Beautiful views, but the waterfall was much smaller than I thought it would be. Regardless, if you're looking for a view of Waimea, I'd recommend it! I thought the hike was pretty easy. I'd give it a 2.5/5 on the difficulty scale, only because there is a lot of loose rocks and roots. My boyfriend (who is less active than me) a 4/5 on the difficulty scale. read more

Waipo'o Falls is an 800 foot waterfall and considered to be one of the most dramatic waterfalls in Hawaii. I beg to differ. I believe it's a disappointment for the amount of praise it gets. Although I am just some one person expressing negativity about it, I can try to explain why... Waipo'o Falls is located within Waimea Canyon State Park - known as the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific". And Waimea Canyon SP is the place every tourist visits if you're coming to the island of Kauai. Now...Waimea Canyon offers a bunch of different vista points and observation overlooks of its beautifully colorful canyon landscape. And...at Waimea Canyon Overlook (Mile Marker 10), the most popular of them all, you can see Waipo'o Falls in the distance, but BARELY! I was in disbelief how far away the falls were, like a little blip on the radar. Seriously, bring binoculars with you. That's how far away it is. In reality, Waipo'o Falls is practically nonexistent from any viewpoint within Waimea Canyon. You see a small trickle at best. And yet, Hawaiian Guides who know the island up and down, and back and forth say this Waimea Canyon Overlook is "spectacular" for catching the falls! Are they being fully transparent? Or am I living in an alternate universe? Experts also claim that Pu'u Ka Pele Lookout (near Mile Marker 13) is remarkable for photo opportunities of Waipo'o Falls. Really? It's still the same tiny glance as if you're standing at Waimea Canyon Overlook. Grrr, frustrating. One more thing...according to my research, Waipo'o Falls can actually be reached by hiking the Canyon Trail from Pu'u Hinahina Lookout. And so...when I arrived at Pu'u Hinahina Lookout, everyone seemed prepared to hike the 1.8 mile (each way) Canyon Trail to Waipo'o Falls. At the time, I was excited to do this thinking I was getting to experience a rewarding waterfall moment. 1.8 miles to see it? I was amped up! But of course, Canyon Trail and getting to Waipo'o Falls is not what you're going to receive. Just a fair warning, lol. Along the way, Canyon Trail is a hike through a rainforest setting which would be pleasant for a lot of people. But, here you are...allocating a lot of time out of the day and since Waimea Canyon is connected directly with Kokee State Park (its neighbor), you really need to pick and choose what sights, stops and activities you'd like to make, all within one day, to feel satisfied, from my pov. Unless you're returning for a Day 2, which I'd suggest doing. But regardless, Canyon Trail is all downhill for the 1.8 miles, which means returning back up to the trailhead can be somewhat difficult for casual hikers and obviously all uphill. Finally, going as far as I could (even in a torrential downpour of rain which really muddied up the trail), I still couldn't find Waipo'o Falls. I did arrive at a rock wall with two small waterfalls splashing into a pool of water, but where was Waipo'o Falls? I couldn't find the answer. Eventually, I returned back up towards the trailhead at Pu'u Hinahina Lookout. What a letdown and waste of time. Because along the way on Canyon Trail, there's not much to see. It's boring, especially considering how you get undisturbed views of Waimea Canyon from all the various viewpoints along the main road of the park and now here, you're working hard not to feel rewarded at the end. Here's what I learned about Canyon Trail to Waipo'o Falls... - Speaking with other hikers (and I could be wrong about this), you're actually standing on top or at the beginning stages of Waipo'o Falls. Those two little waterfalls eventually merge into a pool and begin the grand start of the 800 foot drop. - So if you're standing on top of Waipo'o Falls, how then do you get to the bottom of it, to then admire looking up at it? From what I observed, there was no clear marked trail down the side of the cliff. What, you repel? Or, you must be an advanced hiker/climber and continue on what eventually is an unmaintained path through the forest to get a side view of the falls? I still don't understand to this day as I'm writing this, lol. - Lastly, there were no signs about Waipo'o Falls along the Canyon Trail pathway. You're at on your own discretion to discover your way, even if the trailhead sign at Pu'u Hinahina Lookout specifically stated..."Canyon Trail crosses Kokee Stream and ends at Waipo'o Falls". And, there's no Visitor Center at Waimea Canyon to ask questions where you may have gone wrong. In the end, I apologize for being downbeat at Waipo'o Falls. And I guess, I'm writing this to share my confusion and relay to others that you may need to temper your expectations no matter how enthusiastic professionals out there claim Waipo'o Falls to be. read more

