Wow…what a story! I’m sorry that happened to you but it sounded like God showed up for you! So sorry that happened to you but thank you for sharing your story. That trail is definitely slippery up towards the falls. I took a hard fall on the way down…but thankfully no broken bones. It happens so fast!

I sprained an ankle and had to bail on the falls portion .. bummer

Thank you very much! I had a blast filming this hike. I appreciate you watching and your compliment!

Man videos don’t do this place justice! Seriously one of the best falls I’ve seen!

Hey thank you! I’ve you’ve got a chance to go back the definitely do it! The entire hike to the falls is amazing! Thanks for watching!

Hey thanks! This is definitely one you want to do. Let me know when you start planning and I’ll line you guys out. It takes a little work to get the permits but totally worth it!

Yeah that place is truly amazing!

Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it! How was your trip!!?

@TheNotLostNomad it was the most amazing adventure I've ever had in my 64 years of life. It took my husband and I 13 and a half hours to complete. The last hour of hiking was in the dark. We are smart hikers and had our trekking poles and flashlight. Depending on when I get to go to the island again and what shape I'm in I would like to attempt this adventure again. This time I will spend very little time near the beach and focus on getting to the top and back down before it's dark. We were able to enjoy 21 days on the island and made everyday an adventure.

Oh wow! Sounds like you guys had an incredible trip!

Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it! Yeah this scenery speaks for itself!

It’s incredible out there!

@@TheNotLostNomad and I finally got a parking pass after getting up at 3 am for 3 nights :))

Haha! Man great minds think alike! I’ve recognized a lot of your music too. I’m glad you turned me on to Epidemic Sound…it’s so nice to have some good quality music. And man, if you guys happen to get those permits to do this trip again your video is going to blow the heck up… your shooting skills have grown so much since your first trip out there to Kauai.

I mean it’s got it all..great views, beaches, waterfalls…it’s hard to beat!

I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Sorry this is a late response…how did your trip go?

Oh wow, 20 years living in my favorite place on earth…how awesome. Thank you and I’m glad you enjoyed the video!

Thank you! I hope your hike is amazing! It’s a rough trail but it sounds like you’ve prepared for it! Let me know how it goes!

Oh nice! Yeah this one is definitely a challenge…but those views are totally worth it though!

Thank you! you should be just fine on this trail...It's the Kalalau trail past this section that gets sketchy during rain. This part is pretty well maintained. What you will need to watch out for is the water levels in the creek. Depending on the rain situation... it can rise very quickly. As long as you stay aware of the creek you should be fine...Enjoy your trip!

Yeah this trail has some gnarly sections for sure! Great tips and I agree wholeheartedly. Congrats on completing this trail. It’s an amazing trek!

Thank you! Yeah I was pleasantly surprised to see those. Such an amazing place!

@@TheNotLostNomad yes. Absolutely the most magical place. You should try the trip all the way to Kalalau beach, you won’t be disappointed

It’s definitely on my list. My wife doesn’t backpack though…and I’m pretty sure she’d hurt me if I did a trip to Kauai without her. Haha!

Hey sorry for the late response…hopefully this comes before your trip. The trail itself is well marked for the most part…at least until you get close to the falls…the water crossings can be a little challenging to find the trail on the other side. As for wading…the most water you will be dealing with is at the first creek crossing close to the beach. I got about knee deep crossing there. There were many other water crossings leading up to the river but I was able to stay dry on each of those by maneuvering the rocks. And for permit, you need to visit gohaena.com to obtain a day permit that gives you access to Ke’e beach and the trail up to the falls. (Permits become available 30days in advance and they go QUICK!) This permit does not grant you access to the rest of the Kalalau Trail. Those are found through another website and work on a lottery system that you’d need to apply for. Hope this helps!

Hey thank you! So glad you enjoyed it! I hiked the dry parts in my Altra Lone Peak shoes and then switched to my Keen water sandals once I passed the creek. There are many water crossings and I wanted to protect my feet once I got to the falls…wading out onto the rocks. Enjoy your trip and let me know how it goes!

@@TheNotLostNomad this answers one of the questions I asked above. Thanks!

I carried all of my water on this hike but you’d have no issue filtering the water here if you needed to.

That’s a great question…I had read reviews of the trail being extremely wet and muddy….and I knew I wanted to get out by the falls and wanted to keep my feet protected…so once I got to the river crossing the sandals were a better option for me.

It will take you about 3 hours on a good day….I would not advise on taking children to the falls though. It is very challenging and very secluded out there. It took me 3 hours to get to the falls and just under 2 hours to get back…but I was going very quickly.

This one was two miles to the beach and then two more to the falls.. I started with the shuttle at 6:30am and it took me 5 hours altogether…but I’m pretty fast on the trail so factor in your speed accordingly. It’s a great half day hike though!

Technically you probably could…I wouldn’t advise it though. Getting a permit to hike is pretty easy. It just takes some pre planning. I’m glad that they permit hikes like these. It cuts out a lot of traffic to make it more enjoyable, also it keeps the trail in better shape. I was nervous that I was going to have a hard time getting a day permit but it was surprisingly easy. Now the parking permit is pretty tough so you’ll probably have to do the shuttle pass like I did on this trip.

@@TheNotLostNomad I looked and day passes are all sold out for today and we leave the island tomorrow

Oh I know right!? I feel the same way arriving back home in Texas,

Thank you! Yeah I’ve heard horror stories from the surf on that beach. Plus getting soaked with salt water makes for an uncomfortable hike.

@@TheNotLostNomad I got hit by a rogue wave yesterday on Mogren Beach ⛱️ in Budva, Montenegro. I was pulling a four year old back from the surf when it came in and I fell back in the sand with the child as we got washed all over and left with seaweed all over us. He cried until he realized we were heroes for holding on to each other. The wave even caught people sitting in a cafe behind us, but the child's grandma somehow got her feet up and could only laugh at how wet everyone else had become. Moral of the story, waves are not all predictable.

Oh man…that could have been bad. Glad you guys were ok! Yeah I don’t play around with big waves.

Not a dumb question at all. That beach can be violent and the undercurrent is very strong. There have been many drownings there and help is far away. Many people want to capitalize on the moment to swim there but casualties do happen there frequently.

So you only need the camping permit if you wish to continue along the Kalalau trail. If you want to do the trail to the beach or to the waterfall you only need a shuttle pass or a parking pass. No need for the camping one. Hope you can make it work. It’s amazing trail!

The first two miles are really pretty simple…you should be fine! It’s gets tricky when you are crossing the stream at the beach though…so take caution there. The trail really doesn’t get to challenging until you get closer to the falls…so you should be fine

Not a dumb question at all! There are multiple reasons they advise us not to swim here… First, there have already been many deaths here at this beach and due to the popularity of this beach they know more fatalities would happen. Second, there are no lifeguards here or cellphone signal. Many have been swept out to the sea by the strong currents and are unable to swim back to the beach. Third, at times the waves create a strong beach break…as in the large waves impact directly onto the sand…instead of water. So if a wave sweeps a swimmer up it will literally slam them onto the ground. This has caused paralyzing injuries to necks and backs. Realistically though…you will see people swimming here every day of the week and most are fine. But these accidents were becoming more and more common so they point out that over 80 people have died here. If you’d like to have a safe way to cool down or recommend dipping in the creek where it pools up onto the beach. It’s fresh water and it feels great. It’s a much better option to wash off the sweat that you’ll definitely accumulate while hiking this trail. And as for shoes… I’d recommend something light like a trail running shoe. I wear the Altra Lone Peaks…and they are perfect. They are also quick drying if you are the type to wear them in the water. I don’t like wet feet though…so I carried the extra weight of my keen water/hiking sandals. I switched he’d into them after I arrived at the beach before I made the hike to the falls. Hope this info helps! Let me know if you have any more questions! Have a great trip! It’s an amazing trail!

Nice! Weather will be perfect for you! So yeah, getting a parking slot is very difficult…impossible on some days. It’s easier to just shoot for a shuttle permit. They are a bit expensive but worth the opportunity to get on this trail. Good luck with the permits and let me know ow how your hike goes!

Thanks! That's too bad because the price is quite different. If you get lucky and get a parking pass, where do you park? Is it the same lot as the shuttle lot? By the way, appreciate your video!

@@user-dv1nh5mm2f Thank you! It's the parking lot at the actual park...the one close to Ke'e Beach. you'll only park at the shuttle parking if you get a shuttle pass. Good luck!

Thanks! Do you know if you can walk to Tunnels Beach after doing the hike to the waterfalls and catch the shuttle from there back to the shuttle parking lot (Waipa Park and Ride)? If not, can you catch the shuttle at the trailhead and get off at Tunnels Beach and then back on at Tunnels Beach and back to the shuttle parking lot?

I don’t think so, unfortunately. If I remember correctly…the shuttle did not make any other stops. If you are wanting to visit tunnels I’d suggest going early and trying to get a parking spot down the dirt side road…also you can park at Haena beach park and walk down the beach to Tunnels. Plus you’ll be pretty beat after doing this hike. You’ll want to be fresh for Tunnels….the snorkeling there is incredible.

On paper it’s 2 miles to the beach, 2 more to the falls, and then back for 8 miles total. But by the time you explore the area it’ll end up being closer to 9 miles. Give yourself the majority of the day to complete so you are not rushed…it’s a wonderful trail!

You know I’m not exactly sure…but my guess would be that dogs would not be allowed. I never saw one.

Yes, you will need a day access permit. Visit gohaena.com to see all the details. They release them 30days in advance.

That's good to know...my Hawaiian pronunciations have improved over the years but it's still far from perfect!

Yes it’s definitely challenging at some points staying on the trail. Especially if you are not used to it. There were a few moments that I had to backtrack to fine where the trail turned. Congrats on making this hike!

Good to know! Thank you!