Anything regarding nature in Kauai is an automatic 5 stars. That being said,I don't spend a lot of time on this side of the island. It's beautiful but, arrid compared to the tropical " wet" side. However,I've put my time in exploring this side and as with the entire garden isle, beautiful. This trail can get hot but the cliff side views and multiple color blues of the ocean make it worth it. One of the things making Kauai my favorite island is the diversity. I a single day you can experience several unique ecosystems. If you do Maha'ulepu trail,make sure your sunscreened and hydrated. Shaka Brah read more

Beautiful trail along the hike that is fairly easy to moderate. A few bumpy parts, but no major elevation. Easy parking by Shipwreck Beach at the starting point. Took us a little over 2 hours with some photo opps. read more

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On which trail can you see views of panoramic beaches, vastness of ocean waves, lengthy cliffs, golf courses, horse stables, limestone caves, sinkholes, and even tortoise reserves?     November 7, 2021, first full day Kauai. Drive past the Grand Hyatt Resort and Spa, making a right turn at the Poipu Bay Golf course.   Parked in the free Shipwreck beach parking lot, which will full by 845am. Later arrivals park alongside the road in the mud leading to the parking lot. Use the bathroom facilities, as no bathrooms nor water alongside the trail. However, once we came here before 8am, and the bathrooms were closed. Wife wore closed toe hiking sandals with socks, but had to stop a few times to empty pebbles and sand from her socks. I wore running shoes, but next time would wear hiking shoes with hardened toe area to prevent bruised toes from all to frequently hitting embedded rocks in the trail.   Walked along Shipwreck beach, and then up a rocky hillside.  Over the top of the hill of limestone, and an awesome sight of waves crashing against the stone cliffs below, on this southeastern coastal corner of Kauai.   We hike on the sandy areas right on the cliffsides alongside the ocean, with limestone rock formations in view right at the ocean' edge.  Arches of rock, and pinnacles rising right out of the sea.   Sandy dunes replace the rock path, and then red clay.  Inlets everywhere along the jagged coast line, where during calmer times sea turtles or Hawaiian monk seals resting on the sands of the inlets.     In the background the red-brown Makawehi Bluffs, with palm trees above the golf course.   Poipu golf course on top of the bluffs. Signs warn hikers to stay on the edge of the golf course.  Safety fences prevent you from falling off the cliffs.   Golf course ends, and enter area of tall grasses, where you can see the cliffs where you've hiked.   Go over the hill, and come down, passing CJM country horse stables, with nearby Makauwahi sinkhole and cave and tortoise reserve, open daily 10am-4pm.   We can see Gillin's beach in the background when it starts to rain, with winds gusting 30mph.     On our way back, we cut through the forests away from the limestone hill formation.   Two hours plus after starting, we return to the now full parking lot.  Wife makes a beeline for the bathroom.   At least they didn't have multiple unisex single occupancy bathrooms like they do in Yosemite NP, as I would have had to wait my turn in line with all the ladies ahead of me! read more

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A perfect trail for families or those who aren't to keen on hiking. The trail is short and straight to the point! We saw tortoises, limestone caves, horses, and the beach! We hiked down to the beach and walked around in the sand a bit. The beach was fairly secluded. We walked (crawled at one point) into the limestone cave. What a beautiful sight to see. We parked a bit further away from the main area because we noticed a lot of people had to do some slight off roading in sedan type vehicles. We did have a forerunner but we didn't want to risk anything (we saw several people scrape the bottom of their vehicles on rocks). Just be prepared that the sand you walk on at the beginning of the trail is red and will stain. I'm read more

