Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Na Pali Coast State Park

    4.6 (22 reviews)

    Na Pali Coast State Park Photos

    You might also consider

    More like Na Pali Coast State Park

    Recommended Reviews - Na Pali Coast State Park

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Robert C.

    We wanted to view the Na Pali Coast from land. We got up early from our rented condominium in Kapaa, and drove northward, past the light house, and botanic gardens, and through at least a dozen one way bridges in Northern Kauai. We went past several spectacular beaches, such as Tunnels Beach, and the cliffs at Princeville, finally reaching the end of the road at Ke'e Beach. Parking was almost full at Ke'e Beach by mid morning, as this is a very popular snorkeling area. We had to make a U turn, and turn back and park on the road approaches, along the narrow road. You need to get there early, or park a considerable distance from Ke'e beach. There are bathroom and shower facilities at Ke'e beach, along with picnic tables, and vendors selling refreshments and food. The Kalalau Trail starts from the west side of the entrance to Ke'e beach. The first half mile is very rugged -a steep uphill climb over big, slippery round boulders. No running shoes, let alone flip flops here, or you may turn an ankle. You must wear only high top hiking boots -I brought a pair of old one way boots, to donate to the Goodwill store in Kapaa on our day of departure back to California. Since we were going to be here most of the day, I also brought a day pack, with water bottles, trail snacks, and a sun visor -the tropical sun is very intense - with sun screen covering my arms, legs, and exposed neck. Beautiful scenery once we got to the top of the crest of the mountain overlooking Ke'e beach to the east. Deep blue water with green water, and then the magnificent tan colored sands of the crescent shaped beach in the background, surrounded by palm trees and lush tropical vegetation. As we hiked onwards, we could see the Na Pali cliffs in the background way to the west, along the coast. More spectacular scenery with the clear blue deep tropical waters intersected by incoming waves of white surf plunging against the shoreline, filled with green vegetation. Tall mountains in the background rising thousands of feet above the shore. We must have hiked about two hours, through areas where fast moving streams intersected the pathway, turning the trail into mud. Another reason to bring throw away high top hiking shoes. Hike far enough, and you will be rewarded with a view of another spectacular beach below. The trail starts to go downhill, and finally a steep descent to Hanakapi'ai Beach. Another spectacular white beach, contrasting to the green palm trees and deep blue waters of the ocean. We turn right and go on an offshoot trail inland another mile and a half, and reach Hanakapi'ai falls, one of the few falls and pools reachable on the north shore from the Kalalau trail. One can continue on the trail to see Hanakoa falls, and eventually to the Kalalau Beach and caves, Honopu beach and Honopu Arch. It's at least 11 miles one way over rugged terrain, and requires overnight permits to camp. One day of hiking here is one of the highlights of our trip to Kauai. We will be back -I'm saving another pair of worn out hiking boots for my return trip! Saw another hiker with a very wet brown bottom -apparently she had been wearing sneakers and slipped onto the mud on her bottom! Good thing she wasn't wearing white pants! BTW if we look slimmer and younger in the pictures than recent pictures of us, we didn't find the fountain of youth, but made the trip in February 2010!

    The 90-foot arch at Honopū Beach, on Kaua‘i's northwest shore.
    John S.

    There's only three ways to see the dazzling Na Pali Coast and driving in isn't one of the choices. You can only view Na Pali by flying over in a helicopter or plane, taking a boat tour or hiking in via Ke'e Beach on the northwest corner of Kaua'i. Kaua'i resident and guidebook author Andrew Doughty said Kaua'i is the only one of the Hawaiian islands where he recommends an air tour. So much of the island is inaccessible by car that it makes an overhead view worth it, he writes. I took a one-hour air tour offered by Jack Harter Helicopters out of Lihue to see Na Pali up-close. Harter is the only company that offers a doors-off option that is essential for the best photographic experience. The coast is absolutely stunning and combined with a hiking trip to Waimea Canyon, they were the viewing highlights of my eight-day stay on Kaua'i.

    Desirée P.

