Know Before You Go: The parking for this hike is on Highway 550 in Kokee State Park, which joins Waimea Canyon State Park along Waimea Canyon. The Waipoo Falls trail parking is the same parking lot for Pu’u Hinahina Lookout. This hike can be very slippery and a bit treacherous after rain. Length: 4 miles to the top of the Waipo’o Falls and back Time: 2 hours Difficulty: Moderate Terrain: Rocky, muddy, can be a bit slick in places if it’s rained recently. Kid-Friendly: Yes Dog-Friendly: No pets are allowed on the trail.
Known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, Waimea Canyon Trail to Waipo’o Falls is a gorgeous hike to the top of a waterfall. The best part of this hike is truly the view on the way to the falls. The falls are broken up into tiers. You can take spurs to view the different tiers but you cannot hike to the bottom of the falls.
This hike has 1100 feet of elevation gain. The undulating terrain got our heart rates up at various points during the hike. The most challenging part of the hike for us was the heavy traffic - even on Christmas Day - and the slick areas of mud and rock which made for some slippery slopes.
Waipo’o Falls is a tiered waterfall, which means you can see it in pieces. The first part spills into a pool part way down the canyon. A few minutes later, you have the opportunity to see another tier that is basically the top of a larger falls that you cannot hike to.
With brilliant greens and vibrant red rocks, this canyon was a gorgeous hike without being too challenging. We can see why it’s one of the most popular on the island of Kauai!