Hiking the Na Pali Coast

Dense tropical jungle and red mud that bites into your shoes and doesn't let is what an average hike on the Hanakapiai Trail is like. The most experienced hikers come from around the world to test their skills on this eleven-mile long journey that takes you through some of the most fascinating landscapes in the world. The hike along Kauai's Na Pali Coast is something that every person should be able to enjoy, for it is a life changing experience for everyone that makes the trek. There are many preparations to be done before you try to complete the expedition and even some training to make sure you can handle the challenge.

To start your planning you are going to need to make sure you are physically up for what could take five days if you walk the whole trail. Another is to have a plan on what to bring and who to go with. You should never hike alone and always make sure the person you go with knows where you are. You should make sure to pack more than enough food, some basic camping equipment, and most importantly a good pair of hiking boots and plenty of socks. The last thing you need to do before your trip is to acquire a hiking permit that is mandatory if you are going to hike past the two-mile point, or if you plan to spend the night.

Getting to the trail is as easy as hopping on the main and only highway on the Island and head north till the road ends. At literally the end of the road is the start of the Hanakapiai Trail and the start of the Na Pali Coast. The Beach right before the trail is called the Ke'e beach and has excellent snorkeling and surfing farther out. Around the start of the trail is a board the presents a map of the trail and tips for inexperienced hikers. The trail is a little tricky to find right away but if you head up the right side and cross a small path you will see the main trail open up.

Once on the trial you will immediately head up and to the first lookout that gazes down at Ke'e Beach and out into the big blue Pacific Ocean. The first two miles of the trail, which are the most crowded and easiest, lead up to the Hanakapiai Beach, which is often washed away from the strong surf. At this point you can either go farther inland to a set of waterfalls that are wonderful to swim in but you have to be careful when standing under the falls so that rocks don't wash off and onto you. It is at this point in the hike that most day tourists go back, but the best views and adventures are later on.

If you do go past the two-mile point you have to make sure you get a valid permit and are up to the challenge. This aside, the next nine miles of the journey are some of the best trails in the world. The next few miles are very strenuous but lead to the beautiful Hanakoa Valley and the Hanakoa Falls. This is a very popular stop for hikers that sit here and enjoy the scenery for the rest of the day and camp there at night. The next leg of the trip includes a narrow path all the way to Big Pool along the Kalalau Valley. This area has some of the best lookout spots on the hike and is only a couple miles from the end. Once you reach Kalalau Beach you have made it to the end of the trail. This beach is a very long and "clothes optional" beach but still an amazing place to be after what you have been through. This is the one spot that if you could only stay one night in Kauai it would be in a tent on this beach. The sound of the waves rolling in and the abundant stars overhead makes it the most peaceful and magical spot to rest.

After the night at Kalalau, you begin your final hike home but still find many new views on the way home that you never saw before. After you get back to Ke'e beach you are overwhelmed with the satisfaction that you completed one of the most difficult trails around but yet you are so heartbroken that its over and that you have to go back to the hustle and bustle of civilization. All this said it will be a very memorable journey and will you will always have photo's to remember it by but nothing will ever come close to the experience you receive while hiking the Hanakapiai Trail.