    Na Pali is one of the most beautiful places in the world!! Every time I go on a boat tour to Na Pali I'm always surprised by her beauty. I am very blessed I'm able to call Kauai home. No place else I would want to live. Do yourself a favor and take a boat tour to Na Pali you won't be disappointed. A must see for your bucket list!!(August 2020)

    Nancy C.

    The most beautiful hike in Kauai, in my opinion. Get there early, or parking will be extremely hard to find. There are a few trails you can take; the longest is 11 miles one way. We did the 2 miles one way (4 mi round trip), which led down to a river crossing and the beach. You can go 2 additional miles as well. The hike took a long time due to the muddy conditions and slippery rocks. The trail also gets congested as you wait for people to climb down a narrow path. 2 miles typically takes me about 50 minutes; 2 miles this time took over an hour. Bug spray is a MUST - I didn't have any and got about 13 mosquito bites from this hike along. I'd also bring a change of clothes in case yours gets very muddy; strongly recommend a different pair of shoes as well.

    The Na Pali Coast - As Seen On Na Pali Experience Tour
    David S.

    Your Trip to Kaua'i Is Not Complete Without Seeing This Colorful Coast Line The Na Pali Coast is spectacular! The deep valleys covered with lush vegetation are accentuated by flowing waterfalls. The colors are stunning, especially against the setting sun. The seclusion of this natural wonder makes the experience even more wonderful! No roads access the coast, limiting the possibilities to view the 17-miles of ocean cliffs. The first option is by sea. There is a large variety of boat tours that sail along the Na Pali Coast, and some even offer lunch or dinner during the trip. My wife and I spent a lot of time researching the different boat tours: companies, boat sizes, times of day, and port locations. We highly recommend Na Pali Experience! This tour was the best way to see the coast close up, including the sea caves. The Na Pali Experience cruise and snorkeling tour was the highlight of our week on Kaua'i! See my review of Na Pali Experience on Yelp for more information. The second opportunity to see the Coast is by hiking the Kalalau Trail from Ke'e Beach. My wife and I hiked a portion of the trail, and were rewarded with spectacular view of the coast line! However, the trail is very strenuous, and only accesses a small portion of the Na Pali Coast. This is the only trail along the Na Pali Coast. The final way to view the Na Pali Coast is by air. Again, there are numerous air plane and helicopter tours. We did not take a tour by air, so I will let others comment on this option. By any or all of the methods, make sure you experience the Na Pali Coast!

    Vladmir T.

    Awesome scenery and crazy trails weaving through the jungle and cliffs! Bummer you have to get nearly impossible to get permits when you visit and didn't know you had to book months in advance for the park.... We went pirate and went without the permit since it would have been a waste of a trip. Do the 11 mile hike to the beach but bring a water purifier so you can refill at each River. Don't carry anything extra, this is a long hike! Parts are pretty washed out, muddy and a few sketchy!!! Worth the effort! This is the greatest thing you can do on this island!

    A muddy and slick hike during some heavy rainfall.
    Srey R.

    My husband and I ended up hiking only one mile of the Kalalua Trail because it was raining heavily. By the time we got to the 1-mile marker, our shoes were completely soaked through. There were some small rushing streams/waterfalls because of the intense amount of rain. It was very slippery and muddy. We recognize that it wasn't the smartest hike to take considering the weather. We had walking sticks with us and plenty of water. The hike is strenuous, even at the beginning. It takes about an hour per mile. Wear proper shoes and have ample water and food. On a rainy day, it's still very hot and humid in September. With our rain jackets on, it was hotter. Despite all of that, the hike was beautiful even though we didn't make it all the way to the beach or the falls. Once the clouds broke for a little while, we could see down to the ocean. It's a pretty spectacular place, if you can do at least a mile of it. I wish the rain had held off but that's Mother Nature for ya. I can't wait to come back and finish what I started.

    Priscilla Y.

