Went after a VERY raining night and were unprepared for such slick conditions. it was a true moderate hike regardless and could be done in worn down running shoes. View was 100% worth it! read more

Sleeping Giant Trail - 360 view - Hiking Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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Great hike. Wonderful views. Had an easier time navigating and trail was not packed. Check out the cave just below the peak too! read more

Sleeping Giant Trail - View from the top of the trail. - Hiking Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Very peaceful hike! Trail was not crowded at all and we maybe ran into 5 parties total the entire way. We arrived at 8am and were the first in the parking lot at the entrance of the east trail. Nearly missed the parking lot since it just looked like a large patch of dirt to the side of the road. The majority of the trail was not difficult but there were many spots where it was slippery even when the floor was dry. Make sure to wear good shoes with grip because I slipped on dirt while coming back down three times just because there was nothing for my shoes to grip onto. Also make sure to use bug spray because there are going to be a lot of plants touching you as you make your way through the trail. You hit the first rock scramble area about 20 min into the hike. This one is pretty easy since there are very sturdy areas you can put your foot onto to climb up. It took us about one hour to reach the final rock scramble but we did stop a few times for pictures. This rock scramble is more vertical and definitely requires more work to get up. We ultimately decided to skip the attempt to climb and turn around because I'm the type that can get up easily but have trouble getting back down. This ended up being a good decision because it started pouring rain for over an hour right when we got back to the start of the trail. Overall it took us about 2 hours total. Parking lot was full by the time we got back down. read more

About an 1.3 hour hike that is beautiful. Where good trail shoes if it's been raining it can be slippery. Don't give up until the top because the views inland and over the water are amazing! read more

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Got some sprinkle on the way up super fun and easy hike. Got there at 8am on a Saturday plenty parking then. Finished around 10, Get there early the views are better read more

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Beautiful hike with steep rock scramble near the end. Wear good shoes. Parking is limited. Allow a couple of hours and enjoy the workout and views. read more

Sleeping Giant Trail - View at top - Hiking Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

We only had one sunny day on our recent Kauai trip so we took advantage and hiked this trail just in time for the beautiful sunset.  It's quite steep and a bit slippery going up.  Love the pine trees section. We did go beyond the picnic tables for another view, however the last part is quite challenging like a rock wall. We were already happy at how far we got at this point, didn't wanna hike back down in the dark.  GPS to the East trail and there are a few parking near the residential area. read more

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Perfect little hike! Took my husband & I about an hour and a half (maybe a little less) to complete. I am no experienced hiker & I could do it just fine. We went up the East side & came down the West. Picnic tables with shade at the top. read more

Now that I live on the mainland, coming home to Kauai double the fun! I can relax at my mom's or venture out like a tourist:) Growing up here, I've past the Sleeping Giant (on my way to Kapa'a) a million times. I did not know about this trail until my daughter found it in her AllTrails app. What an incredible experience! The 2 mile up to the top is moderate in my opinion. The hike has an incline that will give you a little workout enough to break a sweat. The views are beautiful. There is a small area with picnic tables and roofing. So, pack a snack if you wish. My advice ro to hike as early as possible. I was the first in the parking lot at 7am. By the time I got back, the lot was full and the sun was bright! If by chance you want an easy hike, try Kalepa Ridge Trail in Lihue. read more

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First of all I am not a hiker and was never a fan of hiking but while on my trip to Kauai I decided to check out reviews on Yelp for easy hiking trails. The sleeping giant was one of them. I loved the honesty of one yelper who called this trail moderate and she would do it again and that she is older and overweight. Based on her review I felt confident that I could do it! When I got there I was super nervous about the journey up that mountain. Especially since I'm older and overweight. I took my time and several micro breaks along the way under the shade to catch my breath and drink water. I took pictures at what I considered a milestone and I've posted the pictures and time that it took to get to each section. I was able to climb up to the picnic table area and tried to go higher but at the section I tapped out I just didn't have the strength and energy to go up further so I went back to the picnic table and relaxed for a while before making my way down. Going down was harder than going up for me especially when I'm so heavy but my bff was super patient and helped me with getting down in some areas that I needed extra help with getting down. I started my hike at 10:50a and reached the picnic table at 1:12p and made it back to the car at 3:44p. Overall this trail is easy to follow, however being that I'm not a hiker it took me a few hours to complete this trail, it has plenty of shade, and several places to stop and rest. I must admit I took many breaks going up not so much going down. Everyone I came across were very friendly and encouraging as they all could see I was struggling lol. There was enough room for me to move on the side to let others pass me by. There were some muddy spots but it was easy to avoid. I recommend to wear hiking shoes, a hat, sunglasses, a thin jacket, sunscreen, and bug repellent. Also don't forget to pack water! Honestly I don't know if I'll ever hike this mountain again but it sure felt good when I made it to the top in the picnic table area. I would not recommend this hike to non-hikers like me but just know that if I can do it so can you! read more

