Best Waimea Canyon Hikes: How to Hike the Kumuwela & Canyon Trail Loop
If you’re looking for an epic day hike at Waimea Canyon State Park, this is one of the best Waimea Canyon hikes you can complete to see epic views of the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” By combining multiple trails in Waimea Canyon State Park and Koke’e State Park, hike 6-7 miles through the forests of Kauai with epic overlooks into Waimea Canyon.
This loop trail is somewhat strenuous and requires some navigating through overgrown trails and down some dirt roads. That being said, the views are worth the effort. Read on for all the details and get ready for a fun adventure!
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Things to Know
Reservations are NOT required to visit Waimea Canyon State Park; however, there are entry and parking fees once you arrive at the parking areas.
- The cost of visiting Waimea Canyon State Park is:
- $5.00/person entrance fee if you are not a Hawaiian resident (children 3 and under are free).
- $10.00/car parking fee at any of the lots within Waimea Canyon State Park or Koke’e State Park if you are not a resident.
- Parking and entrance fee costs can be paid at on-site kiosks located at the park entrance and major lookout points. Bring your credit card!
- The road to Waimea Canyon is long, winding, steep, and narrow in some locations. It is a 1-hour drive from Poipu and a 2-hour drive from Princeville. Be aware that some of the roads are rough and may have large potholes, so please slow down!
- Parts of the trail may be overgrown, so be prepared with the proper hiking gear and long pants as needed.
- You may or may not need bug spray while hiking here. We recommend bringing some just in case. Get our favorite here!
🌺 Whenever you visit Kauai, please practice mālama by showing care and respect for others, supporting local businesses, and protecting the environment by refraining from littering. Keep Kauai pristine and pick up any trash you encounter. Take the time to learn about Hawaiian culture and spread kindness by paying it forward.
Safety and Weather At Waimea Canyon
- Cell phone service might be spotty in this area of Kauai, and emergency services are limited.
- Water: Get our favorite water bladder here and ditch those plastic water bottles!
- Gas and Food: There are NO gas services up in the mountains of Waimea Canyon. The closest gas station is in Waimea. There are nice food options at Koke’e Lodge, including delicious farm-to-table meals and drinks. Check out their website for more information!
- Restrooms: There are restrooms located at Koke’e Lodge, which is where we recommend starting this hike.
Waimea Canyon State Park
First up, it’s time to head to Waimea Canyon State Park. If you are following our Kauai itinerary, today will be a 2-hour driving day from Princeville all the way to Waimea Canyon. Think of it as driving from 12 pm to 9 pm on a clock all the way around the island.
As you reach Waimea, turn onto Waimea Canyon Drive and head toward Koke’e Lodge. There are a few places to stop along this drive into the park, including multiple lookout points and the red dirt waterfall. Stop at some of these places of interest if time allows.
Then, park your car at Koke’e Lodge and pay the entrance and parking fees. Finally, get ready for one of the best Waimea Canyon hikes!
☀️ For more epic hikes in Kauai, do NOT miss the Nu’alolo and Awa’awapuhi Trails. Get the details here!
Kumuwela, Canyon, and Halemanu-Koke’e Loop Trail – 6.6 miles – moderate/strenuous, 1,000+ foot gain
This loop trail begins across the street from the Koke’e Lodge. First, walk down Kumuwela Road. After walking 0.5 miles, you will reach Camp Sloggett, a local YMCA camp, but keep hiking and stay on the road. At the next fork in the road at about 0.6 miles, stay to the right. Eventually, this road will end and become the Kumuwela Trail. It’s about 1 mile to reach the end of Kumuwela Road.
Kumuwela Trail – 0.8 miles
The Kumuwela Trail is about 0.8 miles and will lead you to the Canyon Trail. The Kumuwela Trail can be overgrown in some sections, so be careful around the thorny bushes along the trail. About halfway through, the trail gains elevation as you approach the trail junction with the Canyon Trail.
Part of this trail is very shaded and becomes quite dark in contrast to the view that lies ahead.