    Extremely beautiful and iconic hike in Kauai. A must do!! Start early if you plan on hiking further than the beach. You start at Ke'e Beach, which is fantastic for snorkeling. Parking can be difficult. People park on the side of the road where No Parking signs are plentiful--we did. Didn't even notice the signs until after we got back. Oops. Lots of people come just for Ke'e beach and not the hike so that's why it's hard to find a space. The Kalalau trail to Hanakapi'ai Beach is about 2 miles. Two slippery, muddy, wet, mosquito infested miles. You will cross several streams and small waterfalls. If your feet aren't wet by the first one, I guarantee you you will wet them on purpose to rinse off all the mud. Wear the right kinds of shoes! My most comfy hiking shoes have almost no tread left, so each step took 3 times a long to make sure I had secure footing before moving on, and I still slipped several times. I also wore long sleeves and long pants, plus used bug spray and still got bit. A heck of a hike, and I am fairly experienced (desert hiker LOL). I'm glad I brought my hiking pole, and the trail is pretty steep in some places. If you plan on hiking onto the waterfall, it's another 1.8 miles, and not actually part of the 11 mile total Kalalau trail, so if you are trying to do the whole thing, that's another 1.8 x2 not counted in the 11. If you do plan on going past the beach, technically you need a permit. Didn't see anyone at a drawbridge or anything checking for permits, I'm just saying. Believe it or not, there are people who do this hike barefoot. And there are people who live in this jungle. Some are native people, some are hippies, some are homeless. I even saw a dog wandering around with a shock collar on him. :( Two of my friends lived in there for about 6 months....no clue how they did it. We only made it to the beach. On the way back, I took 1 hour and 30 mins to get back to the lot. BF took 38 mins running back. Of course, he didn't slip and I did.

    Michael C.

    Word's cannot describe. See it from land, from the water, or from the air. With these mountains, now you see why the road around Kauai will never go all the way around.

    See all

    Photo of Seth A.
    46
    1077
    9626

    2 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sue L.
    298
    680
    5377

    6 years ago

    Helpful 19
    Thanks 0
    Love this 24
    Oh no 2

    8 years ago

    Helpful 65
    Thanks 0
    Love this 58
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of John S.
    214
    653
    1657

    10 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    I love this place. A must visit. Magical, mystical, amazing.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of David S.
    139
    63
    404

    12 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Vladmir T.
    1771
    1656
    5085

    10 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 92
    Thanks 0
    Love this 82
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Srey R.
    11
    56
    55

    11 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jen K.
    11
    22
    2

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lisa M.
    19
    453
    188

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ken W.
    15
    38
    3

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Na Pali Coast State Park

    Review Highlights - Na Pali Coast State Park

    Beautiful scenery once we got to the top of the crest of the mountain overlooking Ke'e beach to the east.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Parks 450 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Wailua Falls

    Wailua Falls

    4.4(328 reviews)
    4.5 mi

    I visited the Wailua Falls in Līhuʻe, Kauaʻi, Hawaii [Maalo Rd; Hwy 583] on Saturday, 01/24/26,…read morearound 3:30 PM. Wailua Falls offered an incredibly close view, which made the experience feel special. I was able to truly appreciate the waterfall's beauty up close. One fun highlight was spotting a rooster sitting right near the edge, which was such a classic Kauaʻi island moment because roosters are everywhere on the island. I also noticed a touching memorial sign dedicated to Kavika Luna, "Mr. Aloha" - The Flying Hawaiian (May 1960 - September 2024). The message spoke about rainbows appearing as he chanted and the magic of Wailua Falls coming alive. It felt meaningful because I actually caught a mini rainbow during my visit, which made the moment even more breathtaking and memorable. Overall, I was very pleased with this stop. Wailua Falls is absolutely worth checking out for its natural beauty and history.

    First stop when we got to Kauai as it was 10-mins away from the airport…read more First impressions, parking is difficult as the road is narrow because of the cars parked on the side allowing a car to pass at a time. Smelly as I'm sure kids at night are drinking in this area and peeing wherever they like. However, the view of the falls is worth it. I do wish they would cut down some of the weeds as it was a bit tall. Luckily, a fellow tourist that took our family photo was tall and so he was able to capture a photo of us and the fall. I do recommend visiting but just know that the parking is chaotic. Oh, and it is free.

