The Ethereal Swamp In Hawaii That Will Transport You To Another World
By Megan Shute|Published July 16, 2019
×
Megan Shute
Author
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
From cascading waterfalls and the inviting turquoise waters of the Pacific Ocean to lush rain forests and mountain peaks, breathtaking natural beauty abounds on the Hawaiian Islands. And nowhere will you find more breathtaking scenery than within Hawaii’s countless incredible parks. With more than 50 state parks, waysides, recreation areas, monuments, and historic sites, there are countless Hawaiian parks to choose from, though this Wilderness Preserve is easily the Aloha State’s most unique.
Located on the island of Kauai on a plateau near Mount Waiʻaleʻale, one of the wettest spots on Earth within the incredible Koke’e State Park is the Alakai Swamp, a truly one-of-a-kind Hawaiian landscape.
The ecosystem found here cannot be found anywhere else on Kauai, and in fact, there are only two other accessible bogs like this one in Hawaii: one on Oahu, and one on Molokai.
Advertisement
This otherworldly beauty is often shrouded in mist, and is one of the few places on the island of Kauai where you can literally walk through the clouds.
The most popular way to explore the Alakai Swamp is embarking on the epic Alakai Swamp Trail, which begins at the Pu’u o Kila Lookout, meanders along the Pihea Summit Trail, and traverse approximately 7 miles of boardwalk through a unique wet forest and a boggy swamp.
Construction on the boardwalk began in 1991 in order to minimize the impact of hikers on this incredible landscape and is comprised of redwood planks outfitted with chicken wire to provide much-needed traction.
The enchanting swampland gets approximately 70 inches of rainfall annually, often between the months of October and May, so you better start planning your trip. Seriously, what are you waiting for? This magical destination will quickly transport you to another world!
Have you ever visited the one-of-a-kind Alakai Wilderness Preserve? Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below. Then, to discover another otherworldly destination in Hawaii, check out this steam forest nestled within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
