Kalalau Trail in 1 Day: How to Hike to Hanakapi’ai Falls and Back
One of the best hikes in Kauai, and maybe even the best in Hawaii, is the Kalalau Trail! Located at Ha’ena State Park on North Shore Kauai, this trail can’t be missed. There are a few different ways you can hike on this trail: Complete the Kalalau Trail in 1 day with an epic day hike to Hanakapi’ai Falls, or extend your hike, camp along the trail, and complete the entire full 22 mile Kalalau Trail.
As you may have seen on our blog before, we usually do not camp, so this guide focuses on completing the Kalalau Trail in 1 day by hiking to Hanakapi’ai Beach, Hanakapi’ai Falls, and back. Read on for all the details!
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Things to Know
- Reservations are required to enter Ha’ena State Park. Jump to the information in our post below.
- You may or may not need bug spray while hiking here. We recommend bringing some just in case. Get our favorite here!
- The Kalalau Trail can be hot and sunny, so bring plenty of sunscreen! When enjoying the ocean in Kauai, your sunscreen must be reef-safe! 🐠 Please protect Hawaii’s amazing ecosystems!
🌺 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 on the Kalalau Trail
- There is no cell phone service on this trail, and emergency services are VERY limited.
- In some locations, the Kalalau Trail is steep, narrow, and has large cliff drop-offs. Nothing too harrowing on the day hike, however!
- The valleys are prone to flash floods at any time, so be weather aware. Ocean currents and waves can be intense on the North Shore. There are no lifeguards, so swim at your own risk.
- Be prepared to turn around if conditions become life-threatening. Tell a friend or family member your plans for the day while you’re out on this trail, so if something happens to you, rescue teams will have a better idea of where to search.
- Bring plenty of food and water. This trail takes lots of energy! We really recommend using a water bladder on this hike. Get yours here.
Kalalau Trail in 1 Day
The entire Kalalau Trail is about 22 miles out and back. Plan to backpack and camp if you want to complete the entire trail. Let’s focus on the hike to Hanakapi’ai Falls and back to complete the Kalalau Trail in 1 day. The day hike is 8-9 miles total. Think of this trail in multiple sections:
- It’s 2 miles to Hanakapi’ai Beach and
- Another 2 miles to Hanakapi’ai Falls.
- Finally, the return trip is an additional 4 miles.
Plan to spend the entire day at Ha’ena State Park, as the trail can take longer than you’d expect. If the trail is muddy or rain is in the forecast, prepare for very slippery conditions and the possibility that you might have to cut your hike short.
First, begin your day at the end of the Kuhio Highway to reach the trailhead at Ha’ena State Park. As noted before, you MUST secure reservations to visit by car, shuttle, or on foot/bike.
Start Your Hike to Hanakapi’ai Beach
The Kalalau Trail begins right near Ke’e Beach. Be sure to hit up the restrooms before heading out. The trail begins with a fairly steep climb for about a half mile. Be sure to check out the Ke’e Beach overlook behind you on the trail at a quarter mile.
Nā Pali Coast Views – 0.5 miles
After about half a mile, the view of the Nā Pali Coast is absolutely stunning! Take some time here to enjoy the view. Then, continue on the trail where you’ll gain and lose elevation as the trail goes up and down along the coast. Take your time, as it is very steep in some sections. Parts of the trail have logs across to help with footing.
At the 1-mile mark, the trail descends 400+ feet in elevation all the way to Hanakapi’ai Beach. Enjoy the amazing scenery of the Nā Pali Coast along this stretch of trail as you head toward the beach.
🛋️ Don’t forget to book your stay at the excellent Ali’i Kai Resort condos. This is a perfect spot for exploring North Shore Kauai!
Hanakapi’ai Beach – 2 miles
You made it to the beach! It might look like the perfect spot to enjoy the ocean, but swimming, wading, and surfing can be dangerous. It’s not recommended to enter the water here. Waves and rip currents change by the minute and are often extremely treacherous. Swim at your own risk. This beach is known for multiple drownings.
The waves and currents here during our visit were very strong, and we did not swim, but we did observe some surfers and got some great photos of the beach and surroundings! Save time here and plan to swim at Ke’e Beach after the hike – it’s much more peaceful.
Hike From Hanakapi’ai Beach to Hanakapi’ai Falls – 4 miles
Next, head out on the unmaintained trail through the Hanakapi’ai Valley toward the waterfall. About a mile into the valley, the trail crosses a stream, then becomes more challenging as it winds over rocks and fallen trees. The trail gains steady elevation as you hike, but it is not technically hard.
The last half of the trail is best hiked in favorable weather conditions to reduce the risk of flash floods and falling rocks, so plan to turn back as necessary. It’s possible to become stranded on this trail when water levels are high, so please know the risks and do not cross if water levels are high. We don’t want to see you on the evening news!