    Photos
    Wailua Falls - Wailua Falls

    Wailua Falls

    Wailua Falls - Rooster on the edge!

    Rooster on the edge!

    Wailua Falls - The small parking lot at Wailua Falls. Beware - traffic can get congested here real fast.

    See all

    The small parking lot at Wailua Falls. Beware - traffic can get congested here real fast.

    Lydgate Beach Park

    Lydgate Beach Park

    4.4(241 reviews)
    3.2 mi

    Initially coming here to kill a little time before a reserved tour, my wife and I really admired…read morethe planning and execution of the building/landscaping of this family park. Named after a pillar in the community who came to Kauai in the late 19th century, Lydgate Beach Park is 62 acres, with the Lydgate Park pathway encompassing 2.5 miles, a small part of the much larger Ke Ala Hele Makālae costal trail. There is plenty of parking, with both dedicated surface lots and street parking on the paved road. We immediately noticed surfers on electric surfboards out pretty far, even on this windy day. At the northern part of the park is where most people gather, close to modern facilities and a manned lifeguard station and a large covered event area with plenty of parking. Closer to the shore, we saw a seal just lying on the land, bathing in the sun, completely ignoring the people milling by. The very large safe man-made swimming/tide pools are great for the kekei and others, with constant refreshing of sea water over the lava rocks. There are picnic tables nearby as well with a lot of green space. My favorite feature are the man-made protected swimming pools, What I loved about it was how spread out everything was, with so many amenities. It just never felt crowded, even if a lot more people came. As we were leaving, my wife mentioned that Lydgate Beach is one of those rare parks where an ocean-loving family would intentionally live close by, just to be near this park.

    Hands down probably the best Beach park and kids playground in the world with both combinations…read more Has a very large covered area for groups and events. Smaller covered area for public rental and reservations. 2 playgrounds next to each other. One very extensive and large playground mostly wooden and older. The other one is more modern, "smaller". Recently they added more shaded areas over parts of that playground. Lots of parking, great beach area.

    Photos
    Lydgate Beach Park
    Lydgate Beach Park
    Lydgate Beach Park - Protected pool to left

    See all

    Protected pool to left

    Kapaia Swinging Bridge - At the entrance

    Kapaia Swinging Bridge

    4.8(10 reviews)
    7.0 mi

    While researching things to see on Kauai, I came across the Kapaia Swinging Bridge. But it wasn't…read moresomething I found right away. It took me a while to find it which is great because that means not too many other tourist know about this. So the day we fly to Kauai was a holiday. As soon as we got the car, we headed straight to Waialua Falls. Once done there, we made our way to this swinging bridge, less than 10-mins away. It's in a small neighborhood. And parking was nonexistent. So I pulled into a business' parking lot and told my family to go look around and I'd stay in the car and wait for someone to tell me to move. But I got out of the car for a bit just to look around real quick when I noticed the sign on the business said they were closed for the holiday. Then I realized, that day WAS a holiday. And so I was able to enjoy the grounds with my family. And, no other tourist were around. Just a homeowner working on his surfboard. The surroundings are beautiful. Super quiet. Bridge was a bit shaky. And then I walked up the stairs at the end of the bridge where it took us to the church where there's plenty of parking. So if you plan on visiting, park at the Immaculate Conception Church. Yes, highly recommend.

    You can easily miss this hidden gem. Right off the highway…read morebut you'll feel like you walked into a little serenity spot. Beautiful place and well maintained. Not clear where to park so we just pulled in where it seemed likely. Once you cross the bridge you can follow the path up the hill to an old church and you can read a bit of the history behind this area. Short bridge but a quick fun stop. Love the swaying motion of the bridge.