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Video of our hike- https://youtu.be/HkpLV5yEB8E One of the best trails for all ages on Kauai is the Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail. This is a 2 mile point-to-point coastal trail that runs along side some of the most beautiful wave-crashing cliffs on South Kauai. The trail can be caught in two different places. We chose to watch the sunrise at Shipwreck Beach so started there. You can park in the beach parking or there is street parking a little further up the road leading to beach. It was an incredibly windy morning and the rain had just moved out, so the waves were in full swing. The surfers were taking advantage of this and we watched them for a while. I'm usually pretty good at singular sports, but surfing is the one thing that I continue to fail at, so I greatly admire those that have the agility and ability. So, instead, I whirled and played tag with the ocean waves on the shore and enjoyed the beautiful sand between my toes. Next, we started our trek. The trail starts between a grassy, picnic area and the beach; there is a small embankment to climb up, but nothing too hard, especially for Kauai. This hike is such a beautiful experience. There are areas where the trail is wide so you don't feel crowded by any others you may encounter. You can almost have your own journey, which is magical for a hike like this. By the way, we wore closed toed Keen sandals for the trek, but easily could've done it in sneakers. No poles are needed. The path takes you along cliffs, but if this makes you nervous, you can easily navigate more inland. It's the beauty of this hike. These cliffs are Lithified sand dunes- ancient sand dunes that have hardened into limestone and contain fossils of coral and algae. This process took over 125,000 years! The next part of the hike takes you to a Native Hawaiian temple or heiau. The cultural definition of heiau is a place of worship where mana (divine energy) is transferred and concentrated through ritual and prayer. Do not touch, play on or remove artifacts from this site. If you brought your family with you, please watch your children. This space is sacred and the whole area should be treated with respect. This is approximately half-way. If you decide to continue, the trail will take you along a golf course to Maha'ulepu Beach, also known as Gillin's Beach. The surf is pretty rough here usually; this beach is best known for windsurfing. Do not enter the water if you are not a strong and experienced swimmer. The beach is also known for monk seal sightings as well as sea turtles, so please do not disturb and keep your distance. You can also pop in to see the tortoises at the sanctuary near the beach, or duck to explore the Makauwahi Cave, but that wasn't on our agenda this day. This is the biggest limestone cave in the Hawaiian archipelago and includes an amazing sinkhole, where the cave ceiling collapsed. The cave is open for free guided tours (with a recommended donation) daily. You can park near CJM stables to access this side of the trail to start or to see the cave or tortoises. This trail should not be missed and is totally free! You can choose what side to begin at or how far to go. Even for a short jaunt, the views are worth it. I hope you enjoy my footage. It's some of my favorite from the trip. read more

Maha'ulepu Trail - Hiking Near Me

You can start from Shipwrecks beach and head left- numerous trails that take you all along the coast all the way to a beach that is usually pretty empty. Lots of variety of trail (Sand, rock, packed earth) and foliage (wide open, low bushes, tall bushes with a trail marked through) that runs across a golf course and keeps on going. Once you get to the beach at the end, keep walking. If you follow the beach all the way around to the end, that is a great place to get in the ocean. When you first hit the beach, there is a stream that comes down that is likely contaminated from cesspools up above, so I wouldn't recommend getting in the water right there. You can also access a closer way to the beach by the horse barn...drive all the way to the end of the road and follow the signs for the corral. read more

Parking options: Hyatt, on the roadside, or at the small lot for the public shipwreck beach. The trail offers multiple routes to the left of the beach. We have hiked many trails in Kauai and this one is the only sand based trail we've encountered. The views are breathtaking from the cliffs. On one side of the trail is the golf course and other side is the ocean. Moderate hike was doable for our 8 year old son. Worthwhile if you visit the south side of island and want a unique hike. read more

Maha'ulepu Trail - View from trail - Hiking Near Me

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This trail is A-OK. It's easy and it's got decent ocean views. It's a great trail to hike with a pack full of ice and crispy boys. It starts at shipwreck beach. I don't like that it's surrounded by haole sprawl. It ends at a golf course and is flanked by big dumb resorts. I prefer something that feels a bit more wild and remote. This is a nice walk though, pairs perfectly with some Ola Hard Seltzer. (Ginger is my favorite) read more

Maha'ulepu Trail - scenic golf course views - Hiking Near Me

This was a great trail for families of all ages! Used All Trails app to find our way and that helped.... We took our 2 kids (11&8) out on this trail and they did great. Start early before it gets too hot, and the parking lot gets full. We arrived just before 9am and nabbed the last spot. To get there, go past the Grand Hyatt and park on the left. You will see some signs, and you will find multiple trails to travel. Bring lots of water, & no bathrooms until you reach the beach. Amazing views, and a fun experience in the "jungle". Spent 2 hours exploring, dipped in the water at the end! Pro tip: ask your kids to try to locate the shipwreck! (It disappeared in 1982) read more

