After our tubing expedition with Kauai Backcountry Adventures, we began our tour of Kauai's North shore. Our first stop was the Ōpaekaa Falls overlook. This waterfall is visible from the highway...no need to hike. This is a quick stop to snap a few pics. read more

Opaeka'a Falls - Ōpaekaa Falls - Parks Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

It is a beautiful sight to see. No hike involved. Just pull to the right and it takes you into a parking lot. Walk towards the end of the path and you'll see the falls. Bathrooms nearby. If you walk across the street, there is a beautiful view of the Wailua River. read more

Opaeka'a Falls was very quick to get to, literally no hiking is involved. This is a great example of effort being proportionally equal to result. I guess it's nice? But really the waterfall is very distant and unimpressive. Have low expectations and you'll be fine. Or skip the falls altogether. read more

After lunch, we drove a few miles north of the airport and another few miles west to a parking lot lookout with views of the Wailua River State Park. From the south end of the lot, you can see up the valley to where the Falls drop 151' into the Opaeka'a Stream. There were at least two falls with a smaller third falls on the viewer's right. The view is generally clear from that side, but the vegetation on the north end of the lookout obstructs the view. I didn't notice any information about the falls or the park posted on site. There was a public restroom at the location for convenience. My only negative is that the view is from a distance and because of the chance for rain and fog, zoom photos tended to washout the color of the images. I did get better results once the sun burned off a bit if the haze, so plan your trip according to the weather or have patience if you are looking for that great photo. Review #2382 read more

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Nice double waterfalls to see, but your view is from a distance. However, it's an easy and quick spot to stop by. There is plenty of parking in their lot, but the spots are super small. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here, but worth checking out if you're passing through or in the area. read more

Opaeka'a Falls - Parks Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Opaeka Falls is a real quick lookout that's an easy drive from Lihue on the way north. There are two things to see here. The twin waterfalls can be seen from a distance surrounded by all that Kauai greenery. You should then cross the highway and get a view of the Wailua Heritage Trail with may kayakers navigating the river below along with the vegetation-covered mountain above. The area you're looking at is regarded as one of the "Wettest Places on Earth." A nice place to stop by if you're in the general vicinity. If you like big, impressive waterfalls, the nearby Wailua Falls may be more to your liking. read more

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Don't go out of your way. We stopped by after our kayak trip at Kamokila Hawaiian Village (where you kayak partway and then hike to Secret Falls). The lookout point to Opaeka'a Falls is 500 feet from the highway exit to Kamokila. From the lookout point, the view of Opaeka'a Falls is beautiful but distant. The falls are split in the middle and flow over two sides of the cliff, making it look like two separate waterfalls. The falls are 151 feet tall, but you can't see the bottom from the lookout point due to the treeline. The good thing is that the falls flow year-round and are not seasonal. There's plenty of parking and restroom facilities at the lookout point. I wouldn't drive out just to see these falls, but it's worth stopping here for 15 minutes if you're passing by. read more

Opaeka'a Falls - Quite the distant view - Parks Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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I have seen my share of waterfalls, but this one is special because it's not far from where I got my start. Twin falls right next to each other. You cannot get to them, but you can see from the on-look. They dump right into the river. If you cross the street, you can get a better view of the river itself and checkout the town below. Ugh I love it here because it really does feel unspoiled compared to the rest of the world. There were maybe 6 tourists in sight - not bad. And, there was a restroom right at the parking lot - I didn't go in. read more

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Beautiful waterfall that you can drive straight up to and see from a distance. I would recommend stopping just to get some good pictures and don't forget to enjoy all the roasters around read more

Opaeka'a Falls - Falls - Parks Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Beautiful waterfalls just minutes from Kapa'a. It's probably the most easily accessed on the island, with a viewpoint on Highway 580, also known as Kuamo'o Road. Opaeka'a means "rolling shrimp," which were once abundant here. The 151-foot falls flow year-round. read more

Opaeka'a Falls - Opaeka`a Falls, as seen from the pullout on Highway 580. - Parks Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Beautiful view that is totally accessible. As someone that travels with a handicap person (my father) it's always appealing to see something a wheelchair can go to. There is a little parking area off to the side, we didn't have any issues parking at all. It did down pour while we were there, but like my family always says, "When it rains in Hawaii, just wait 5 minutes and it'll be gone." Definitely take the time to cross the street and see the river on the other side of the falls. Although you can't get very close to anything, it's an incredible view! Final plus, there is a bathroom nearby! read more

Opaeka'a Falls - Such a gorgeous place! This is the view on the side you park. - Parks Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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Very cool that you can see the falls from the road. Very easy to find with tons Of signage. All I can say it's an amazing view read more