Canyon Trail – 2.7 miles
As you reach the Canyon Trail, get ready for some amazing views into Waimea Canyon! You will soon learn why Mark Twain called it the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”. At this point, the trail will continue, losing elevation as you hike. There are plenty of areas to stop along this section of the trail with stunning views. Just watch your footing.
Eventually, you’ll reach a picnic area, and this is a perfect place to stop, enjoy the views, and have a snack or lunch. Finally, continue along the trail until you reach Waipo’o Falls after about another half mile or so.
It’s sort of hard to see Waipo’o Falls due to the position of the trail, but it’s there, below you! Cross the stream here and be careful as you do. Once you’re across the water, it’s a steep climb up, and this area may be very slippery. Then, hike about 0.9 miles to reach the Halemanu-Koke’e Trail.
➡️ Looking for other fun tours to do in Kauai? Visit Viator to find out more about helicopter tours and snorkeling excursions.
Halemanu-Koke’e Trail – 1.5 miles
Next, hike through the forest full of Koa Trees and ‘Ōhi‘a, which is the most common native Hawaiian tree. These trees can be noted by their beautiful red flowers, and you won’t miss them. Sadly, ‘Ōhi‘a are currently threatened due to a fungus that kills them. There is no effective treatment or cure, so please leave these trees and flowers alone and enjoy their beauty.
Finally, this section of the trail will link back up to Camp Sloggett and dump you back out on Kumuwela Road. From here, take a left back up the road. Or, maybe you want to do the loop over again? 😅
Hike Kumuwela Road Back out – 0.6 miles
Now it’s just a quick 0.6-mile trek out of the woods along Kumuwela Road. The road will lead you back to the Koke’e Lodge. Cross the road and end your day with some treats!
Waimea Canyon Tours
Maybe you’d rather not hike and leave the logistics to someone else? If so, take a tour of Waimea Canyon! Here are a few great options from Viator:
- Kauai Waimea Canyon and Koke’e Tour – a badge of excellence! Learn about the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific” and stop at several vista points along the way for great photos. Visit Hanapepe and see highlights of the southern coast of Kauai.
- Private Waimea Canyon Tour – recommended by 100% of travelers! Explore the best of Kauai on a full-day private tour through the island’s scenic landscape, highlights, and historic landmarks.
Where To Stay In South Kauai
For the second leg of your amazing trip to Kauai, we recommend staying near Poipu. Below are a few top-rated accommodations in south Kauai near Poipu:
- Poipu Kai Resort Condos – This was a perfect home base for us in South Kauai! Condos with private pools and within walking distance to beaches. Book this location now on VRBO. You won’t be disappointed!
- Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa – A sprawling luxury resort with a lava-rock river pool, waterslide, and saltwater lagoon. This one is pricey, but check it out on Booking.com.
- Ko’a Kea Resort On Poipu Beach – an intimate resort on a prime beachfront spot on Kauai’s south shore. Reserve your stay now on Expedia or Booking.com.
- Aston At Poipu Kai – a top-rated beach location and outdoor pool. Walk to nearby Poipu and Shipwreck Beaches to watch the sunset every night. Check it out on Expedia or Booking.com.
Other Things to Do
After your hike in Waimea Canyon State Park, head back to Waimea town and stop at the Red Dirt Store. There are also some other destinations nearby, including the Hanapepe Swinging Bridge and the beautiful Hanapepe Valley Lookout.
Finally, check into your accommodations in Poipu and hit the beach or a local restaurant!
Final Thoughts
This loop hike is definitely the best bang for your buck to see Waimea Canyon State Park. We really enjoyed the different scenery along this trail, including hiking through the dark forest and along the rim of Waimea Canyon.
We’ll be honest, the first section of the trail until reaching Waimea Canyon wasn’t the most exciting ever, but sometimes you have to work for those epic views! To follow this trail on the map, we recommend using HikingProject.
💤 Be sure to book your accommodations in Poipu!
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