Waimea Canyon Kauai Hawaii

Waimea Canyon: Must-Visit State Park in Kauai, Hawaii!

Waimea Canyon: a colorful natural wonder on Kauai that will take your breath away with its beauty and majesty!

Waimea Canyon is one of Kauai’s top attractions and on every first-time visitor’s Kauai bucket list.

Protected by Waimea Canyon State Park, Waimea Canyon is known as “the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.”

A visit to Waimea Canyon is absolutely worth it, on any Kauai trip. The expansive vistas can be enjoyed even if you do not hike, because of the many roadside lookouts that offer spectacular views into the colorful canyon.

At 10 miles long, about a mile wide at its widest point, and about 3,500 feet deep, the Waimea Canyon is truly an awe-inspiring sight on Kauai.

Waimea Canyon is also colorful, with shades of red and green creating a picture that will have you reaching for your smartphone or camera over and over.

The stunning gorges and buttes of Waimea Canyon highlight Kauai’s geological evolution over millions of years.

The colors of the Waimea Canyon in Kauai, Hawaii
The colors of Waimea Canyon are gorgeous!

Visiting the Waimea Canyon and doing the Waimea Canyon scenic drive should definitely feature on the itinerary of every first-time visitor to Kauai.

Indeed, many repeat visitors to the island choose to visit Waimea Canyon again and again, for the epic views and the hiking trails.

At the bottom of the colorful gorge runs the Waimea River. “Waimea” translates to “red waters,” and the color of the water is indeed red!

Enjoy the scenic drive through Waimea Canyon State Park and adjoining Koke’e State Park, take in the gorgeous views from the many lookouts, and hike!

On this helpful Waimea Canyon website, you will find all the information you need to visit, from things to do at Waimea Canyon to visitor information, the best Waimea Canyon guided tours, and tips for your visit.

And if you’re just starting to plan your visit to Kauai, check out some of the top things to do in Kauai, many of which you absolutely don’t want to miss!

Top 10 things to do in Kauai, Hawaii
Top 10 things to do in Kauai, Hawaii

Planning your Kauai itinerary? Also consider a sunset cruise of the Na Pali Coast, a guided kayaking + hiking trip to Secret Falls on the east side, or an airplane tour over Kauai!

Complete 2025 Guide to Waimea Canyon: Visiting Information, Photos, Map

Most first-time visitors to the Hawaiian island of Kauai have Waimea Canyon on their bucket list.

Waimea Canyon in Kauai, Hawaii
Waimea Canyon is a bucket-list Kauai attraction!

The impressive scenery, with the vibrant red and green hues of the canyon walls, the many hikes in Waimea Canyon, and ease of access from other other parts of the island make Waimea Canyon well worth visiting.

Waimea Canyon, Kauai, Hawaii

This Waimea Canyon website is your one-stop site for all the information you need to plan your Waimea Canyon visit.

Waimea Canyon, with an elevation of 3,500 feet above sea level, is located within Waimea Canyon State Park, and most visitors also tack on a visit to adjoining Koke’e State Park.

Discover the location of the canyon on our Waimea Canyon map, the best Waimea Canyon parking places and get directions to Waimea Canyon.

Find out the hours Waimea Canyon State Park and Koke’e State Park are open, and whether you need reservations for Waimea Canyon or a permit to visit.

Get information on Waimea Canyon tickets: entrance and parking fees to the two state parks.

The best time to visit Waimea Canyon for vibrant colors is the wetter part of the year: winter or spring. But trails can be muddy after rains, so if hiking is your main objective, visit when it is dry: summer or early fall.

Waimea Canyon in Kauai, Hawaii

The best way to see Waimea Canyon, and the most popular way, is to drive to the canyon. But driving is not the only way to admire this gorgeous Kauai Natural wonder: it also looks great from the air!

While you can visit Waimea Canyon on your own, you can also visit on a guided tour if you don’t plan to rent a car on Kauai.

And if you plan to overnight at Waimea Canyon, get information you need for camping at Koke’e State Park, or staying in a cabin.