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Best trail but very steep and difficult! It says it is moderate difficulty but I did not find it that way! It was very difficult for me! I did only 1/3 of the hike! My mom also did 1/3 like me! My dad and sister went all the way up! read more

This trail was awesome, but I feel like people are playing down how difficult it is. Especially if you were munching on banana pudding and pork lau lau like I was just minutes before making the decision to take this hike. On the way back, people going up kept asking "am I almost there?" And while I lied and told them "absolutely bro," I couldn't help but wish we had all been slightly better informed. It's very steep, with some gnarly spots, but it very very beautiful and totally worth it. read more

Sleeping Giant Trail - Sleeping Giant East Trail - Hiking Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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I hiked the Sleeping Giant trail today. Local legend tells of a giant who feasted so much at a party in his honor that he laid down for a nap and never awoke, and when you see the mountain's resemblance to a sleeping giant from the nearby town of Kapa'a you can see why the legend persists. It rained about half of my hike, and the trail was slick. Bring a rain jacket and appropriate shoes. read more

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This was a little tough for my parents but we did it! I was so proud of them. If my parents in my 60s can do it then you can use that as a gauge! The reviews here on yelp actually helped me be confident enough to challenge them to go! Bring water and snacks as some parts of the trail get hot in direct sunlight and if you go the whole way then it will take more than 2 hours round trip if you take it easy. My parents didn't go all the way but we went up maybe 1 hour and took some photos at an outlook and turned back. There are parts where you are going to have to do a little rock-climbing-type movement so be aware! Also in some parts, it is v muddy esp if it has just rained. Pro tip: Grab a walking stick near the entrance to help with muddy parts and be sure to return it at the end so others can use it too! read more

On a rainy day, this trail was still quite doable and not super muddy. BEWARE OF MOSQUITOES!!! This was the only place I was getting bitten alive and we forgot the deet! So sad, so don't make my mistake. There are a few switchback areas that's winds you around the trail and you can see some maniacs short cuts here and there. When you get to the top, the view is great. You can walk along the whole profile of the sleeping giant. In total, this took about 2 hours. Not too strenuous and we had hiking shoes on. read more

Sleeping Giant Trail - Hiking Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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Did the west trail up Nounou Mountain = the Sleeping Giant. Took our time and did the moderate hike up and back in a bit less than 3 hours which included a 10 minute talk with a local climber at the top, and because of his info a 10 minute stop at the mini-cave just below the lower summit. The key to this hike, like so many on Kauai, is whether the trail is wet or dry. If wet it's a moderate to semi-difficult hike just because you don't want to slide off the more vertical short 3 or so stretches (of no more than 20' each). If dry its really an easy hike so long as you're attentive and stay on the trail. Because the north shore is still closed because of bridge outages just past Hanalei, the east side trails are now getting much more pressure because of increased tourist traffic / hikers. The not so secret secret is to go early and avoid the masses. We ran into an almost non-stop summit-bound line of hikers at the bottom of the trail. By getting there early you get a) a better parking place, and b) a more quiet experience. Aloha mateys, David M (Your first stop near the (lower) summit is the "chin" off to your left just beyond one of those 20' rock scrambles. After you've visited that high point go back to where the trail splits (with the left going out to the lower summit and the right going up to the picnic tables and then the true summit). Literally a step or two below the trail split you'll see a little path going off to the left (as you were ascending). Walk down it 50' or less and you'll find the mini-cave I've referenced above which is just below the lower summit but not visible from there. Few if any folks will be in the cave which is really an arch passing clear through mountain under the lower summit, and you'll get a great view of the east coast of Kauai:) read more

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Another beautiful m hiking trail on Kauai. I would recommend good hiking shoes, as this trail is very steep in sections. You will be doing a little rock scrambling at the very top if you want that beautiful view from the end of the trail. Take your time, be safe and enjoy the gorgeous beauty that surrounds you. On a sidenote, the parking lot can fill up very quickly. I would recommend arriving early or plan to wait about 20 to 30 minutes to get a parking spot. read more

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The sleeping giant is a fantastic hike to do if in Kauai. There are multiple different routes to take to get to the top. We took the west trail, it had some parking and plenty of street parking. The hike itself on the west trail is doable for most fitness levels. You may require more breaks if you're not super fit, but either way it's doable for all. Make sure you have plenty of water, as it get a bit hot and humid and you will sweat out a lot. Most of the route is covered with beautiful trees and once in a while they open up to show you a beautiful view. The view at the very top is unbeatable, truly amazing. The climb at the very end can get a bit tricky but again, it's very doable for all. read more

