Waimea Canyon is a 3,600-foot-deep gorge on the west side of Kauaʻi, and its best trick is that you can see it from the road. Drive-up lookouts line the highway, so the canyon rewards you whether or not you ever lace up a boot. Non-residents pay $5 per person plus $10 to park, with no reservation required.
Past the last lookout the road keeps climbing into adjacent Kōkeʻe State Park, where the hiking, the campground, and the natural history museum are. Whether you have an afternoon for the scenic drive or a full day on the trails down to the canyon floor, here is how to make the most of it.
Table of contents
Waimea Canyon State Park, also called the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” Image credit: Trogers on Flickr.
How Waimea Canyon Formed
Waimea did not form the way most canyons do. Two forces shaped it: the Waimea River steadily cutting down through Kauaʻi’s lava and basalt fields, fed by the island’s heavy rainfall, and a catastrophic collapse of the volcano that built Kauaʻi. That double origin is why the walls look the way they do.
The name Waimea means “reddish waters”: after heavy rain, red rock washes off the walls and tints the river as it runs to the sea. The canyon is about 14 miles long, a mile wide, and more than 3,600 ft (1,097 m) deep, all enclosed within Waimea Canyon State Park (website).
A popular tourist attraction on the island and a must-do for your Kauaʻi itinerary, Waimea Canyon provides a wilderness area with numerous hiking trails and other things to do (see the next section). In the following video by Chris Biela you can see a preview of Waimea Canyon:
Things to Do in Waimea Canyon and Kōkeʻe
The drive itself is the headline: a 26-mile round trip up one of Kauaʻi’s most scenic roads, climbing from the coast to the canyon rim. You do not have to do it all from behind the wheel, though. Here are the main ways to spend time in the park:
- Scenic drive
- Kōkeʻe State Park
- Lookouts and Viewpoints
- Hikes
- Camping
- Backpacking
- Tours
- Other points of Interest
Scenic Drive
There are two highways you can take into the park: the Waimea Canyon Road (Highway 550) that starts from Waimea Town, and Kōkeʻe Road (Highway 552) departing from Kekaha a few miles to the west. Both roads merge just a few miles into the park.
The Waimea Canyon road is comparatively easier to drive and is more scenic. If you’re a first timer, we suggest that you take Highway 550 on your way to the canyon and head back via Highway 552 for a different view.
Kōkeʻe State Park
Kōkeʻe State Park is adjacent to Waimea Canyon State Park, the two running together to essentially form one big park. Kōkeʻe is blessed with a myriad of hiking trails to explore as well as a natural history museum, a restaurant/lodge, and a campground. Entrance and parking fees are included in the Waimea Canyon fees – no additional payment is needed.
The Nāpali coast from the Puʻu O Kila Lookout in Kōkeʻe State Park. Image credit: Trogers on Flickr.
Lookouts and Viewpoints in Waimea and Kōkeʻe
On your visit, we recommend driving around to the different lookouts that offer different perspectives of the canyon. Here are the main places to visit:
- Waimea Canyon Lookout (mile marker 10): This is the main viewing area for the canyon and it offers panoramic views, allowing you to go right up to the rim. This should be the first lookout you visit not only because it’s the first one you come to, but because it gives you the most expansive view of the canyon.
The easily accessible Waimea Canyon Lookout gives wide views of Waimea Canyon. Image credit: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Ben Ono
- Puʻu Hinahina Lookout (mile marker 13.5): A few miles down the road is the Puʻu Hinahina overlook. It peers down into the canyon from a parallel perspective (whereas the Waimea Canyon lookout gives you a perpendicular view of the canyon). From Puʻu Hinahina, you can see how the Waimea River winds its way through the canyon. You’ll be surprised to see how different the canyon looks from this angle, and it will give you a good sense of the height and steepness of its walls.
- Kalalau Lookout (mile marker 18): The view at the Kalalau Lookout showcases the tall cliffs of the Nāpali Coast and the ocean along the northwest coast of Kauaʻi. Kalalau Valley is the destination of the 11-mile Kalalau Trail which begins on the north shore at Keʻe Beach.
The Kalalau lookout. Credit: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Ben Ono
- Puʻu o Kila (mile marker 19): At the end of the road is Puʻu o Kila, which provides another vantage point of the Nāpali Coast and Kalalau Valley.
Hikes in Waimea and Kōkeʻe
Waimea Canyon State Park and Kōkeʻe are very visitor friendly, offering a variety of lookouts and hiking trails through which to explore the area. Here is how the main trails compare:
Details below last verified June 2026.
| Name | Duration | Difficulty | Payoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Cliff Canyon + Black Pipe loop (Details ↓) | ~4 mi loop | Moderate, family-friendly | Canyon views and a pool at Waipoʻo Falls |
| 2Kūkui Trail (Details ↓) | ~2.5 mi down (5 mi round trip) | Hard (2,200+ ft climb back) | All the way to the canyon floor and river |
| 3Awaʻawapuhi Trail (Details ↓) | ~3 mi down (6 mi round trip) | Moderate down, hard back | Nāpali Coast cliff overlooks |
| 4Pihea Trail (Details ↓) | ~4 mi each way | Easy grade, long and muddy | Alakai Swamp, native birds, Kalalau Valley view |
Cliff Canyon and Black Pipe Trail
This trail is fit for families because it offers great views of the canyon as well as a dip in a pool at Waipoʻo Falls. In total, the loop is a little less than four miles and is a classic Waimea Canyon hike.