Things to do at Waimea Canyon: Scenic Drive, Lookouts, Hikes, Waterfalls

Waimea Canyon is worth a visit just to gawk at the size and grandeur of the canyon, but Waimea Canyon State Park and Kokee State Park offer a wealth of things to do for outdoor enthusiasts!

Do the Waimea Canyon Drive to the end of Koke’e Road

Waimea Canyon Drive goes up the west side of Kauai from the community of Waimea and offers a scenic route through Waimea Canyon State Park.

The drive allows you to access roadside lookouts with parking areas where you can get out of you car to admire the beauty of Waimea Canyon.

Further up, Waimea Canyon Drive joins up with Koke’e Road and features a couple of lookouts over the remote Kalalau Valley, part of Kauai’s famous Na Pali Coast.

Take in the views of Waimea Canyon from roadside lookouts

The easiest and most popular way to admire the beauty of Waimea Canyon, known as “Kauai’s Grand Canyon,” is to stop at the various Waimea Canyon lookouts.

A view from Waimea Canyon Overlook in Kauai, HI
A view from Waimea Canyon Lookout

While Waimea Canyon Lookout, at mile marker 10, is the main overlook offering expansive full-on views of the vibrant red and green colors of Waimea Canyon, the other lookouts are worth the stops as well.

The raw, jaw-dropping beauty is reminiscent of scenes from the Jurassic Park movie series, with many filmed here and the surroundings.

The Waimea Canyon Overlook also offers full-on, if distant, views of Waipo’o Falls.

If you are a photography enthusiast, the lookouts in Waimea Canyon State Park and Koke’e State Park offer endless opportunities.

Check out our video of the view from the Waimea Canyon Lookout:

Admire the Kalalau Valley and the Na Pali Coast from overlooks in Koke’e State Park

In Koke’e State Park, a couple of roadside lookouts offer sensational views of the Kalalau Valley and the cliffs of the Na Pali Coast, as long as you visit when it’s not socked in by clouds.

Kalalau Lookout Koke'e State Park
A view from the Kalalau Lookout at Koke’e State Park

The Kalalau Lookout and the Puu O Kila Lookout in Koke’e State Park are a couple of the best places that offer glimpses of the famed Na Pali Coast from land.

Snap photos of Waipo’o Falls

Waipo’o Falls is the best known of the waterfalls in Waimea Canyon. The majestic waterfall has two tiers and plunges 800 feet down the far wall of Waimea Canyon.

Waipoo Falls Kauai HI
A view of Waipo’o Falls

While Waipo’o Falls is best viewed from on a helicopter tour or sightseeing airplane tour, you can get a good view of it from Waimea Canyon Lookout.

You can also see Waipo’o Falls from the Pu’u Ka Pele Overlook. This is the closest you can see it from the road, but the view is partial, not full-on.

And if you’re an amateur nature photographer, check out a Waimea Canyon sunrise, a remarkable spectacle when the canyon glows with the predawn light!

Hike Waimea Canyon Trail to the top of a waterfall

Looking to do a waterfall hike when you visit Waimea Canyon on Kauai?

Arguably among the most popular hiking trails in Waimea Canyon, the Canyon Trail is also called the Waipo’o Falls Trail because it leads to the top of the waterfall.

The Waimea Canyon Trail , along with the short spur Waimea Canyon Cliff Trail, offer expansive views into the canyon and great photo ops.

The trail is moderately challenging and can be muddy after rains.

Know that even though it’s called the Canyon Trail to Waipo’o Falls, you cannot actually see the 800-foot Waipo’o Falls from this trail.

Stroll the short nature loops

Want to stretch your legs whilst visiting Waimea Canyon but don’t have the time for longer trails?

Consider one or both of the short nature loops, the shortest of the easy Waimea Canyon hikes!

Interpretive Sign for Nature Trail at Koke'e Museum in Kauai Hawaii
Interpretive sign at the Nature Trail at the Koke’e Museum

The Iliau Nature Loop in Waimea Canyon State Park is a short stroll among native plants that also offers views of Waimea Canyon.

At 0.3 mile and quite flat, the Iliau Nature Loop is doable for most visitors to the park.

The Koke’e Nature Trail just behind the Koke’e Museum is also a stroll through native plants and shrubs, with interpretive signs and the chance to spot birds.

