52 Weeks of Fun

Not Just Destination Finders, But Destination Storytellers

Bryce Edwards

Waimea Canyon State Park

Like the other Hawaiian islands, Kauaʻi is the top of an enormous volcano rising from the ocean floor. With lava flows dated to about 5 million years ago, Kauaʻi is the oldest of the large Hawaiian islands. Roughly 4 million years ago, while Kauaʻi was still erupting almost continuously, a portion of the island collapsed. This collapse formed a deep depression which then filled with lava flows. Since then, the extreme amount of annual rainwater from the slopes of Mount Waiʻaleʻale (one of the wettest places on Earth) has eroded to form today’s Waimea Canyon along one edge of the collapse.

Waimea Canyon State Park overlooks one of the State’s scenic treasures – the deep, colorful gorge of Waimea Canyon. It has been called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. Waimea is Hawaiian for "reddish water", a reference to the erosion of the canyon's red soil.

The gem of the park is Waipoo Falls, an 800-foot waterfall located in the park. The Waipoo Falls trail is a popular hike in Kauai, famous for birdwatching, wildlife, rainforests, and splendid views. Waipoo Falls marks the end of the Canyon Trail, a heavily trafficked, moderate three-mile out-and-back trail through Waimea Canyon.

The park consists of a scenic drive, lookouts of the canyon, a viewpoint of Ni‘ihau Island, wildland picnicking, and trails. Adjacent forest reserves include long, strenuous hikes into and out of the canyon. There is seasonal trout fishing, and pig and seasonal goat hunting nearby. Facilities include a Picnic Pavilion, Picnic table, and Restroom. Facilities are ADA-accessible. There is no drinking water available.

Aaron Bernstein
Dronepicr

A 52 Weeks of Fun Fascinating Fact about Waimea Canyon State Park

The Waimea River’s headwaters originate in the Alakai Swamp, a wet plateau of the island’s central highlands and is the largest high-elevation swamp in the world.

Attraction Advice



Skyobrien

Several scenic viewpoints within the park offer unparalleled vistas of Waimea Canyon and the surrounding landscape, providing opportunities to experience the awe-inspiring beauty of the canyon.
Dronepicr

Waimea Canyon was formed over millions of years by the erosive forces of water and lava flows from nearby Mount Waialeale, one of the wettest places on Earth.
Dronepicr

Waimea Canyon holds cultural significance for the native Hawaiian people, who consider it a sacred and spiritual place. The canyon's name, "Waimea," means "reddish water" in Hawaiian.
Dronepicr

Waimea Canyon is renowned for its dramatic landscape, characterized by colorful striated cliffs, deep gorges, and lush vegetation.

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