🌴 Read next: Learn more about our epic 7 day trip to Kauai. Get the epic itinerary here!
Hanakapi’ai Falls
This amazing 300-foot waterfall is definitely a great halfway point during your Kalalau Trail day hike. Spend some time enjoying the area, and hopefully, you brought your lunch to enjoy as you rest. If you get in the water here, be aware of the risk of rocks falling from the waterfall above.
Hike Out – 4 miles
Lastly, it’s time to head back the way you came to the trailhead. Take your time as you travel back through the forest and over the stream crossings. Sometimes, the return trip is more strenuous, especially with the increasing sun and heat of the day.
Ke’e Beach
There is nothing better than ending a long and strenuous hike at the beach, right? Hopefully, you reserved enough time at Ha’ena State Park to enjoy some beach time. Relax, take a dip in the water, go snorkeling, or even take a quick nap on the beach. Don’t forget your beach towel!
🏖️ Get all the details here on Ke’e Beach and its amazing scenery!
How To Secure Reservations & Use the Go Ha’ena Shuttle
Reservations to visit Ke’e Beach and Ha’ena State Park are REQUIRED! There are a few different options that you can use to visit this amazing destination. If there is one thing to note, get your reservations as soon as the time window opens up, as they sell out within seconds!
Visit Go Haena to secure reservations. Dates for reservations open 30 days prior at midnight Hawaiian Time. For example, 6/30 opens 5/31, 7/1 opens 6/1, and so on. Here are the available options:
- Go Ha’ena Shuttle and Entry: $40.00 (ages 16+), $25.00 (ages 4-15), Free (ages 0-3)
- Waipa Park & Ride: Drive and park for free in Hanalei at the main shuttle stop.
Princeville: Walk from nearby Princeville resorts. No parking at the shuttle stop.- The final return shuttle timing is seasonal, and all return rides are first come, first served.
- Waipa Park & Ride: Drive and park for free in Hanalei at the main shuttle stop.
- Parking and Entry: $10.00/car per timeslot and $5.00 entry per person.
- Limited parking – these reservations are hard to get and sell out FAST, usually within 1-2 minutes. You may enter the parking lot anytime after your timeslot begins. However, you must leave before your timeslot ends.
- All visitors named on the reservation must arrive together in one vehicle and you can’t take multiple trips to pick up more people.
- Entry Only With Resident, Walk, or Bike: $5.00/person for Hawaiian residents and those who are not parking. Residents of Hawaii do not need a pass.
Timeslots for entry include the following. Reserve multiple time slots to stay longer.
- Morning: 6:30 am – 12:30 pm
- Afternoon: 12:30 pm – 5:30 pm
- Evening: 4:30 pm – Sunset
For more information on the reservation system, visit Go Ha’ena. This is one of our favorite things to do on North Shore Kauai!
Where To Stay
We recommend staying near Princeville during your first few days while visiting Kauai. This will give you a great home base for Ha’ena State Park. Here are some of the best places to stay:
- 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay – Top-rated, luxurious oceanfront sanctuary on Hanalei Bay with outstanding views.
- Ali’i Kai Resort – We loved our stay here! 2 bed/2 bath condos located on a bluff overlooking the ocean and close to Queen’s Bath.
- The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas – 1 and 2-bedroom villas with full kitchens, onsite restaurants, and pools.
➡️ Looking for other fun tours in Kauai? Visit Viator to find out more about helicopter tours and snorkeling excursions.
Queen’s Bath & More
If you’re looking for some other things to do after your hike on the Kalalau Trail, we recommend checking out Queen’s Bath or Hanalei Bay. Queens Bath has a small parking lot near the trailhead, but it’s advised to be very careful when exploring this coastal area.
Be sure to check on Google Maps before heading there, as the trailhead might be closed due to high surf or other unsafe conditions.
Checking out one of the beaches in Hanalei is also an excellent choice. There are plenty of amazing restaurant options in the area as well. I mean, who isn’t ravenous after a long day hike?!
Final Thoughts
This hike is epic! It really is one of THE BEST hikes in Kauai, and the best hike we have done in Hawaii to date, having visited both Maui and Kauai. We were lucky enough to get parking entry reservations for our day hike, so we were able to spend some extra time enjoying Ke’e Beach after this amazing hike.
One thing to note is to bring plenty of water while hiking. The trail might not seem like it would be hard, but honestly, it was strenuous. We recommend carrying a water bladder so you don’t have to deal with pesky water bottles. Plus, this is our favorite because it doesn’t taste like plastic!
Overall, completing the Kalalau Trail in 1 day is the best way to see some of the Nā Pali Coast on the trails in North Shore Kauai. We hope you have as much fun and enjoy this trail as much as we did. It should be on your bucket list if it isn’t already!
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