Waipoo Falls

Hiking to Waipo'o Falls

Waipo'o Falls drops roughly 800 feet in multiple tiers down the red and green walls of Waimea Canyon. You can spot it from the Waimea Canyon Lookout on clear days -- a thin white ribbon against the cliffs. But the distant view doesn't compare to what you see from the Canyon Trail, where the falls fill your entire field of vision.

The Canyon Trail

The Canyon Trail (also called the Cliff Trail) runs about 3.4 miles roundtrip from the trailhead near Pu'u Hinahina Lookout. It's rated moderate. The path follows the canyon rim with exposed sections and a few steep switchbacks. Expect mud -- this is Kaua'i, and the trails in Waimea Canyon stay damp even on sunny days. Proper hiking shoes with grip are a must. Sandals or flip-flops will not work here.

The best viewpoint for Waipo'o Falls comes about 1.5 miles in, where the trail opens up to an unobstructed overlook. The cascade pours down the opposite canyon wall, and on a clear morning the light hits the mist and the red rock in a way that makes the whole scene look almost unreal.

When to Go

Morning. By midday, clouds build up over the canyon and obscure the view. Start by 8 AM if you want the best chance of clear skies and dry trail conditions. The trailhead has a small parking area that fills up by late morning on weekends.

Bring at least a liter of water per person. There's no shade for much of the hike and no water source on the trail. The sun on the canyon rim is strong even when the air feels cool.

Getting to the Trailhead

Drive up Waimea Canyon Drive (Highway 550) from Waimea town. The trailhead is near mile marker 14, between the Pu'u Hinahina and Waimea Canyon lookouts. Look for a small dirt pulloff and a trail sign. The drive from Waimea takes about 30 minutes on a winding two-lane road with spectacular views the whole way up.