No visit to Kauai is complete without seeing the beautiful Waimea Canyon and the Kalalau Valley. When you see Waimea Canyon, you might think you’ve been transported to Arizona, because Waimea Canyon has been dubbed the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”. The canyon is one mile wide by ten miles long and over 3,600 feet deep.

Waimea Canyon State Park and Kokee State Park are adjacent to each other on the west side of Kauai. (For a Google Map, click here.) There are two ways to get to these state parks via Highway 550 (Waimea Canyon Drive) and by Highway 552 (Kokee Road). The advice that I followed and liked was taking Waimea Canyon Drive up to the parks and return on Kokee Road.

At a minimum, you must drive to the parks to stop off and admire the beautiful vistas, but if you have a bit more time and energy, plan in a rewarding hike or two. I can recommend the Canyon Trail of Kokee State Park. It is a 1.8 mile hike (one-way) into the canyon with stunning views. Allow three hours for this hike as you’ll want to pause several times to enjoy the views. This hike is mostly downhill on the way in and uphill on the way back, so be sure you bring an energy bar and plenty of water. A hiking stick is also advised as the trail can be slippery after rain. You can find more information about the 19 different hikes in Kokee State Park here.

The photo on the left is of Kalalau Valley and a stop to this area is not to be missed. Actually, there are two stops with views of the Kalalau valley.  The first view point is at mile marker 18.  The second view point is about a mile or so past mile marker 18 and it’s basically at the end of the road.  In my opinion, the second view is a bit better.  To find it, drive to the end of the Waimea Canyon Drive in Kokee State Park. The Kalalau Valley is actually the southern end of the Na Pali Coast. If get to the lookout and find that the valley is cloud covered, be patient for a bit and the clouds may just roll away. That happened to me and my patience was rewarded by the photo on the left.

Tips for when you go:

• The elevation is between 3,200 and 4,200 feet and quite a bit cooler than at the beaches, so bring a jacket or sweater. Average daytime temperatures range from as low as 45 degrees F in January to 68 degrees F in July.
• Make sure you have plenty of gas before you go, as there are no gas stations in the parks.
• Allow for at least three hours in this area and longer if you plan to hike.
• Stop in at the Kokee Museum for about 30 minutes if you have the time to spare. Admission is free. See more about visiting Kokee Museum.
• There is only one restaurant in the area at Kokee Lodge, so plan accordingly.
• Be advised that you will be driving on winding roads, so take precautions if you are prone to car sickness.

Other resources you may want to read:

• LA Times advice on what to do and see in Western Kauai.
• This Week had a some tips along with a video of Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Park