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Easy hike for intermediate hikers. I saw so many people struggling with regular shoes on this hike so bring your hiking shoes! It was muddy when we visited due to it raining the night before and people were slipping. Easier for people who had hiking shoes, but harder for people who wore running shoes. It is not a big incline/decline throughout the hike. The main trail has trails branching from this one, such as the Black Pipe Trail Loop and the Cliff Point Trail. Black Pipe Trail was so small and felt cramped, never really saw anybody attempting it and only had people passing it to go straight to the canyon view. The Cliff Point Trail feels about 0.10 miles and is a quick overlook view of a side of Waimea Canyon. Youtube videos had noted that they have seen mountain goates from here, but we werent so lucky. The main trail to this was about 2 miles to and back. The falls wasnt much of a view sadly, but was perfect for pictures. I saw the path continues onward, but it had a closed warning sign so you are unable to see whatever lies beyond. Do also note, you can drive up to lessen your hike if you arent a hiker, but you need a 4x4. Overall, I definitely recommend. Saw people of all ages try this out and enjoyed as much as we did! read more

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One of the toughest hikes to do when it has just rained a couple of days in a row in the winter. Drove on the road through Waimea Canyon, stopping at the Pu'u Hinahina lookout for a bathroom break. Two miles further on, just past the 14 mile marker there is a Kokee State Park entrance sign. The paved road goes to the left, and a dirt road plunges to the right. Sign at the head of the Halemanu dirt road says 4 wheel drive only, slippery when wet. We park the car on the left side of the road, joining a dozen other vehicles. Grab one of the pile of sticks next to the trail sign, as a walking stick, as TSA prohibits trekking poles on airline carry on luggage. Came on the first sunny day after several days of rain. Takes 20 minutes of downhill hiking on the one lane dirt road, full of water filled potholes and mud that will swallow up a sneaker. Our high top hiking boots give us maximum traction on the muddy slopes, and maximum protection from ankle injuries. Reach the dirt parking lot, where only one vehicle is parked, a 4x4 jeep, and then the junction where the Cliff trail branches out to the right, and the Canyon trail leads to the Waipo'o Falls. Sign covered with stickers and marred with graffiti. Takes another hour of downhill hiking to reach the Falls, only you can't see the falls, on the stream leading to the edge. We stop at the plateau just above the falls, with a ridge 3000 feet above the valley floor. Breathtaking views. Like the Grand Canyon, going back is the hardest part of the hike. 2 miles of muddy slopes, up to 1000 feet in elevation gain, through water ravaged muddy trails. And wife was wearing off white hiking pants! One slip and she would fall into the mud. Encountered at least half a dozen ladies wearing $160 Hoka Bondi running shoes, in pristine condition. But not for long! Three hours after arriving, we drove to the Pu'u Hinahina lookout, lucked out getting a parking spot, making a beeline for the restrooms, without a moment to lose. read more

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The water in Waipo'o Falls drops 800 feet into the Waimea Canyon. You can 1st see the falls at the Canyon Overlook at mile marker 10 on Highway 550. The falls are really spectacular from this lookout. Up the road at Pu'u Ka Pele lookout, near mile marker 13, is the closest view of the falls. You're still a distance away from the waterfalls, but it's a great photo opp.. read more

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It was a rainy day, so couldn't see the view but the hike itself was fun and a good workout! Even in the rain.