Kūkui Trail
If you want to go all the way to the bottom of the canyon, the Kūkui Trail will take you there, descending about 2.5 miles down the steep cliffs to the river below. Don’t be fooled by the short distance. The climb back up from the bottom requires a gain of more than 2,200 vertical feet. In this sense, it is for experts only.
Awaʻawapuhi Trail
This moderate-intensity trail doesn’t visit the canyon itself, but it showcases the extremity of Kauaʻi’s terrain surrounding it, both in its beauty and its rugged nature. The trail travels three miles downhill through a green, lush rainforest to a series of steep valleys along the Nāpali Coast, giving you an overlook of the jagged cliffs and vistas that hover above the ocean. While the walk there is easy, remember that you have to climb back up on the return trip.
Pihea Trail
The Pihea Trail takes you into the Alakai Swamp that surrounds the canyon, home to many native birds, and ends at the Pihea Overlook, which provides views of Kalalau Valley. It’s a relatively easy walk with virtually no elevation gain, but it is long, nearly 4 miles each way, and the trail can be muddy, so be prepared. A similar but alternative trail is the Alakai Swamp Trail.
For more hiking recommendations, visit the Waimea Canyon State Park page and the Kokee State Park page.
Camping
Kōkeʻe Lodge Cabins and Campground: There is no camping in Waimea Canyon State Park, but you can tent camp or rent a cabin in Kōkeʻe. The nights offer some of the darkest skies for stargazing on Kauaʻi, and those who spend the night can get a head start on the day trippers visiting the canyon.
Backpacking
For experienced hikers and campers who want to get off the grid for a few days, Waimea Canyon has a series of backcountry campsites down at the bottom of the canyon, along the river. For more information and permits, see the DLNR reservation site.
Tours
Next to planning a visit yourself there are several arranged tours to Waimea Canyon that take all planning out of your hands:
Hiking Tours
Guided hiking tours are offered of Waimea Canyon, such as the highly recommended one (below) from Kauai Hiking Tours. You can also request a private tour to explore other trails of your choosing. Going with a guide is helpful because you don’t have to navigate, and you will get expert narration of everything you are seeing, including the geology of the canyon.
Suggested tour
Private Nāpali Cliff Top & Waimea Canyon Hike (for up to 4 people)
Difficult Waimea Canyon Hike with amazing views of the Nāpali Coast from a hiking trail thousands of feet above the ocean!
from:
$980
What is a suggested tour?Our suggested tours are hand-picked tours that receive consistent good reviews, give back to the community, and work hard to minimize their impact on the environment. Read more about these tours on our website.Helicopter Tours
A helicopter ride over Waimea Canyon gives you the one angle the road cannot: the full length of the canyon and the Nāpali cliffs behind it in a single view. Many helicopter companies offer tours that include a flyover of Waimea Canyon (see a full list here). We suggest this one for its value.
Biking Tours
If you’re an avid biker and are interested in riding around Waimea Canyon, check out this guided adventure that begins at the canyon rim and then cruises down to the coast.
Other Points of Interest
Kōkeʻe Natural History Museum
This small museum adjacent to the Kōkeʻe Lodge provides an overview of the history and settlement of Waimea Canyon, as well as its geological features. There is also a gift shop attached for small souvenirs.
Fees, Hours, and What to Bring
A few logistics worth sorting before you drive up, since the canyon rim has far fewer services than the coast:
- Entrance and Parking Fees: All non-Hawaii-resident visitors pay both an entrance fee ($5 per person) and a parking fee ($10 per vehicle), paid on arrival at a kiosk. No prior reservation is required.
- Food & Drink: Food carts set up at the main Waimea Canyon Lookout on most days, serving small snacks, cut fruit, and water or soft drinks. In adjacent Kōkeʻe State Park, the Kōkeʻe Lodge is a full-service restaurant with a bar.
- Services: At each main lookout, there are public restrooms that are managed by the State Parks.
- What to Wear/Bring: Because it is located at elevation (an average of 3,500 feet above sea level), it can be colder at the canyon rim than it is at the coast. It is wise to bring layers, a wind break, and a rain jacket to ensure you are comfortable. We also recommend bringing plenty of water and snacks. Vendors with snacks and drinks usually set up at the main Waimea Canyon Lookout, but do not count on it. Bring your own from the coast to be safe.
- Best Times to Visit: During the winter rainy months, Waimea Canyon’s walls are much greener than they are in the hotter, drier summer months, and the waterfalls flow stronger. During summer, the trails within the Park are drier and less muddy.
- Where to stay nearby: There are several places to stay in Waimea Town, just down the road from the park entrance.