We just spent 7 days on Hawaii between Kauai and Maui and I can confidently say Hawaii is one of my favorite places in the world. I’m going to share with you some of the best view hikes on Kauai. So if you’re the outdoorsy and adventuresome type, which I assume you are, then let’s get into The Best View Hikes on Kauai.
***READ THIS IF YOU’RE GOING TO HAWAII DURING COVID-19***Before diving into the activities, Hawaii has some increased restrictions that you’ll want to be aware of. We needed a permit for basically anything we did. Any state park and/or national park you need a permit for. So yes, that means even if you want to visit a beach but it is a State Park, you will need to obtain a permit from GOHawaii.com. Make sure you do your research before getting to Hawaii so your trip can go smoothly.
Ultimate Hikes on Kauai
Over on the west side of the mountain…
*These trails can also be found and downloaded on AllTrails. There is spotty service on the west side of Kauai so you WILL want to download a map of the island, I use google maps. AND download the trails on all trails so that you can access them without service.
Kalepa Ridge Hike – ***the best ridge trail we have hiked. Views the whole way. Rated hard. 1.9 miles Andrew and I both decided this was our favorite ridge hike that we have done so far on Kauai. Definitely a little sketchy if you don’t like heights, but I’m scared of heights and completed it. Just breathe, watch your footing and use your best judgement.
Honopu Ridge – Rated Hard. 4.4 miles on all trails but let me tell you this is MUCH LONGER than that. It is at least 6.2 miles and definitely challenging when you’re coming back all uphill. Honopu ridge trail had great views at the end but if you’re looking for beautiful views along the whole hike, then Kalepa Ridge Trail is your go to in my opinion.
Visit Waimea Canyon, there is an overlook where you can pay about $25 but there are also PLENTY of places to stop along the way with gorgeous overlooks all along the canyon drive up. Watch the video here
Sleeping Giant – A short 3 mile hike close to Wailea and GORGEOUS views of the town and the mountain combined. You can see my video of the views here.
Kalalau Trail – HARD. 22 miles round trip. I have a whole blog post on this trail here because there is so much to share. But basically this trial is for backpackers looking to spend 2-3 nights at minimum on this trail backpacking & camping.
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Where to stay on Kauai
Kauai is the rainiest island of all the Hawaiian islands, BUT this is why it is so freaking lush (and it’s my favorite island). The south side near Poipu get’s the least amount of rain and there are a bunch of hotels located there. I have stayed down in Poipu and loved it.
Recently, Andrew and I stayed at The Hilton Garden Inn and had an amazing experience. The staff was insanely friendly, we were able to get an early check in AND a late check out which was amazing. Upon checkin you’ll receive 2 free Mai Tai Tickets to use per day, hell yes. Along with paying the resort fee, you have access to the beach, pools, towels, yoga and resort bikes.
We also stayed at Kauai Shores Hotel. Now, I’m going to be honest, if you’re looking for a more ~luxurious~ stay, the hotel rooms will not fit your standard, but if you’re looking for a reasonably priced hotel on Kauai, then this is perfect for you. Besides the hotel room, I was really impressed with Kauai Shores Hotel’s amenities. They have a lava lava bar which was my favorite part of staying there. After a long day of exploring I love nothing more than putting on comfortable clothes, walking over to the hotel bar/restaurant and eating a good meal. The best part about lava lava bar is that it is ON. THE. BEACH. Say no more, I’m there.
Hilton Garden Inn
Kauai Shores Hotel
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