Waipo'o Falls (Hike) This review is for the hike leading to the top of the falls. Just note that the best view of the Waipo'o Falls if from the viewpoints located between the Waimea Canyon Lookout and Koke'e State Park. This hike only leads you to two small waterfalls. That said, this hike is a must if you enjoy some physical activity and looking for another view of Waimea Canyon. I recommend parking across the Koke'e State Park sign, walking down the service road, and following the signs to Canyon Trail. If you have a 4x4, you can drive down the service road to Canyon Trail. The hike is 90% downhill to the falls, which means it's 90% uphill back to your car. Total hike is a little over 3 miles RT. Because it just rained the night before, this hike was not easy at all. The trail was muddy and very slippery. I recommend poles if it's wet/muddy. The trail is easy to follow. Just follow the trail leading Canyon Trail and you'll eventually end up at one of the waterfalls. On the way back, we followed the Cliff Trail and to a viewpoint where you can get an even closer to Waimea Canyon. The entire hike reminded me of the original Jurassic Park. Remember that scene with the dinosaurs? Yes, that part. AllTrails has this hike ranked as moderate. Due to the wet and slippery conditions, I rank this hike as moderate to hard. read more

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Knowing that the canyon is 2 hours from Princeville, we got an early start at 7am to beat the heat. While there is no entrance fee for Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Park, there is a $10 parking fee and a $5/person entrance fee (credit cards only, no cash) payable at the kiosk at the trailhead of Waipo'o Falls, Pu'u hinahina. According to signage, the trail is 2 miles long out and back and takes 2 to 3 hours. Including hike and photos, we made the round-trip in under 3 hours. Getting to the falls is somewhat tricky as you have to walk (very carefully) to the precipice then make a left U-turn down the hill. Not only is the trail steep, it's slippery from loose sand/gravel. After you go down the hill, the trail forks: the left takes you to a small waterfall with a pool and the right takes you to little waterfalls with lots of rocks. After looking at both, we decided to take the path to the right and took lots of photos of the canyon and dipped our feet into the little pools of chilly water while having lunch. While the trail is rated moderate, there were some parts that were quite challenging. Afterwards, we went to the picnic area, Puu Ka Pele Picnic Grounds, located a little ways back down the hill with shade, tables, and facilities. Because I was coming from Princeville, there was a much needed public restroom before entering the park at Pa'ula'ula State Historic Site. read more

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Dangerous hiking. The authorities need to address the more treacherous parts of the trail and install safeguards along those areas. I know only too well living in the mountains how trails change season after season and that is where responsible authorities step in to setup boundaries in those dangerous areas. read more

Great easy / moderate hike (unless the trail's wet:) of around 4 miles RT to Waipo'o Falls in Waimea Canyon / Kokee State Park. Can't offer anything new or different from the other reviews other than to tell you the following: When you get to the open area before heading down to the cascade, sit down on the rock in front of the upturned frame made by a misshapen tree (when you see it you'll know what I mean). Have a fellow hiker take a pic of you and your honey. It's gonna be your tropical Christmas card pic for the year! Such an incredible place and this is a much nicer way to appreciate it rather than simply pulling off at an overlook and claiming you've seen what the canyon has to offer. read more

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The falls hike begins for most people at the Pu'u Hinahina Lookout, located past the Milepost 13 marker on Waimea Canyon Drive. It's nearly two miles one-way and the round-trip takes between two and three hours. There are numerous exposed tree roots and uneven surfaces as the trail takes you through the Koke'e rain forest and out to a ridge near the falls that provides outstanding views. Even though you won't actually see the falls themselves. They fall 800 feet down a cliff. Be careful as the trail opens to a wide red soil base. Devin Goetsch, a 25-year-old Honolulu man, died July 29, 2014, after losing his footing on loose rocks on the canyon edge. He fell 700 feet to his death. Some trail guides describe the trail as moderate. It's well worth the time and effort for the views you'll encounter. read more

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This trail got a lot more traffic than I expected it would. It's off a parking lot from the Pu'u Hinahina lookout so it's easy to find. It goes down through some forest, a few junctions, and then walking alongside cliffs, to the waterfall. It's 4 miles round trip so it's easy. Just make sure you bring a hiking stick if it's drizzling because the trail easily get muddy and slippery. Be careful at the cliffs. There was a memorial spot by the cliffs where I'm guessing someone had slipped and died. There's a mini waterfall behind the huge big waterfall, with a mini lake that you can swim in. The water is really cold but since you're up there you might as well go for a swim. The big waterfall overlooks the canyon and it's breathtaking but may be scary since you're so high up and so close to the waterfall. Do this hike because it seems to be popular with the tourists but watch your steps because I think someone died on this trail. read more

