Kauai

Waimea Canyon

Waimea Canyon, nestled on luscious Kauai's western region, is one of the top Kauai attractions on the Garden Isle and easily accessible from one of our Kauai vacation rentals.  Reaching over 10 miles long, a mile wide, and 3,600 feet deep, Waimea Canyon is a breathtaking piece of nature, which offers visitors a number of lookout points for spectacular views and hiking trails for all ages and experience levels.  The canyon was dubbed “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific” by Mark Twain, but, while reminiscent of its North American counterpart, Waimea Canyon creates it's own unique ambiance with an abundance of local trees and plant life throughout the gorge.  Any of the dozens of natural trails through the canyon gives hikers accessibility to indigenous flora and birds species which only thrive in the pristine areas of Hawaii.

 The creation of Waimea Canyon is also geologically unique, and sets it apart from other natural wonders of it's kind.  Aside from steady erosion caused by Waimea River over centuries, the canyon's formation was impacted by the major collapse of the volcano that created Kauai.  This incident led to the creation of a depression, which filled with lava flows and eventually became the Waimea River bed. This, paired with heavy rainfall created from one of the wettest place on Earth, Mount Wai'ale'ale, created Waimea Canyon and gives the area  its geological and beautifully lush distinction.

The 1,900 acres of Waimea Canyon State Park offers visitors a breathtaking experience, whether it be from the car at a lookout point or on foot in the tropical trenches of the canyon.   With enchanting cliffs, waterfalls, and lively aura, it is easy to see why the Honolulu Star Bulletin named Waimea Canyon one of the “7 Wonders of Hawaii.”

In neighboring Kokee State Park, there are maps pinpointing the dozens of trails available to explore the depths of Waimea Canyon.  There is also information about the indigenous plant and wildlife readily available in the Kokee Museum and access to wilderness activities like camping, fishing, and hunting.  

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