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One of my favorite trail in Kauai, relative easy and scenic views of ocean. Parking: there is a public parking next to the Grand Hyatt at Shipwreck beach. Starting at shipwreck beach and you can either walk along the cliff or the path through the pine tree forest. The trail along the cliff is rocky and uneven. I would recommend to wear good support shoes. The views of rock formation, cliff and wave are really worthy. We also catch the best sunrise here. The path through the forest is easier and shaded. It is about 3 mile round trip to large beach and 6 mile round trip to the sink hole. We did not hike to the sink hole. read more

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Also called the heritage trail, this starts at ship wreck beach on the southern coast of Kauai and continues along jagged cliffs ending at another long and isolated beach. The only thing required is 2-3 hours and some good sturdy shoes-no flip flops or open sandals-to enjoy this scenic hike. Also bring water-it's mostly sunny. We started out around 8:15 on a Sunday and were lucky enough to even get a parking spot in the small lot next to the Hyatt. There are public restrooms at the park on the beach where you start your walk. The trail itself has three separate zones: (1) crumbling sandstone covered with sand to start (2) red clay dirt with sharp volcanic rocks in middle then (3) an easy walk in the grass on the edge of a PGA golf course-keep an eye out for golf balls. If you keep going beyond there is another Large Beach and some caves (but they are only open certain days/hours). We went to the caves and back at a modest pace, stopping often along the way for pictures. For us the round trip was around 2-1/2 hours. There are a few tricky spots but overall it wasn't too bad in terms of hike-you just really need to watch your step on the volcanic rocks and stay back from the crumbling edges-especially in the sandstone section. read more

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Three and a half stars. A couple hours' round-trip hike if you park near Grand Hyatt and start from Shipwreck's Beach. Terrain varies wildly if you stick close to the shore-- sandy dunes, dirt, stone, plus grass along the boring golf course stretch. It can be mildly strenuous depending on footwear and pace; we followed a more inland trail segment on the way back to avoid some minor but steep elevation changes, since I'd had my fill of cliff scrambling for the day. You'll want SPF and at least 1 standard sized bottle of water per person. Bug density is lower here than the more inland trails. Stunning views of waves crashing against the craggy coastline, with a few local joggers and fishermen dotting our trail. A windblown ironwood tree drapes itself Groot-like into a green alcove just before the first historic preservation area. We timed our hike towards late afternoon, and the golden hour transformed the undeveloped section between Punahoa Point and Maka-weki Bluff into a dreamy Tolkein-inspired landscape. I regret not budgeting more time for Maha'ulepu Beach. read more

Maha'ulepu Trail - Tons of lookout points along the beach cliff path. - Hiking Near Me

We really liked this hike! Easy to do with our son in his Poco carrier. We started at Shipwreck and hiked until we hit the golf course. Views were stunning. We started at about 7:45am and the sun was already HOT! It's true what other reviews say about minimal shade, a lot of the hike is exposed. There is some reprieve in the brushy areas but not for long periods. read more

We love this trail and we hike it every time we come to Kauai. It's very accessible, with parking right off Shipwreck Beach. After initially getting up onto the cliffs, there's not a crazy elevation gain. This makes it a lovely morning walk before breakfast in Poipu. You have amazing views of the coastline and nice breezes off the water. You don't have to take it all the way to the golf course in order to get a payoff of a wonderful hike and great views. In fact, it keeps it feeling more like wilderness if you don't. There's a tradition of jumping off the cliff at the beginning of the trail and swimming onto Shipwrecks. My husband has done it a few times. Make sure you jump wide and check the conditions before you go. Takes a strong swimmer to make it back over to the sand. Enjoy our favorite place! read more

This is the best kept secret of gorgeous views in Poipu. It's a super short hike to view beautiful cascading cliffs along the beach and to watch the sunset. Best to wear shoes because although the hike is short, there are steep inclines and uneven grounds. I love coming an hour before sunset and enjoy the scenic overlooks while eating sushi dinner. Parking: Park at Shipwreck Beach's parking lot and follow the left side of the beach towards to cliff and you'll eventually see the trail into the cliff. It's a total romantic spot and whenever I come I see "will you marry me" written on the beach sands. read more

