Waimea Canyon Waterfalls in Kauai, Hawaii
Waimea Canyon Waterfalls in Kauai, Hawaii
| Waimea Canyon Waterfalls | Directions / Hike / Parking |
|---|---|
| 1. Waipo’o Falls | Waimea Canyon Lookout, Canyon Trail to Waipo’o Falls (top of the falls) |
| 2. Red Dirt Falls | Highway 550, near the Mile 23 marker |
| 3. Waialae Falls | Helicopter tour or trailhead for the Iliau Nature Loop |
Love chasing waterfalls? You will find many waterfalls to admire in the Waimea Canyon area of Kauai, and here are three of the most stunning: Waipoo Falls, Red Dirt Falls, and Waialae Falls.
Visit after rains or during the wetter part of the year (winter and spring) to see these waterfalls in good flow!
Considering a visit to Waimea Canyon? Be sure to check out our Waimea Canyon guide for all the details you need to plan!
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!
Now let’s learn more about the waterfalls in Waimea Canyon!
1. Waipo’o Falls
Waimea Canyon is home to Waipo’o Falls, one of the most spectacular waterfalls on Kauai.
The two-tier Waipo’o Falls tumbles 800 feet into the canyon below, creating a picture postcard scene.
When flowing, Waipo’o Falls is visible from the Waimea Canyon Overlook, which is located just past mile marker 10 on Highway 550.
This is a full-on view of Waipo’o Falls, although obviously from a great distance, since it is on the far wall of Waimea Canyon.
You can also catch sight of Waipoo Falls from the Pu’u Ka Pele Overlook, near mile marker 13 along Highway 550.
This view is only partial, but it is the closest view of the waterfall from the road.
Bring a telephoto lens if you enjoy landscape photography.
You can hike to the top of Waipoo Falls along the Canyon Trail, a moderate hike that is very popular with Waimea Canyon visitors.
While the Canyon Trail offers gorgeous views of Waimea Canyon, you do not actually see Waipo’o Falls on this hike. So if you are considering the hike to get nice views of Waipo’o Falls, you will be disappointed.
You do, however, arrive at a couple of small cascades created by the Koke’e Stream upstream of the top tier of the tall falls.
While you cannot swim at the base of the 800-foot Waipo’o Falls, you can opt to take a dip in the plunge pool of the first little cascade on Koke’e Stream (photo below).
Continuing on the hike, you can view the second small waterfall on Koke’e Stream, where, if you are okay with a somewhat steep and slippery scramble, you can get to the base of the little waterfall.
Perhaps one of the best ways to get up-close views of the main Waipoo Falls is on a Kauai helicopter tour that includes the Waimea Canyon.
You can pick from a doors-on tour with large windows, or, for an unforgettable experience, pick a doors-off tour!
Note that Waipoo Falls dries up after a period of little to no rains.
Winter, spring, and early summer are the best seasons to catch Waipoo Falls flowing well. In late summer and fall, you will likely not see Waipo’o Falls.
2. Red Dirt Falls
Known simply as “Red Dirt” Waterfall, this little cascade has a spectacular setting in the midst of bright red dirt in the Waimea Canyon. It is a popular photo spot!
A small cascade as waterfalls go, the Red Dirt Falls is mainly worth a stop for the drama of the setting.
You will find Red Dirt Falls along Highway 550, near the Mile 23 marker.
Red Dirt Falls is seasonal and the flow depends on rains.
There is no parking lot, just a couple of pullout spots along the side of the road a little bit away from the waterfall. Cross the road carefully and walk the short distance to the falls.
One last word: the red dirt stains all clothing and shoes, so wear attire you don’t mind discarding afterwards. It also stains the skin, so wear closed-toed shoes.
3. Waialae Falls
Not as well-known as Waipo’o Falls, Waialae Falls is another tall waterfall located in Waimea Canyon.
This multi-tiered waterfall, created by the Waialae Stream, is better seen on a helicopter tour rather than from ground level: from the air, you can clearly see the multiple jumps.
If you want to try and get a glimpse of Waialae Falls from Waimea Canyon Road, stop at the trailhead for the Iliau Nature Loop, one of the easy hikes in Waimea Canyon.
As you start out on this easy trail, keep your eyes peeled and you may be able to see the top longer tier of Waialae Falls if it happens to be flowing well when you visit.
A zoom lens is very helpful in trying to see this waterfall!
Map of Waimea Canyon Waterfalls
Below is a map that shows the three Waimea Canyon waterfalls we’ve described above, and the roadside lookouts or trails from where you can view the falls.
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! ✈️ ✈️