Opaeka'a Falls - Parks Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Another easy to view water fall .. not far from Wailua Falls it had rained for a week so I actually though the waterfalls would be more impressive but still pretty fall. Parked and walked over to look at the falls .. there were bathrooms read more

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More waterfall in Kauai! I don't know how to go close up to it, probably a dangerous and hidden hike to there. Since it was our last day, we did the easy thing. We drove to the lookout and took pictures from afar. It was a short drive there from the bottom. There were a lot of tourist and chickens everywhere you go. There are plenty of parking, so no worries. It was a quick picture of the waterfall. When you drive back down, on the right side there's a mini stop to check out a river view. It is really beautiful. I don't know if it was worth it to go to this waterfall because it was soo far to see. read more

We dedicated a day to seeing some of the waterfalls on the island. We drove towards the east side of the island and ran into Opaeka'a Falls in Wailua. You take the 580 up a couple miles. The road starts very farm plain like. It looks different from a lot of the island. There is plenty of parking and spots to take photos. One side of the road you can see the waterfalls and on the other you can see the Wailua river and people kayaking to the falls for a closer look or swim. There are tours available in the vistor guide books with discounts that take you to the waterfalls. Hiking from up above does not seem possible. It appears that you have to start on the river. We hung out for about 15 mins, took pictures and went onto our next spot. read more

Opaeka'a Falls - Opaeka'a Falls - Parks Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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My wife and I visited the falls last week and it was beautiful! The address on Yelp brought us to a dead end street, just follow the signs the you'll find it right away. The falls are a little bit away for viewing but it is still a great view especially with a good camera. When we were there it wasn't too busy although when we were leaving there were tour buses coming up so it looks like it could get busy quickly. There were plenty of parking spaces for everyone and even some extra. There are restrooms near the parking lot, that was nice. Also if you cross the street (from the falls viewing) there is also another scenic view. It is another beautiful view although I much prefer the falls. All in all this is a definite go to when you are in Kauai! It wasn't hard to get to and the view was awesome! Something to easily fill some time, if your waiting for something or don't have anything to do. read more

Opaeka'a Falls - The falls! - Parks Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Located not too far from the wailua river entrance. There's abundant parking and a lookout platform to see the other falls. Other than that, that's it. There's another observatory across the road that teases you that you should have maxed that rsvp & splurged the money by paying for the wailua river kayaking. From this view you'll see how many kayakers are struggling up river yet having fun as well as those going down river that can't wait to get off. read more

This is the other free waterfall with a lookout point. Again, go if you are in the area. Don't have high expectations. You can see the waterfalls from the view point but they are teeny tiny. Very distant! Quick 5 minute stop to take some pictures read more

Opaeka'a Falls - Viewpoint across the street - north fork Wailua river - Parks Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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Beautiful and easy viewing. Easy to find. Nice easy drive. Doesn't take much time. Aloha

I find it hard to give any kind of natural wonder anything less than 5 stars. Opeaka'a deserves it, tho. There's not much to Opeaka'a Falls except an overlook if you're approaching from the road. But it's beautiful, twin falls spilling like doilies over an enormous, tiered cliff. An excellent photo op on Kaua'i. Only thing is...what's that house doing directly over the falls, and why don't I live there? read more

Opaeka'a Falls - Parks Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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If you dont fall for the falls you'll fall for the chickens! There are everywhere thanks to a tsunami that dislodged them from their coops a long time ago. It wasn't long before the locals realized the now free chickens were helping keep the big population down. Since chickens enjoy a free life everywhere on the islands and will always remain free! Oh yes, by the way, this was another beautiful fall! read more

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Nice falls near the road for an easy viewing and picture opportunity..... Yelp directions are not even near correct for this spot. It is clearly marked with signs and right off the highway so if you are in a neighborhood you are a few miles away. Public bathroom on site too! We were not sure if you can hike down or if you are not supposed to here. It seems like everyone takes pictures from the sidewalk and no trails were around that I saw. Maybe you can hike from another spot. read more

Opaeka'a Falls - Parks Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Picturesque Falls And Views Of Wailua River Opaekaa Falls, along with the nearby Wailua Falls, showcases the great natural beauty of Kaua'i! Accessing Opaekaa Falls is easy, requiring a short five minute drive off the main road, Highway 56. Turn on Kuamoo Road, and the parking area on the right provides great views of the falls. Even if you do not have much time, this is a great activity. You can see the falls and get back on the road within 30 minutes. Who doesn't have 30 minutes to see a beautiful waterfall? From the parking area, cross Kuamoo Road for a panoramic view of the Wailua River. (Several companies provide a kayak trip on the Wailua River. We also did that and it was a fun adventure.) Also, there is no access on the private property to the reach the bottom of the falls. read more

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Easy waterfall to get to.. you just drive a couple miles from Kuhio Highway, then you're there. Ok size parking, just wait a bit if full, I don't think people stay here long because there's really not much to see. From the parking lot, you can see the fall from far away, but that's it. You can walk across the road to see curved Wailua River, which is pretty cool. I didn't think it was that great, but for 10 min of driving off the main highway and no hiking, I suppose this fall is ok. read more

I was pretty disappointed with the size of this falls. My gf joked we could get closer via google maps! At least there was parking.