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We did the hike from Shipwreck Beach across the Lithified Cliffs to the Makauwahi Cave, but didn't make it all the way down to Mahaulepu Beach, which looked beautiful. Here's the deal, we loved the cliffs that make up the first part of the hike, but then it takes you into an area overgrown with brush that runs alongside the golf course (you're alongside the golf course for most of the trail, but this is when you're basically on the course itself, and you lose the ocean view intermittently). It's not horrible but I'm not sure it's worth this blah section to get to the other side when you can basically take Poipu Rd. to the dirt roads that lead right up to the cave/beaches, as long as they aren't washed out. How do I know this? Because the mister started to have some leg pain from our previous day's hike and we decided to take the dirt road back, and saw many cars flying by as we did. So I'd say definitely do the first mile-ish from Shipwreck Beach/Hyatt with the lithified cliffs and view of the beaches, as people have said, totally gorgeous, but as soon as the bushes thicken and the trail narrows toward the golf course, head back. It's not a short section that gets better, it's pretty much the rest of the trail. read more

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This relatively easy hike is not to be missed especially if you are staying at the Grand Hyatt! It's practically in its backyard! I did this trail multiple times during my recent stay in Poipu one at sunrise and one at sunset! I HIGHLY suggest waking up a little early to catch the sunrise...it won't be hard if you are coming from the west coast as the time change works in your favor! Check the sunrise time on your nifty iphone and give yourself roughly 5-10 min to get to the top of the cliff from the bottom. It's a rocky climb so I recommend tennis shoes...no flip flops! Grab a seat at one of the many rocks and just wait for it! The beauty, the peace, the sound of the ocean waves is so incredibly healing! I will probably do this every morning if I make it back to Poipu again. Besides seeing the Napali coast up close and personal this was the second best thing I did on my trip to Kauai! read more

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Not a "stroll". Def a hike but super pretty and do able. Saw lots of sea turtles!!! Beautiful hike!

My favorite hike of all time. Not difficult and so many beautiful views. Would highly recommend. read more

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There was no problem accessing this trail from our hotel and it provided outstanding views if you follow alongside the trail on the coastline. I would classify it as pretty easy but you might have to navigate some rocky areas if you stay on the coast. There's a parking lot for Shipwreck Beach in which you can get to the trail if you're not staying at the Hyatt. About a mile in, the trail will take you alongside Poipu Bay Golf Course. Just keep your head up for incoming golf balls as the trail runs a couple feet away from both a putting green and one of the tee boxes. We took the trail about 2 miles out and headed back. Taking our time, it took us a couple of hours. According to my GPS, we had about 250 feet in elevation gain, so not completely flat. There's not much cover from the sun at all so bring the water and you should be able to get by with any covered shoe. I would recommend this trail if you don't have a full morning or afternoon for hiking and don't have time to drive out to maybe Waimea Canyon or further places. read more

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This was the least difficult hike of our trip, although we still worked up a sweat. It is an out and back along the ocean, so you make it as short or long as you'd like. We parked at Shipwreck Beach, where there are public restrooms available. We walked down towards the water and made a left to this trail. A good first chunk of the hike is through sand, so while there isn't much elevation gain, it still provides a good workout. We followed the trail for a couple miles and enjoyed the many ocean views. When we got to the golf course, we followed the instructions to walk along the edge of the course and stayed acutely aware of our surroundings and any stray golf balls, as warned by the many, many caution signs. This part was a bit strange, although I suppose when the hiking trail is in danger of falling into the ocean, I'll take a somewhat safer stroll along the golf course. We turned around once we got to the horse stables, although you can continue to a neat cave. We did get sidetracked a bit on the way back, although going towards the sound of the ocean got us heading back to our car no problem. Great hike for experienced and novice hikers alike. Just watch out for flying balls. read more

What a beautiful natural trail that follows the coastline. Tip: Try to get early in the morning to see sea turtles feed! There are alot of fun little areas go discover but be careful if you have small children with you. There is no barrier and it can slippery in some spots (esp. after the rain). read more

