Waimea Canyon State Park
Waimea Canyon State Park
5
About
Also known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, this scenic state park overlooks the colorful Waimea Canyon, which stretches over 14 miles and is more than 3,600 feet deep. The park itself is famous for its scenic drive, panoramic lookouts, and hikes of varying difficulty. Depending on the time you visit, the canyon’s appearance can seem to change throughout the day—it’s best to visit earlier in the morning for fewer crowds and better visibility. You might even spot a rainbow, especially during the summer months. There are many ways you can tour the canyon, including a bike tour, or even from up top on a helicopter ride. – Tripadvisor
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  • Madison_Boehm
    Madison, Wisconsin10 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth every step!
    Spectacular and majestic in its own right! Took the Canyon Trail to the falls and were first people on it - which was a smart move. This is a popular trail so it gets busy in a hurry. And, as it gets busier, a somewhat muddy trail gets muddier (especially when it started to rain a bit on our return)! It can be a bit strenuous at times, but these 60ish-year olds endured harsher (try the Kalalau to the waterfall!). Even had.a rooster adopt us for about a mile on the trail (named him Wilson). Every step was worth it! Highly recommend!
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 19 March 2023
  • Kelli424
    Big Lake, Minnesota3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing Views!
    This experience was well worth the park entrance fee. The clouds rolled in which made the one large waterfall hard to see so we drove a little further and went on hiking trail back to the waterfall instead. The hike was a little challenging but very worth the views that we were able to see.
    Visited March 2023
    Written 20 March 2023
  • dzoucha
    Inverness, Florida36 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Spectacular views
    Long drive into the park, but worth it. The views from the overlooks are awesome. At the first overlook, there was a native Hawaiin there, talking about life in the valley years ago. It was quite interesting. We also drove into Kokee State Park. The museum there was great also.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 25 March 2023
  • 2TravelWithDogs
    Casa Grande, Arizona77 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Kauai Grand Canyon
    This is one adventure you don’t want to miss. Unfortunately everything is being charged for these days. It is absolutely beautiful with all the waterfalls. If you’ve been to the Grand Canyon in AZ, you will love it here. Nice driving tour with several spots to stop for pictures. Also several hiking trails if that is what you are looking for. Best time is in the morning. Afternoons get busy with cars. If it rains it can be muddy.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 25 May 2023
  • Catherine B
    Linden, Texas6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful views and of the Canyon and Napali coast.
    Absolutely breathtaking views. Unfortunately it was raining a bit when we visited to the amount of hiking we would have liked to do was limited. There is an abundance of hikes throughout the park. The drive is very nice with multiple lookout points if hiking is not your thing.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 26 May 2023
  • mckjl3
    Washington DC, District of Columbia41 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    AN ABSOLUTE MUST SEE
    Wow this was everything we wanted and so much more. We didn’t know a lot coming knit the park but one of the employees at the canyon lookout explained everything very well. The first lookout (the canyon lookout) has amazing views of the canyon. There is a pay station there where it costs $10 to park and $5 per person. This is good for all of the Waimea state park lookouts (I believe there’s 3 more) and parking for trails for the entire day. We spent about 10 minutes at the canyon lookout and then continued to drive. There are several side of the road, unofficial lookouts that give you a better lookout of the waterfall that appears on the left side of the main official canyon lookout. There’s only room for a handful or cars but it’s worth it to stop. The second lookout has 2 views. One is straight down the canyon looking towards the ocean. The other is a nice spot with another area where you can see Ni’ihue (the forbidden isle). That sign is a little run down but an easy quick stop. They’re both very easy to get to from the parking lot. The third stop is the first view of the Napali coast. There’s 2 lookouts here as well. One in the grass and one with a paved path. It’s absolutely spectacular. If you can’t do a boat or helicopter ride than this is the best it’s gonna be for those of us who don’t hike 10 miles. The last lookout has several potholes getting there due to the rain and weather. The clouds can roll in over the ridges here depending on the day. This lookout is even better than the third! If you walk down the trail about 100 yards (often muddy) it’s an even better, unobstructed view. Just be careful since this is the trail and there are no railings. The walk down is quite bumpy and hilly so not accessible for those in wheelchairs. I’d say the first and third lookouts are the most accessible. Second and fourth have some uphills and off roading instead of a paved path. This is well worth the money and we could’ve spent the whole day here!
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 27 May 2023
  • MariaBCalifornia
    Chino Hills, California591 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful view
    We drove through Waimea Canyon State Park and the views were beautiful. If you did nothing other than park and walk up to lookout view at the main parking lot, it's worth seeing. Not too hard of a drive either. They have bathrooms available at the main parking lot also. There is a small fee per person ($5 I think), which can be charged at the machines there.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 28 May 2023
  • Molly S
    Victoria, Australia41 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Not to be missed!
    You cannot miss out on seeing Waimea Canyon, it is one of the most spectacular natural sights I’ve ever laid eyes on. Even if you only stop at the Waimea Canyon lookout & Kalalau lookout it will have been worth it, but if you’re able to do one of the trails I’d suggest you do. We did the Cliff & Canyon trails. The cliff trail is quite short. The canyon trail gave us a good workout maybe 45 minutes each way.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 31 May 2023
  • Cheryl H
    Kansas19 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful mountain drive
    Beautiful drive with lookout stops along the way and picnic area at the museum. sometimes you have to park along the road, so just look for places cars have pulled off. most lookouts are not signed.
    Visited June 2023
    Written 9 June 2023
  • skbell
    San Jose, California5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth the trip
    Waimea Canyon is an amazing site. Unfortunately it was a pretty cloudy, rainy day and even though we headed up early the views were still a bit fogged in. Even then it was worth the drive as the scenery is stunning.
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 15 June 2023
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5.0
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Jim K
Shawnee, KS268 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
The stop was simply amazing. I’ve been to the Grand Canyon several times. The view from the summit overlooking this Canyon in Kauai was one of the more breathtaking views I have ever seen.
From the rich vegetation, various shades of vegetation and rock, as well as the cliff formations and the waterfall, made this a surprisingly outstanding visit.
After you leave the park, go down to the village of Waimea and stop at Coconut Corner for a fantastic smoothie
Written 16 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ORMum
Lake Oswego, OR153 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
This is a must-see on your trip to Kauai. We stayed near the north side of the island, so this was an almost 2 hour drive each way, but well worth it. There are four look out areas with parking once you get to Waimea Canyon state park. The 4th one was closed when we went, but you get gorgeous views from each of these viewpoints. You can pay for parking at any of the viewpoints. On the way up to the park, we saw other tourists, and we stopped at a waterfall off the road which was beautiful. Parking is a bit tough, but people are leaving, so if you wait for a few minutes, you should be able to find a spot. There were not many food options except the lodge, so it is best to pack food with you. There are many hikes, ranging from easy to challenging. We did the Canyon trail, which was beautiful and worth it.
Written 10 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Belinda C
5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
What a beautiful part of Hawaii! I never knew such a place existed on the islands. This is easy to drive to and see. A native Hawaiian was at the top of the summit and gave an interesting presentation.
Written 8 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tammy H
Walnut Creek, CA17 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
We drove all the way to the Outlook. It took us 1.5 hours through the winding road. The view is amazing! It looks like a "green" Grand Canyon.
Written 8 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

