There are no security guards. Wait it out. This is a rare occasion where we’re taking a full blown vacation over a sabbatical week—our first vacation since 2016! If you want to hike the Kalalau Trail in 2020, read this! Photo by Nathan Lee Allen. This is enough room for one foot. We’re fortunate to even be able to go because torrential rains in 2018 caused devastating floods which rendered parks in Kauai inaccessible for over a year. Parts of Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park were filmed on Kauai. This is what creates the signature waterfalls Kauai is known for, but it’s also what causes streams to swell. For me, that’s enough encouragement to keep moving and complete the 11 miles in one day. Besides being miserably muddy, it’s far too risky to attempt something as precarious as … In fact, it’s home to the Waimea Canyon (known as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”). During the summer season from May 15 to September 7, access from the ocean via boat or kayak is only allowed with a valid camping permit. Oahu office at P.O.Box 621 Honolulu, HI 96809 Tel: (808) 587-0300. I think I’ve had just as much fun anticipating as I will experiencing. ChrisVancouver wrote a review Mar 2020. Zero available. It has a grand canyon, tropical rain forests, too many waterfalls to count, beautiful beaches and, the crown jewel, the Nāpali Coast. The total elevation gain is well over 5,000 feet each way. A week later, I checked the reservation system again—this time, in the morning. What does one have to do to get a permit? #ThankYouLord! You can rebook a missed flight, but you only have one life. DLNR Camping Permit and Booking Info: Na Pali Coast This is where the Kalalau Trail begins. I had to try one more time. All camping areas are located on shaded terraces near streams. Even if you could, it would be a long time before anyone could get to you. Some people day-hike to Hanakoa valley and waterfall (a total of 12 or 13 miles round trip), and this requires a permit. Walk with us on our 22-mile adventure on the Kalalau Trail along the Napali Coast, Kauai. Limited overnight parking is now available for campers with overnight permits for Napali Coast State Wilderness Park. To think I was only a few weeks out from running into Mark Zuckerberg. Haena State Park, which saw over a million people per year, had its visitors reduced to zero. Camping for at least one night in Kalalau is a must, because it is too much to hike the roundtrip 22 miles in one day. There are no lifeguards. All camping areas are located on shaded terraces near streams. “Wow,” I thought. This website has information and media that will help you plan your outing to the secluded Kalalau Beach and/or Kalalau Valley. I chose the island of Kauai for our vacation because it is home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Meaning, wrangle yourself a small boat or kayak and get a camping permit for Miloli’i. State park officials are experimenting with a new daily limit on park. It’s considered the off season, but it’s great for reliably good weather. Hanakapiai Falls: A short 2-mile hike from Hanakapi’ai Beach brings you to the 300 feet high Hanakapiai Falls. Fox News recently put out a list of the world's most amazing waterfalls. The 11-mile trail is graded but almost never level as it crosses above towering sea cliffs and through lush valleys. Visit our Composting toilets are available at Hanakapi’ai, Hanakoa, and Kalalau. But besides being difficult, the Na Pali Coast Trail is also considered one of the most dangerous trails. Something must be broken.”. Kauai time Coast Park camping permit ’ ll need to drink a lot more water than you can hike first! It’s known as the garden island. Permits. Once you have an account, you can access the online reservation system. It’s not worth it! There are three sites that allow camping access. Possibly the most exclusive beach in the world—complete with your own private waterfall—Kalalau Beach is accessible only by an 11-mile hike along the Na Pali Coast Trail. For more information please call (808) 826-9988 While the trail is open to the public, most visitors only ever hike the first two miles to Hanakapi’ai Beach. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/hawaii/kauai/na-pali-coast-kalalau-trail This is an easy journey to a beautiful beach, perfect for a short day trip. The park previously saw 3,000 visitors per day, but daily access upon reopening was limited to just 900. I don’t always travel when I’m on a sabbatical. lost coast trail camping permit Home; About; Schedules; News & Events; Contact Us There is no cell service. Over the months, I’d spent untold hours researching this “bucket list” hike, desperately hoping everything would work out for us to go. But day hikers can still experience the magnificence of this Na Pali Coast hike by hiking the first two miles of the Kalalau Trail to Hanakapi'ai Beach, which does not require a camping permit. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You’d think the risks would deter most people, but they seem only to enhance the allure. Zuckerberg invested north of $100 million in a 700-acre plot of land with his own private beach on the north shore of Kauai, so his visiting the Na Pali Coast Trail is not terribly strange. If the size wasn’t dramatic enough, the canyon features a gorgeous rainbow of colors accented by waterfalls. There will also be hundreds of…, “Get ready to run,” I said to my wife as we watched a muscular swell gain momentum shortly after noon…, Stretching for a total of 11 miles and perfectly sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and the towering cliffs of the…, It seems every time that I camp somewhere I decide that there was something that I should have done different…, Crawler's Ledge is one of the most feared parts of the Kalalau Trail. Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park & Kalalau Trail: In-order to access the Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park as well as the Kalalau Trail, visitors have to go through Hāʻena SP. Photo: Frugal Frolicker (used with permission). The hike along the 11-mile Kalalau trail takes a lot of effort through narrow valleys and sometimes nerve-wracking cliffside terrain. The Na Pali Coast State Park (see more photos) is located on the north shore of Kauai.It is a great place to “rough it” and go on an adventurous hike. I went back to the park reservations page to copy the link (something I wouldn’t have done if I wasn’t writing this post). I initially planned for us to hike to the beach in one day, camp overnight, and return the following day. If it’s not, you might as well turn around. I’d figured out what was happening: the permits were so limited, and in such high demand after the parks were closed for a year, that they were simply all taken within seconds of becoming available. This dream hike was the birthday wish of our best friend Patty. June 2017Thanks for watching!God bless! This is a moderate pace that accounts for occasional photo breaks. Anyone going … A clip from Crawler's Ledge. Possibly the most exclusive beach in the world—complete with your own private waterfall—Kalalau Beach is accessible only by an 11-mile hike along the Na Pali Coast Trail. Continuing beyond this point requires a permit which you must purchase in advance, and permits can be difficult to obtain. Or. A camping permit is needed if you plan to hike … You want to pack as light as possible, because it’s a long trek, and you’ll soon wish you left unnecessary items behind. Not to mention, the last thing you want on Crawlers Ledge is an overly large pack on your back. Home All Posts... lost coast trail camping permit. The first step is to create an account on the Hawaii government website. The Waimea Canyon is over a mile wide and stretches 14 miles in length, but perhaps most impressive are its stunning depths of more than 3,600 feet. As of November 2019, limited overnight parking is available at the trailhead in Hāʻena State Park. I started to worry, because I already have a place booked to stay in Kauai. Once you’ve got the itch to make your way to Kalalau in the Napali Coast State Wilderness Park, you might as well go all the way. The trail, and Crawlers Ledge, is the only way to get to Kalalau Beach. On Crawlers Ledge, a rocky path hugs the outer edge of a cliff that provides no more than 18 inches of standing area and as little as 6 inches in a few narrow places. I had planned to publish this post back in July, but something happened right before I hit publish. I guess I better try earlier in the day!”