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There are 2 ways to get there. Left side of Puuhinahina Look out and Niihau Look out, or near 14 mm. Last time we were here, too much rain stopped us getting to the falls (we were almost there). This time was just perfect. We loved it so much, did it twice in 3 days. Tip1: For a good whole view of the falls, you need to be on the other side. Tip2: Don't go far when it is muddy. Tip3: We did not do Black Pipe Trail, looked almost the same as where we came from. Tip4: 14 mm start is easier but Puuhinahina entrance is prettier. Tip5: Spend some time by the falls. YELP 365 - 245/365 read more

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Canyon Trail - Gorgeous, moderate hike to a beautiful canyon view and ending at the Waipo'o Falls. This hike begins on a muddy road that descends about .5 miles to the true trailhead which descends even further into the forest and then breaks out into a rocky overlook with amazing views of the canyon. Continue past the smooth rock canyon view and descend to the Waipo'o Falls. The hike was about 3 miles RT and was so worth the views. The end of the hike is all uphill so if you are struggling heading to the falls just remember it will be tougher going out so make sure you have water and maybe a snack to give you a little energy. For most people this hike will be no problem. read more

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Waimea Canyon Trail was a somewhat tough path along the ridge of the canyon. We started out at Pu'u Hinahina Lookout which has a nice parking lot & real restrooms - and plenty of chickens The hardest part was not the huge downhill almost all the way to the top of the falls - which you then cannot see but do get to see a mini-falls & pool that were quite lovely For me, the hardest part was the uphill part to get back - I'm much more of a downhill fan & the ascents always kill me The scenery is breathtaking & there are lots of helicopters buzzing all about - even though it was raining on the Hanalei side of the island, Waimea was dry so don't let the weather fool you Get on up here! read more

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I'm sure it's beautiful and deserves a five-star rating on a good day. However, there are bad days, and I happen to go on a bad day. To avoid repeating my mistake, make sure you go on a clear day when it hasn't been raining like crazy. Just because the weather was mild and sunny at your Poipu resort, doesn't mean it wasn't raining like crazy up here. Check the weather reports for Waimea Canyon itself! We encountered cloudy, windy, 50F temps, on a soaked puddle-filled muddy trail. I walked about 5 minutes into the Canyon Trail from Pu'u Hinahina Lookout, then quickly retreated back down to 75F sunny Poipu. The good news is that there are many turnouts off the freeway for you to stop and enjoy the scenery (and for you to move out of the way, people!). Once we got halfway down and back into the sunny part, we stopped along the road and found a spot with a stream around mile marker 7 to walk around and enjoy the scenery. The more you know... enjoy! read more

Not a hike - this is an easy drive that's super easy to find (rare for Kauai.) It's a 5 star view of 2 waterfalls and a nice little kodak moment area to park your car, but it's not more than that. For me (this is why only 4 stars) I want to get out and explore and feel the ground under my feet. This is a walkway and railing area. But that's really good for people unable to hike (challenged, with small kids, elderly, etc.) read more

This was such a highlight! The canyon and the view from the waterfall was incredible! Bring lunch and eat while looking out at the spectacular view! read more

Nice trial! Start on the canyon trail (that's most of the hike) and finish at the falls. The star of the show is the canyon, as the falls aren't huge, but its not much farther beyond the look out (I'm referring to the second look out - on the canyon trial there are two look outs, one has fencing and the second is open). It's moderate - there are some steep areas, which can be a little tricky in the way down and tiring on the way up, but most should be able to make it- budget a minimum of 2 hours, but 4 is better so you can fully enjoy the views! read more

How can I possibly give waterfalls less than 5 stars-especially on Kauai? These falls can be viewed at a distance from the Waimea Canyon lookout, but also can be hiked to. I used the Pu'u Hinahina lookout as my jumping off point to hike to the falls, following the Waimea Canyon trail. This particular hike is more about the journey than the destination as you will pass through forest, sweeping canyon views and a smaller, more accessible waterfall en route. The hike I took actually takes you to the top of Waipo'o Falls so you are only getting a view from the top-which is completely breathtaking but just go in with those expectations. The trail just ends at the top of the falls so be careful of the drop offs and stay on trail. It's an out and back hike to the top of the falls and all worth the trip. Moderate and scenic hike. read more

The sign at the trailhead is more obvious than we were lead to believe. The first mile of this hike is a moderate dirt (or mud) road. A 4x4 could drive you. The second mile is difficult with a lot of climbing over roots and boulders. Quite steep in several sections. The view from above the falls was not significantly better than from the road. read more