Maha'ulepu Trail - Great spot to watch the sunrise - Hiking Near Me

Yeah, another review states that this is the last undeveloped coastline on the island, which is something a local told us as we wandered from the tortoise park to the cave to the beach to the seals to the labyrinth. Please corporate America, don't touch this place, you'll take the breath out of breathtaking. Three stars for the just plain easy stroll and five for the sights and experiences, equalling four. Yes, we did encounter three monk seals and we remained a good distance away, using the zoom on my phone to get decent pics. All of the other stuff I mentioned make this hike more of a tour, but the ocean is the real star, here. If I lived anywhere near this stretch of coast, I'd bring a book once a week and just listen to the symphony, and drink in those gorgeous waves. I could mention that camping isn't allowed, the road has recently improved drastically, and it's sparsely populated, but since when do I pen useful reviews? Enjoy this unforgettable haven, and don't expect a challenging hike. read more

What an amazing hike! You follow the cliff with the ocean on one side and a golf course on another. To get there, map shipwreck beach and park adjacent to the Hyatt. The trail picks up to the left of the hotel if ypu're facing the ocean. I only went about 1.5 miles in but the path led farther had I not run put of time. It's so gorgeous, it's hard not to stop at every scenic cove and explore. There are a few different paths....closer to the edge (rockier, more narrow, more elevation changes) or closer to the golf course (flatter and more dirt/desert like) and some in between. As far as I can tell, they all lead to the red rock cliff straight ahead. While it's fairly flat (some rock climbing depending on the path chosen) and easy, if you take the path cosest to the cliff's edge and you have a fear of heights, you may have issues. But so worth it. Definitely bring water and sunscreen. Bug spray and a hat aren't bad ideas either! read more

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Spectacular hike that is easy to access. The trail is sandy so I recommend close-toe shoes. Based on another Yelper, we parked at the Shipwreck Beach parking lot and just followed the trail on the left towards the cliff. There is very little shade so go early! read more

We explored not just the trail but the great beaches. This is a beautiful area - beaches and cliffs. It is a great place to hike and explore the coast. We saw spinner dolphins and whales. If you are going to hike starting at the beach be warned that the dirt road past the Hyatt is very rough and potholed road (we did it in a rental sedan but we went real slow and carefully - it would be easy to rip off the heat shields) - four wheel drive would be better. And the gate really closes at 6pm - people have been trapped and had to pay big $$$ to get out. Most guide books give good directions for finding this gorgeous beach area. But if you are hiking from the Hyatt you don't have to worry about roads and gates just beautiful views.... read more

It's a nice and easy walking trail. Another amazing Kauai ocean view! read more

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This was probably one of my least favorite hikes on Kauai. The main reason is that it is so exposed to sun! There are some areas where you can cut through the sand into some tree cover for a short while, but if you walk along the beach, you will need to apply sunscreen over your sweat.....repeatedly. So you can park at shipwreck's beach parking lot and walk your way onto the trail. Parking fills up pretty quickly, so get here early! From the parking lot you walk to the left and this will lead you onto a "trail." I put this in quotations because as you keep walking, there really isn't a defined trail until you get closer to the golf course and there are signs telling you to stay in the designated areas. Other than this part, you can take a turn to the right and walk along the coast, or you can turn left into the sparse trees and walk around in the sand. I would approach the area near the golf course with care, because golf balls were literally flung right at us...rolling onto the "protected" ground off the trail. read more

Absolutely loved this hike. The views were beautiful and it wasn't too long or strenuous. HOWEVER, it was really confusing to figure out where to go because there were so many paths to take. Also, there didn't seem to be an end to the trail. It seemed to have just led into another trail which led to caves. I may have missed it though. Side note: I attempted to run this hike and learned halfway through that the paths were too rocky to run on. I badly twisted my ankle so it's definitely only a hiking trail. read more

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This is one of the best hikes along the beach. There are gorgeous views! Each day this week, I came here for sunrise. Everyday was different. During the week, very few people are on the trail. On the weekend, there are a lot more people. The cliffs are the best part. Make sure you stop and look in the cracks - there are so many sea creatures to see. This is my favorite spot for sunrise - it is amazing! read more

