Everyone Should Take This Easy Hike Through The Hawaiian Jungle At Least Once
By Megan Shute|Published January 24, 2017
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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.
The Hawaiian island of Kauai is home to countless incredible landscapes, lush, green scenery, and some of the best hiking you’ll find in America. These trails include the famous Kalalau Trail, the picturesque Waimea Canyon Trail, the unforgettable Alakai Swamp Trail, and the family-friendly Wai Koa Loop Trail, among others. One of our favorite hikes, however, is the Kuilau Ridge Trail, a stunning 4.5-mile hike with sweeping views of Mount Wai’ale’ale, one of the wettest spots on earth.
With sweeping vistas of Mount Wai’ale’ale, the Kuilau Trail may be long, but is welcoming to those who want a non-treacherous hike on Kauai.
About one mile into the trail, you will be greeted by a grassy field and picnic area overlooking a grand, canopied valley. If you’d rather opt for a short hike, this lunch spot can mark an excellent halfway point if you want to head back to your car.
When hiking the trail, be prepared for light rain and a little mud. We suggest bringing a light jacket, clothes you don’t mind getting muddy, hiking boots with good traction, and maybe even a waterproof bag to protect your camera and phone. If you find a walking stick along the trail, grab it.
While there are several hikes in the area, nowhere will you find better views of Kauai’s lush and beautiful interior paired with a relatively easy footpath.
It is when you enter the lush, green interior of Kauai along the Kuilau Trail that you understand just how the island got the nickname “The Garden Isle.”