Sleeping Giant Trail - Top of Sleeping Giant - Hiking Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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It's a beautiful hike. It's definitely a "moderate" hike. There are a few muddy parts, The paths are easy to follow. I would recommend it! It was a bit challenging for me I am older and overweight. I would for sure do it again. read more

Sleeping Giant Trail - First open view point.... - Hiking Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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My aunt and I hiked this trail. She is a local and 63 years old. We made it to the picnic tables in less than 45 min. The views are beautiful. The best part is I got no new mosquito bites. Go early so it's not too hot. read more

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This was the last trail we went on and definitely a tough one. They are multiple entryways to this trail but our GPS brought us to the East Side. We parked in the parking area and started. We just weren't ready. We went up the east side, about 1.5 - 2 miles up and then we came to a fork, where it says take the west trail or go up to the shelter. That was where our mistake came, taking the West Trail (which was about 1 mile down, so shorter of a hike). But we had asked someone who confidently said that when we come out the west trail, we can just walk along the base of the mountain to the east side and to our car. So rather than go up to the shelter (which I read on some reviews also has a nice panaromic view, which we missed), we decided to go down the West trail. BIG MISTAKE and LIES! Well what he said was true, but what he didn't say was that that walk is SIX MILES LONG!!!!! We just weren't ready to hike BACK up the mountain. So once we were down the west tral, we went back and forth - do we walk the 2 hours walk back to our car or do we climb back up. As we were having this conversation on the side of the road, a woman in a big truck asked us if we were okay and we poured our soul out to her. SHE WAS SO INCREDIBLY nice to drive us BACK to our car without any trouble. We were so grateful we almost cried in joy, almost. That was probably the best part of the entire hike, getting a ride back. We did pass the falls but never drove back to them because we were exhausted by that time. The hike itself was nice, not muddy (since it hadn't really rained much in the last few days), but we were just NOT ready to hike back the west trail down to the east trail. Not that day. Would we do it again? Absolutely. Just do the East trail up and down (which is about 4 miles) or just the West trail (which is half that). read more

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Beautiful moderately strenuous hike. The views from the "front side" trail, accessed from Hale Ilio Street, are breathtaking. There are some steep portions and a little bit of rock scrambling, but the path is well marked and maintained. Be prepared to sweat. As with any hike in Hawaii, don't launch off without water, a hat, Saturday shoes and sunscreen. read more

The west trail is about 2 miles total. This was a great trail. Love the tree tunnels and the view at the top is worth it! Beautiful. Of the 6 hikes we have done thus far on the island it is in the top. read more

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Pretty intense hike. Parked on East side and there was an incline the whole 2 miles up! One thing nobody mentioned is there are two points in which you have to rock climb to get up! And then even trickier you have to rock climb to get down. read more

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This was an amazing first hike! We did this in the morning snd it was beautiful. I'd recommend going to the west side first so you go through the pine forest. Definitely plug in west nounu trail or something like that for this one because we originally drove to the east trail on accident. The hike was a bit more difficult because we went as it was raining so it was super muddy. Eventually gave in and slid down the mountain. Once you get to the rest area keep going past to get up to the giants chin! Definitely bring extra shoes and towels if you are going after rain or if it's going to rain during hike. read more

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Add this hike to your list if visiting Kauai! Beautiful views! **Not recommended if raining read more

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This was quite a fun hike. I would describe this as a moderate hike, as you somewhat need to climb over some rocks somewhere near the middle and at the top of the trail. I'm not used to such high humidity, but hiking up this trail, my arms were slick with moisture. It was fun seeing the different greenery that Kauai has to offer. There are many strawberry guava trees bearing fruit when we visited last week. There are some benches under a covered area near the top that you can rest at prior to reaching the peak. There is also a wind tunnel at the top as well, so keep a lookout for that! read more

Saw the photos and thought, it doesn't look that spectacular. I guess it can't be captured by a camera. We tried too. The clouds, the ocean, the mountains, the little town of Kapa'a below. It is worth the 50 minute climb. We raced a group of 6 local boys and an adult to the top. (They kept popping out of a car in the parking lot like a clown car!) We beat them up, but they beat us down using super secret short cuts. lol Don't pass this hike up if in the area. Bring water and plan for at least two hours. read more

Sleeping Giant Trail - the top - Hiking Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Great trail, not too hard but not too easy. Beautiful views of a beautiful island. Recommend

We went a few days after the rain, so it was very muddy. Make sure to go to the restroom before coming, since there is no restroom. The trek was moderate on a hiking difficulty scale, but it was difficult enough to make it hard for people with small children. I would recommend this for decently fit people. Best shoes are hiking boots with ankle support. I attempted this with medium support Tevas and had to take them off because they kept slipping on the way down through the mud. If you need to rinse off, Wailua beach is just down the road. I don't suggest using the port a potty there because it doesn't look like it's been cleaned in a very long time. I almost threw up. read more