    Photos
    Kapaia Swinging Bridge - Taking in the view

    Taking in the view

    Kapaia Swinging Bridge
    Kapaia Swinging Bridge - There she is

    See all

    There she is

    Waimea Canyon State Park - Soo crazy beautiful

    Waimea Canyon State Park

    4.8(448 reviews)
    21.0 mi

    If I could only visit 1 spot during my time in Kauai, I would without any hesitation choose Waimea…read moreCanyon State Park. Affectionately nicknamed the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific", it is easy to see how this canyon gained its affectionate moniker. Stretching 14 miles long, 1 mile wide and more than 3,600 feet deep, the Waimea Canyon provides breathtaking panoramic views of crested buttes, rugged crags and deep valley gorges. Even at the first rest stop you come across, you are already high enough that the view would have made the trip worthwhile. There are 5 rest stops on your way up to the top, each offering restrooms, trash cans, and their own respective viewing points; each stunning in its own rights. You can choose to simply stop at each stop on your way up like we did, or drive all the way to the top and work your way back down. Keep in mind it takes almost an hour to drive up to the very top without stopping. And the fog starts rolling in later on in the day obscuring visibility into the canyon. So you'll want to make sure you start your day off early if you're opting for the later strategy. For us, we started on the bottom and worked our way back up. We never made it all the way to the top as the fog had already rolled in by the time we hit the higher levels which made viewing anything on those levels impossible. There is now some construction being done for safety improvements and roadwork patching. Much of which is past due and much needed. As we started to encounter quite a few gigantic potholes on the higher elevations that often required either maneuvering around into oncoming traffic or traversing very slowly over the shallower parts of the potholes. We were quite thankful we were in a SUV because we were fairly certain we would not have made it past some of the potholes if we were in a lower profile vehicle such as a sedan or convertible. While driving the canyon is free (outside of parking), you can also splurge and view the canyon unobstructed from an ariel vantage through either a chartered plane or helicopter ride.

    Photos won't do this place justice. The greenery is just vibrant!…read more Took a bus excursion through my cruise and was my favorite experience!

    Photos
    Waimea Canyon State Park
    Waimea Canyon State Park - Waimea Canyon State Park is on the west side of Kauaʻi | Rees's Roots

    Waimea Canyon State Park is on the west side of Kauaʻi | Rees's Roots

    Waimea Canyon State Park - End of Waterfall

    See all

    End of Waterfall

    Sacred Temple Garden/Rudraksha Forest

    Sacred Temple Garden/Rudraksha Forest

    4.6(8 reviews)
    4.2 mi

    On our last day on Kauai, we stayed near the airport area and decided to drive up into the…read moreneighborhood in Kapaa and visit the fall and see where the road takes us. Initially we drove past the sacred temple and thought it was the neighborhood park. Coming back down, I saw the sacred temple sign and turned in. I didn't expect this. There's a small area with a beautifully maintained garden with the statue of Hanuman (looks like a monkey). While my sisters were exploring, my sister told me to follow this path as. It came up and walked through the bamboo tunnel that was called entrance to the First World. Very tranquil. And that's it. However, the temple itself is elsewhere that we did not have time to visit. I've seen other people's photos and it looks amazing. Free entrance and free parking. I would recommend seeing it for yourself.

    Based on the reviews we read-the area was supposed to be breath taking and no one working but that…read morewas not the case. We got there and the parking lot was full. People in pants and dressed nicely. We were tourist and we were wearing shorts and tank tops. We didn't make it in as we felt very out of place. But from pictures in other reviews it looks like it would be a beautiful place. Just maybe next time we will have nicer clothes on

    Photos
    Sacred Temple Garden/Rudraksha Forest - The only Rudraksha forest in America

    The only Rudraksha forest in America

    Sacred Temple Garden/Rudraksha Forest - 10/17/22 Flora surrounding the temple gardens

    10/17/22 Flora surrounding the temple gardens

    Sacred Temple Garden/Rudraksha Forest - 10/17/22 peaceful, enlightenment....

    See all

    10/17/22 peaceful, enlightenment....

    Na Pali Coast State Park - parks - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...