EUGENE C
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Solo
Amazing views of the Napali Coast from the top and of the actual Waimea Canyon at several view points along the way up or down. I arrived at 7:30 and it was foggy and cold. But as others have said, be patient and the fog will clear enough to see the major highlights.

I had read in prior reviews that you must arrive super early or all the spots will be taken. I did not find this to be true. When I arrived at 7:30, later than I had intended, there was only one other car in the lot. I hung around until after 9, waiting for the fog to clear and the lot was not even close to half full. There are probably about 50 spots, not just a few spots.

I was a bit worried that I forgot to grab cash, as I’ve been to some parks that only accept cash stuffed into a lock box. In fact, here you pay the permit at a credit card kiosk at the parking lot, and leave the permit slip on the dash.

Another thing I wish I had known is that it gets pretty cold and windy up at the top. I made the mistake of only bringing a thin spring jacket when I really should have brought a thicker fall/winter jacket. Had I dressed more appropriately, I would have spent more time torwards the top and hiked a bit more.
Written 6 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Steve B
Turlock, CA12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Family
Windy drive up the hill about 12 miles from the entrance to get to the lookout point. Great views of the Waimea Canyon below and waterfall. After the lookout point, turned right back onto the road and went to the next entrance and hiked for about 1.5 hours.
Written 2 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kathleen S
Melfort196 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Friends
Waimea Canyon Drive is definitely a must do while visiting Kauai. It is a spectacular twisty road that is a fun drive with lots of hikes available along the way. I would say most of the hikes are strenuous, but it is possible to do a few short hikes by choosing the length that you want to do. The views of the canyon are breathtaking from several viewpoints along the way.
Written 1 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jules C
Bridgetown, Barbados207 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Solo
One of the most beautiful site....nature has created, and the most magnificent my eyes has ever beheld, photos doesn't do this beauty justice, it's a place you need to see with your own eyes, from the lush green mixed in with the oxidized soil, this canyon site is a must visit, there's also a waterfall...don't miss it!
Written 1 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Daniel B
Miami, FL14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Friends
One of the best views in Hawaii!
Easy drive up to the canon with amazing stops to enjoy the glorious journey to the top of the world 🌎
Breathtaking!!!
Written 27 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dan T
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
We live in Honolulu so we had to visit Kauai for the experience. We drove around the island and did the Napali Coast boat experience which was exhilarating. We went into caves with waterfalls, encounter schools of dolphins, saw humpback whales and seeing the island from the water was mesmerizing.
We stayed at the Marriott Kauai Beach Club which was awesome. Beautiful resort with many amenities including 3 restaurants which were very good.
My favorite island is still Oahu. Kauai was nice but I would be bored to death after a week.
Written 24 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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WAIMEA CANYON STATE PARK: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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