Sleeping Giant Trail - Hiking Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Great trail! One of the best I've been on. Easy to find, easy parking and clear signs (mile markers) up and down. It's about 4 miles round trip and there are some pretty spectacular views. There are multiple places to stop and take photos along the way up and there's even a cool cave to climb into if you keep your eyes peeled. :-) It's not quite an intermediate but there are quite a few little shortcuts you can take by climbing. It took us about 3 hours from start to finish. We stopped every so often to take pics and take in the views. If I had to make a complaint it would be that the last quarter of a mile was extremely muddy but you can't mess with Mother Nature. Just bring some solid shoes (and maybe a change just in case) and you'll be good! One of the best experiences we had in Kauai! read more

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Beautiful views and a really nice hike. If it has rained lately, the mud gets *super* slick. Definitely grab a couple of walking sticks from the pile at the start -- you'll be glad you did. read more

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Great Hike! Took me about an hour to go all the way up( I was stoping to take a picture and make some videos) I went in a rainy, cloudy day so the trail was super muddy and slippery! But it was great! I had good(real) hiking shoes! Don't go there in Nike's Beautiful view on the top of the mountain paid off my dirty shoes! Don't stop at the picnic table. Keep going up. You will be surprised! Also don't cut off the trail! Stay on the original trail! It will be much safer! read more

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This is an awesome hike! The amazing views at the top are more than worth the effort. You get a great view from the picnic table & shelter near the top which is where I'd suggest anyone with limited mobility might want to stop. You can keep going though, and get up to more of a peak. This involves going up and down some large boulders which may not be easy for everyone. Also as I'm sure others have said, this trail will be BAD after rain. I believe it rained the day before we went and parts of the trail were extremely slippery - lots of extremely muddy sections. A large section of the bottom of the trail is also quite overgrown, lots of tall grasses covering the path. My arms and legs were very scratched after getting out - definitely recommend wearing pants and long sleeves. We did the trail from the East which was about 2 miles, one-way. There are markers at the quarter-mile spots and some arrows at other locations. Easy-to-follow trail. Definitely recommended! read more

We got engaged on the top of the sleeping giant!! Very beautiful, it's worth it. Make sure you get to the very top. Tips, Bring water, snacks, and make sure you go to the restroom before you start the trail. read more

Sleeping Giant Trail - Me proposing!!! - Hiking Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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Beautiful views at the top are worth the trek. Multiple trails to get up the mountain. All pretty darn muddy. Would suggest bringing clothes and shoes that you don't mind getting dirty, or just stop by Ross and get some cheap wares that you don't mind getting torn up. read more

The Sleeping Giant Trail (aka the Nounou Mountain Trail) is a winding, switchback trail, with 1,000 feet of elevation gain in just under two miles. Climb, climb, climb and you'll find yourself at a landing of sorts with a shaded picnic area and incredible views. Then you get to hike the two miles back down! It took us an hour and a half round trip, with a nice break at the top. As an avid hiker, I would consider this a moderate hike... if only for the elevation gain and one spot that involves a mini rock climbing session. Water, sunscreen, and bug spray are recommended. read more

This was a great hike...I walk daily but am a novice at any type of hiking and I did it. There was one steep climb at the end but the view was worth it. Easy parking and easy to follow trail. Go early. read more

Don't let the parking lot fool you, this is an enormous hike, with plenty of room for adventure. They could use a much larger parking lot, however. Part of my personal intrigue concerning hiking and the trails that take me off life's beaten path are, admittedly, selfish: I want to boldly go where (almost) no one has gone before. Whelp, I just threw that notion out the window when I jumped on this trail, following a group of three, followed by another group, on a Monday morning. Depending on your individual stamina and agility you will either pass or be passed by people the entire time. The most difficult obstacle of the hike, a set of boulders you must scramble and claw -- which can be a motherf@cker when it's wet -- make some people turn back. If you can overcome this obstacle, however... The views atop are spectacular, and no, you're not on the summit when you find a picnic table. Keep going, ask people ascending, even when you find the overlook there's a better overlook. Bring a rain poncho and keep in mind that whatever approaches will pass in ten minutes or so. You will probably fall at least once, and everyone will see you, and they'll understand because hey, you're boldly going where, let's face it, everyone's gone before. read more

With so many hikes to choose from in Kauai, it was hard to decide between all-day hikes, short hikes, whale watching, zipling, etc. I'm so glad I added sleeping giant trail to my itinerary. It was a short enough hike that I could do in the morning, yet it offered so many of the beautiful views that Kauai is known for. I did this hike on a slightly drizzly morning in early March 2019. There weren't too many people on the trail and the sun started to come out after 20 minutes of hiking. I'm a fan of short hikes that really pump up your cardio. The elevation was quick but it offered beautiful views each step of the way. read more