Look for native birds!

Koke’e State Park is one of the top birding hotspots in Kauai!

I'iwi is a Hawaiian honeycreeper
Look for the red i’iwi!

Not only can you see lots of the ubiquitous jungle fowl, you will also likely see zebra doves and red-crested cardinals, which are common on the island.

But you may also be lucky and see some rare and endangered birds, like the i’iwi or the ‘apapane, both of which are red and contrast nicely with the greenery as they dart about.

Visit the Koke’e Museum

The Koke’e Natural History Museum is small but a nice place to stop to learn more about local geology, flora, and fauna.

Koke'e Natural History Museum in Kauai, HI
Koke’e Natural History Museum in Koke’e State Park

You’ll see samples of wood from trees in Hawaiian forests, admire 19th century botanical prints, and learn about invasive animals on the island.

If you plan to hike in the parks, staff will be happy to assist you.

And the gift shop is lovely, with lots of unique souvenirs and gift items from which to choose.

Have lunch at the Koke’e Lodge Restaurant

The historic Koke’e Lodge Restaurant is a great place to have lunch at Waimea Canyon. It does get crowded at lunch time, so plan to eat early or late to avoid the rush.

The menu is American, with lots of comfort food options like chili, Portuguese beacn soup, and loco moco.

Corn bread with butter at the Kokee Lodge Restaurant in Kauai, HI
Corn bread with butter at the Koke’e Lodge Restaurant

Their pie is famous, so be sure to leave room for dessert and garb your slices before they run out!

Hiking in Waimea Canyon State Park and Koke’e State Park

If you enjoy the outdoors, Waimea Canyon State Park and Koke’e State Park offer some of the best hiking on Kauai, with miles of trails and hikes that span the breadth between easy and strenuous.

Avid hikers can pick one or two day hikes if they plan to spend just a day in the parks, or they can stay overnight (camping and cabins are available at Koke’e State Park) and hike more.

While Waimea Canyon Trail, also known as Waipo’o Falls Trail or Canyon Trail to Waipo’o Falls, is a very popular hike in Waimea Canyon, there are many more trails to explore.

Kukui Trail in Waimea Canyon State Park is a challenging trail for experienced hikers. This hike takes you all the way down to the Waimea River on the canyon floor.

The hike has about a 2,200-foot elevation change and the return trip is steeply uphill!

Awa’awapuhi Trail in Koke’e State Park is a bucket-list trail for experienced hikers that visit Kauai.

The hike, about 6 miles round trip, leads down to the end of a ridge that affords sensational views over jagged cliffs into the Awaʻawapuhi and Nualolo Valleys. 

View from the Awaawapuhi Trail in Kauai, Hawaii
The Awa’awapuhi Trail in Koke’e State Park

The Pihea Trail, considered moderate to challenging, is also in Koke’e State Park. It is one of the most worthwhile trails in Koke’e State Park if you hike for views.

The trail is 7.6 miles round trip if you do the whole hike, but even hiking the first 0.5 mile offers super views over the Kalalau Valley and the Pacific Ocean on clear days.

The Alakai Swamp Trail in Koke’e State Park is among the best birding trails on Kauai. It is a challenging trail and is about 7 miles round trip.

This trail ends at a viewpoint called the Kilohana Viewpoint, which offers unforgettable views over Wainiha Valley and Hanalei Valley.

Things to Know About Waimea Canyon

On what island is Waimea Canyon located?

You will find Waimea Canyon on the west side of the island of Kauai in Hawaii.

How big is Waimea Canyon?

Known as “the Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” Waimea Canyon is over 10 miles long, about a mile wide, and about 3,600 feet deep.

How was Waimea Canyon formed?

Waimea Canyon has a unique history. Not only is it the result of ongoing erosion by streams like the Waimea River, it was also created by the massive collapse of the volcano that formed Kauai.

What does Waimea mean?

Waimea translates to “red,” and refers to the color of the soil in the area that has leached into Waimea River as well.

Did people live in the Waimea Canyon area?

Yes, the Waimea Canyon area was settled by the Waimea people, a native Hawaiian tribe.