The first time we tried this trail we didn't get very far. We were with a group and decided to turn back because it was very slippery and muddy. We returned a few days later and found it to be much drier. We were able to complete the hike in 2.5 hours. We are both active and enjoy the outdoors but by no means do we consider ourselves serious hikers. We didn't find this trail to be at all strenuous, however there is some elevation gain on the return trail and you need to allot enough time based on the trail conditions and your experience. The views of the canyon along the way are stunning and the waterfall at the end is a nice place to rest before beginning the journey back. If you're looking for a fairly easy hike, this is a trail worth considering. read more

You can see this waterfall from the Waimea Canyon lookout, which you should totally check out to see the beautiful canyon, and just how massive this waterfall is. A lot of people parked on the street outside of the road leading to the trail, but if you have a 4WD vehicle, you can drive down the road and park right outside of the trail, which is what we did. I guess we just got lucky on our trip because there was hardly anyone on the trail, and all the mud made for a pretty fun drive! The trail itself is mostly downhill heading to the falls, which means the way back will give you a workout! It was not super muddy during our visit, but flash floods and torrential rain are pretty common in Waimea Canyon. Definitely be careful. The waterfall and the canyon are both just... incredible. It was definitely one of the highlights of my visit to Kauai. read more

It's a fabulous hike and absolutely worth it... beautiful scenery... Another one of the best hikes in Kauai :-) read more

Great hike. Took us about 2 hours. Great view from the vista up top and then you end at a waterfall. The way back is a little bit of a challenge because you are going up most of the way back. We parked by the Kokee State Park sign and hiked in but you can drive in part of the way with a four wheel drive. read more

Waipo'o Falls - Weimea Canyon. This is not the waterfall we hiked to. - Hiking Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

Waimea Canyon is known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. There are various lookout points along Kokee Road (Highway 550) to enjoy the canyon and Kokee State Park. The first major lookout is Waimea Canyon Lookout. It is where you will find the location for most of the iconic pictures of the canyon. In the distance to the left, you will also see Waipoo Falls. If you are looking for a hike, I definitely recommend the Canyon Trail. I started at the Puu Hinahina Lookout, which is approximately at the 13.5 mile marker. There is plenty of parking there. The trail begins at the end of the parking lot. From there, it is approximately 4 miles round trip and takes a little over 2 hours to complete. Parts of the trail are steep but I have been on much steeper hikes. In addition, I found the trails well defined and pretty smooth to hike. There is also a lot of tree cover so I did not feel too hot during the hike. Overall, I rate the hike as a moderate. Near the end of the hike, there is a large clearing where you will be treated to more great views of the canyon. You can also climb down to rocks that hang over the edge. Although I saw other hikers do it, I personally thought they were nuts and reckless. I would advise staying back and being cautious. Any slips will lead to death. The trail ends at the top of the Waipoo Falls. You can only see the top so do not try to climb rocks in attempt to see more of it. Before the final stretch to the Falls to the right, you can also make a left and climb over some minor boulders to see a much smaller waterfall that flows down to the Falls. It provides a small pond where you can go in the water if you like. If you want to cut half and the steepest parts out of the hike, you can drive down Halemanu Road and park in the parking lot that connects to the trail. However, you will definitely need a 4X4 to drive back up the dirt, steep road. If you continue down Highway 550, you will enter Kokee State Park. There are lookout points where you can see lush, beautiful valleys on the Na Pali Coast. I did not get a chance to drive down there. I also saw them via boat and helicopter so I did not feel the need to return to finish the drive. Nevertheless, the views of the valleys are definitely worth it if you have the time. If you are visiting Kauai and looking for recommendations, feel free to message me through Yelp and I can share my itinerary, which includes my Yelp reviews. The information for an electronic copy can also be found in the link via my Yelp profile. read more

This hike was the last one I did during my trip to Kauai. Take the Canyon Trail to get to Waipo'o Falls. If you're up for some exercise, this is the way you should experience Waimea Canyon. It becomes much more impressive and magical the farther you get away from the overly crowded lookouts. Also, Waipo'o Falls is amazing, you are right on top of a spectacular waterfall in the middle of a gorgeous canyon. Totally worth the effort. read more