a wonderful and helpful site. We are making our first trip to Kauai in late March. We only have probably one day to do a good hike. What would be your favorite if you had to choose just one? I have read several guide books including ';Kauai Revealed'; and am leaning toward the canyon trail to Waipo%26#39;o falls. Having a destination to a falls has some appeal to my kids(ages 13 and 16) Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

recommendation for best hike

I%26#39;ll be interested in reading the suggestions.

We are headed in February and are going to book one hike with an outfitter, so we get the lay of the land, meet people get our barrings etc. We%26#39;ll probly book the river kayak and hiking tour to a waterfall... Could be a good option if your bringing kidders?

recommendation for best hike

We just got back two weeks ago. The canyon trail is our reccomendation. We did the Kaalua trail as well (first 2 miles) it was tough and muddy and not as rewarding. Breathtaking views of waimea canyon

The first part of the Kalalau trail is a great hike but can be wet and muddy. Depending on how athletic and adventurous your kids are you could also take the side hike up to Hanakapi%26#39;ai falls. It would take most of the day, but you%26#39;re rewarded with some breathtaking scenery.

Thanks for the responses. Does anyone have any thoughts on the hikes further up the canyon, such as the Honopu trail or the Pihea overlook.

Hi there. I did the Awa%26#39;awapuhi trail up in Koke%26#39;e. It was a wonderful hike with some great views. I must say though, that I preferred the Kalalau trail. The first leg to the beach and then over to the falls will be a wonderful day hike for you. Don%26#39;t do it if it%26#39;s raining though, as it can become treacherous. There will be more people on the Kalalau, as it is more popular, but it is for good reason!

I%26#39;ve had the chance to do all three options you%26#39;ve been provided. I have to agree that the Na Pali hike is wonderful but potentially very muddy. I%26#39;ve also done the Waipo%26#39;o Trail and had a great time there. Understand that you%26#39;ll need to hike past the stream (up onto a ridge) to get the best views of the falls.

My favorite was my hike on the Nualo%26#39;lo Trail off the western side of the Canyon just below Koke%26#39;e Museum. It was a lot of work, but the views of the cliffs descending down to the ocean (2000%26#39; or so) were breath-taking. Seeing helicopters in the valleys did a great job of showing their sheer size, and the array of colors from the stones as well the waterfalls made it a 100-photo (thank you digital cameras) hike.

My recommendation: If your kids are good (meaning, having some hiking stamina), do the Nualo%26#39;lo Trail. Get a group picture at the plateau at the end of the trail with the little ';end of trail'; sign in the picture to end your slide show!

If they%26#39;re not, then go with the Waipo%26#39;o Falls trail. It%26#39;s less strenuous, and still has unforgetable views into the canyon, and the falls if you go a little further. By the way, the trail over the stream that feeds the falls is tough to find if you cross it. When you get to the ';leptosporsis warning'; sign, go left for a wonderful little waterfall, or right then left (through the water!) to get to the trail on the other side of the stream. There%26#39;s also a great place to eat lunch at the canyon rim if you continue. Picnic table and everything! Figure on 2 1/2 hours if you keep a good pace.

Also, target an early start to avoid rain showers that tend to crop up if you do the falls trail. The showers make the trails pretty slippery, and close out the views later on.

Figure later in the day (to get better light into the valleys) if you go out to the Na Pali cliffs. Same thing about showers making the trail slippery, and it%26#39;s steeper in spots, too.

Kauai Revealed helped guide me to the trails; they%26#39;ve done a very good job laying out the basics of finding the trailheads, and keeping you from making overtly wrong turns!

With either option, you%26#39;ll have an amazing hike, and photos that%26#39;ll wow evryone who sees them.

Thanks for all the great advice. I%26#39;ll be sure and post a report when we return. Unfortunately we dont go for three months! And its 12 degrees outside!

One last question; how much cooler is it while hiking around the canyon? In general will a sweatshirt and shorts suffice or do you generally need long pants?

Well, I%26#39;m someone who starts sweating when the temperature goes above 50, so take what I say with that in mind...

I%26#39;ve found that it%26#39;s more the sharp bushes that poke at your legs that have persuaded me to wear long pants (sometimes).

I%26#39;ve never been cold or cool when hiking. The general rule of thumb is that you lose about 3 degrees of temperature for every 1000%26#39; of elevation. That%26#39;d give you about a 12 degree decrease at the top of the canyon, compared with sea level.

I would like to second Peterb%26#39;s recommendation for the Nualo%26#39;lo Trail. We did this complete loop including the Cliff Trail and Awaawapuhi and it was breathtaking, absolutely my favorite. However, the entire loop is 11 miles and it%26#39;s definitely exhausting. When you get to the end of the Nualolo Trail and reach the Lolo vista, it%26#39;s just stunning, words and pictures do not capture it. I also enjoyed the Kalaulau Trail (this one was my husband%26#39;s favorite). The second half that leads to the waterfall is VERY challenging, you have to cross over water several times. I didn%26#39;t think it would be worth it but the 300%26#39; waterfall at the end is also stunning. There are pictures of both in my album if you want to take a look:

snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/…30852143

Also, regarding the weather, I noticed that it was significantly chillier up at the Canyon. I had on shorts and a tank top and was cold but warmed up as the hike progressed. I%26#39;d suggest layers. Have fun, you%26#39;ll love whatever you choose!