Maha'ulepu Trail - A beautiful view at sunrise. A fantastic way to start the day. - Hiking Near Me

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This trail is INCREDIBLE!!! It's maybe 2 hours long, not too hard (stays mostly level), and absolutely gorgeous. You'll be passing right by the ocean, have amazing rock formations on the way and cross along the Makawehu Bluff cliffs dotted with palm trees... Very very beautiful trail. It ends near the Makauwahi Cave which is a great stop and then Gillin's Beach which is a very large, beautiful, and relatively secluded beach. This trail and all the stops along it is one my favorite things to do in Kauai :))) read more

Beautiful scenery with moderate courses. Went for a outdoor run which turned into a hike the trail is just too beautiful to rush thru. Part of the trail gets pretty steep, with rocky surfaces so be running all the way thru may not be a real option. Also keep bugs and mosquitos can be prevalent in parts of the trail as well so you want to be prepared for that. All in all a beautiful trail that showcases the wonderful southern coast line of Kauai. Definitely recommend!! read more

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Liked this one. Almost completely sand based, so easy on the feet. Great views and varied terrain add to the charm on this trail. Take 50% more water than you normally do as the sand requires more effort to traverse. read more

Maha'ulepu Trail - Start at Shipwreck Beach to end up at this 10,000 year old cave. - Hiking Near Me

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Brief hike, went ok a Sunday afternoon around 230pm. Parked at Shipwreck Beach and went left, the opening to the trail is to your left as you hit the sand. Branches cover it, so a little hard to see. You have your choice of a few trails, some more "inland" and others right near the tip of the cliffs! Great views! Bring water and use bug spray and sunscreen. read more

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Beautiful coastal hike! Started at Shipwreck Beach, and took our time, until we arrived at Gillins Beach. By Gillins Beach, we found a tortoise farm! Quite an unusual find! Splashed around in the water for a bit, before turning around and heading back. Very scenic, my pictures turned out great! Pretty hot though (hardly any shade), so start early and bring lots of water. read more

A great, gentle ocean-side walk as we did it - starting out at the Grand Hyatt in Poipu, 2 miles to Maha'ulepu Beach and return. The vistas are stunning, the beach at Maha'ulepu sandy, beautiful and empty on a mid-week January day - so we felt many more miles away than 2 from the business of Poipu. Highly recommended! The useful: as you face the Hyatt, drive down the road to the left of the main hotel/parking lot to reach the public lot for Shipwreck Beach. Leaving the lot head to the left & climb the big cliff to start your walk. read more

Great trial. Beautiful and easy but pretty hot. There was a lot of direct sunlight so we didn't make it all the way to the beach. The starting beach was pretty though. The coastline was pretty amazing and made for some great photos. read more

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This hike is really beautiful. Not too difficult. my husband and I, along with our kids (10 and 12) enjoyed the stroll with my mother-in-law (73). It is a sandy path mostly, so it can be slippery. The rest of my family wore shoes, but I had flip flops on because I hate the feeling of sand in my shoes. :) so many different photo opportunities along the trail! read more

Maha'ulepu Trail - Such a beautiful view! - Hiking Near Me

If you drive down Poipu Road until it ends, take the dirt road (very bumpy, lots of potholes) past CJM stables and you reach a small dirt parking lot. Find the path through the trees to get to the beach. You'll see cliffs on the right side and if you start walking towards them you cross a small stream to get to the hiking path. It's not a difficult trail. We walked with some small children as well as some older adults. No hiking boots are needed. We didn't walk the entire trail since we got there late and the lot gate closes at 6 pm. But there are some great views at the top of the cliffs. read more

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This is a very sandy hike, starting at Shipwreck beach. There is a public parking lot at the beach which is nice. This hike is a web of interconnected trails so there are places where you can choose a harder or easier path. You can get right up to the cliff and see the beautiful views of the rough ocean. Later on it meanders through trees and ends at the golf course. The trail was completely dry (and very sandy!) and quite hot. Bring water and wear a hat. read more

Maha'ulepu Trail - Ocean near Shipwreck Beach - Hiking Near Me

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