Beautiful falls that you can drive up and see without a hike-very accessible. Parking can be a bit limited but since people are constantly coming and going after taking a few photos you should be OK. It had been raining and was even raining while we visited so the water coming over the falls was quite significant. Definitely worth a quick stop when you are on the east side. One of the nicer falls we saw on the island from the ground. read more

Always beautiful to see the falls and this time, it was going off due to an approaching hurricane. It's a nice drive to the falls and has ample parking available. Restrooms available too. read more

Must Stop. Great roadside overlook. There is also a viewing area of the valley and ocean across the street. Easy access and ample parking. read more

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Not a hiking fall but it is a quick drop by for scenic view of the falls from a distance. They have designated parking you can take some pictures and walk over to the other side for the Wailua River view also. Beautiful scenery read more

Opaeka'a Falls is a short stop outside Kapaa and Lihue with a small lot, a scenic overlook and a grassy area for resting. The falls are far away and it's more of a pit stop than a destination. For us, it was a nice way to end a busy day on Kauai with something scenic and low key. There are some other scenic overlooks of the Wailua River across the road which you can easily tack on to a stop here. Easy accessible scenic falls for-worth a stop if on the way back from your other island activites. read more

We rented a kayak (no guide needed) from Wailua Kayak & Canoe Inc (located right on the Wailua River), to get to the start of the trail to this waterfall. Once we parked on the bank where the trail obviously started, based on the number of other kayaks parked there, the hike in was easy and flat, with a stream crossing aided by a rope hold. A fun stop along the way was a rope swing, and a little waterfall that almost looked landscaped because it was so perfect! Because I apparently have sweet blood, the mosquitoes here sucked my blood pretty voraciously, so next time I'll definitely bring bug spray. At the end of the trail, the waterfall was kinda crowded, but such a gorgeous place to stop for lunch and a little dip! Definitely one of the must-see waterfalls on the island! We saw a few groups go to this waterfall with guides, but it really isn't necessary. The trail is very well marked, and so is the kayak route out to the trail. read more

Greatly improved from the last time we visited. Excellent view of the falls and the valley across the road. Reasonable amount of parking, easy walking path and view areas. Facilities and the always present chickens. read more

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Well, to be honest we didn't do the hike here - we just stopped at the lookout to take a look. Apparently the hike is pretty hard, and it was raining a lot during out visit so we didn't want to take our chances with the slippery slopes. But from the lookout you get a nice view of the falls, and there's a Wailua River Valley lookout if you cross the road. Sufficient parking so you should be able to find space. A 5 minute stop but would recommend it to check out the falls! :) read more

I have to agree with Kaileen Y 12/29/12 about her review. The 3 stars is not actually for the waterfall itself coz all waterfalls are God's work and no doubt 5 stars! =) My 3 star is for the state of Hawaii for making it's look out point mediocre and "far" from the falls itself. Yes you can see it, but it's not like in your face like other ones. And the highway is very busy to cross (to checkout the Wailua River) and yup lots of chickens! lol. Call me spoiled or jaded for living in Hawaii and being able to judge waterfalls on it's accesibilty and view point vantage, but that's real talk for most locals. I mean, if you absolutely need to see a waterfall and you're in the area, shoots by all means see this one. read more

Beautiful waterfall and surroundings. There's a couple of picnic areas that I saw close by so you can enjoy a meal with great views. read more

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This is a very nice falls. You can see it from the parking area. There is no easy way to get closer to the falls (though there is a way if you don't mind a moderate hike on an unmarked trail). Telephoto or binoculars do help, though. Since it's right off the road it is definitely worth a stop. Parking never seems to be a problem here. read more

Very pretty falls, go in AM for good pictures. Plenty of parking and the driveway down to the Hawaiian Village is just across the street. The view point across the street is of the Wailua River and you get an idea of what kayaking the river would be like. Highly recommend. Plenty of parking and restrooms too read more

The falls themself are amazing! The parking lot was adequate. The bathrooms however needed attention... they had no paper towel or soap and not much toilet paper at all. This was both the men's and woman's bathrooms. read more

Great and quick site to hit right off the side of road. Kauai is beautiful and is the best. @condokauai highly recommends.

Beautiful falls with easy access...great for families, children and seniors. Super view of the falls and a great place to take photos. Picnic area and facilities. read more

Opaeka'a Falls - The falls - Parks Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii