Hi there,
We are a mid-30s couple going to Kauai at the end of April. Admittedly not in the best of shape but love hiking nonetheless. Recommended day hikes that will challenge but not kill us? I'm talking both cardiovascularly and trail conditions.
Also, I'm trying to figure out footwear for the trip. What do we really need? I have some nicely broken in Montrails (though not waterproof) that would be my first choice. Unfortunately, I've heard that you can count on your shoes getting ruined from the red dirt/mud. True? I have also heard about tabis that you can buy at numerous locations on Kauai. Do they work well?
Thanks in advance for any advice....
gphili
1
newfie43
There are a number of hikes in Waimea Canyon Park (they have a great brochure)- they range in lenght and difficulty and some can be combined for more of a challenge. I would suggest getting a copy of Kauai Revealed; it has great information and lots of suggested hikes. The big factor in hiking in Kauai is whether or not you have rain. If it has rained you can almost count on your footwear being ruined. I took an old pair of dayhikers and then left them behind . We found the tabis great for hiking the trails up to waterfalls as they were good for crossing streams but they are not really hiking shoes as they are thin soled and you could really feel it when you stepped on rocks. As mentioned you could hike the Kalalau Trail to the beach and then hike up to the waterfall and back. With lunch and time on the beach to sun it made for a great day hike. You should have a wonderful time as Kauai is a beautiful place!
2
bluerusso
It's worth doing muddy trails to reach the boardwalks up on the plateau. Bear in mind that it's cool up there. Not a bad idea to have something that will keep you warm in a wet fog, if not a downpour. The red mud is very, very similar to what you'd encounter in the Piedmont of the southeastern US (which is also a volcanic region).
3
marocfan
Tabis are good; you can buy them on the island. The Kalalau trail is VERY strenous, has many steep dropoffs to the ocean hundreds of feet below, and is very dangerous when wet...but you could hike the first couple of miles to the waterfall and probably be o.k. Take water to drink!
4
rkdoshi
We are also planning some hikes in Kauai and are deciding between a day hike of Kalalau or overnighting it. If we run into trouble completing it, is there anywhere to camp out for the night along the way, or just at the very end?
5
gabejedmo
"As mentioned you could hike the Kalalau Trail to the beach and then hike up to the waterfall and back. With lunch and time on the beach to sun it made for a great day hike."
Kalalau Valley isn't exactly a day hike, it's 11 miles one-way. You'd have to be in awesome shape to do it there and back in a day, and it seems you'd have to be a marathoner to then running up and down those hills to have time to hang out on the beach, have lunch and then hike up into the valley in between hiking there and back. You must be talking about the 2-miles hike in to Hanakapeii beach? Definitely an important distinction for anyone considering the Kalalau trail as a dayhike....
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