. Since our trip is in September, I hadn’t planned to check back in to the reservation system until the end of August. Bridges are still undergoing nightly reconstruction work as of August, 2019. At first glance, I couldn’t figure out what it was about this one particular photo that caused it to receive 1.2k likes. You can find information on how to obtain Permits, Health & Safety concerns on the trail and Frequently Asked Questions. You’ll want to top off whenever you can so you’re not left parched in the stretches of trail that have no cover and leave you exposed to the baking sun. Visit our Trail Information page to view a map of the trail to help plan your trip. I saw this post on Reddit the other day, and I’m afraid this might be me when I come back. Some people break the hike to Kalalau Beach into two days, opting to stay overnight in Hanakoa Campground at mile 6. Those who’d completed the trail, and made it to Kalalau Beach, say it was a highlight of their life and something they recall often. The only way to camp on the coast is by backpacking or boating in. Allow plenty of time between destinations. Permits can be purchased up to 30…, There will be a lot of visitors that hike the Kalalau Trail this year. Composting toilets are available at Hanakapi’ai, Hanakoa, and Kalalau. Instead of the red error message this time, it let me through! Amazingly, no injuries resulted from the flooding, but landslides damaged roads and caused highway closures which cut off access to the northern part of the island entirely. I’ve spent more hours, days, and weeks that I can count reading, watching, researching, and acquiring backpacks, camping gear, water filters, camera mounts, dehydrated food… and I’ve had a BLAST doing it all. It takes 8 hours to complete the 11-mile hike one way to the destination beach, assuming the weather is good. The Na Pali Coast Trail in Haena State Park is one of the most beautiful, difficult, and dangerous hikes in the world. DO NOT cross flooded streams. In April of 2018, Hanalei, Kauai received a record of 50 inches of rain in just 24 hours. So I woke up at 5:15 AM Central Time and checked the system. Which trail(s) we hike will depend on conditions that day and the ability of the group. I checked the timezones and found that Hawaii time is 5 hours earlier than my local time. Na Pali Coast State Park, Kauai. The cliffs feature lush foliage from top to bottom with folds as though the landscape were draped in green satin. In making the 22-mile round trip to Kalalau Beach and back, hikers must cross a dozen streams. Is there a way people are booking further in advance somewhere else? If there is limited or no availability for permits, or if you don't feel up to the 22 mile hike, the first 2 miles (4 miles roundtrip) of the trail might be a good option for you. Descend a mile to Hanakapi’ai Beach, where you’ll cross a stream, then take a left up-valley on the Hanakapi’ai Falls Trail. Zero were available for every one of the next 14 days. Reddish orange terrain contrasts with lush green grass and, when there isn’t a spectacular blue sky, the canyon takes on a purplish hue in overcast weather. While the trail is open to the public, most visitors only ever hike the first two miles to Hanakapi’ai Beach. As soon as the second hand on my Apple Watch struck 5:00:00 AM, I clicked “Continue”. Photo: Aaronbernstein | CC BY-SA 3.0 (used with permission). For me though, Kalalau will be a very rare treat. Aloha It is the most lush of the islands. The hike provides a great balance between coastal hiking with ocean views and lush jungle hiking, both of which are hard to find anywhere else. The real danger is flash floods. Those planning to hike further than Hanakapi’ai Beach will have to purchase an overnight permit from the state's Department of Land and Natural Resources. Hiking distances range from 2 - 9 miles RT with up to 1,600 feet in elevation gain. Thanks to careful preservation, it hasn't changed much. it may have just been the rainiest day in U.S. history, obtain a Napali Coast Park camping permit. A video posted by Suz (@uncommonwanderlust) on … The mosquitoes are pretty bad here though, whereas at the beach they’re mostly nonexistent. The next morning, I set my alarm for 4:56 AM. Camping permits must be acquired from State Parks prior to purchasing overnight parking. It begins with a gentle, two mile hike to the spectacular Hanakapiai Falls. The group is moderately sized, and posts in there typically garner something like a few dozen likes. We are traveling to Hawaii in September, 2019 during one of my Seventh Week Sabbaticals. These spots are available for purchase up to 30 days in advance and users will be charged for the number of days your vehicle occupies the lot (e.g. I love beaches, and I love mountains, and Kauai is everything in one package. That would have been at the previous maximum of 14 days prior to our planned trip. Kauai has consumed my dreams for months. September is an ideal time to visit the Na Pali Coast Trail. Unforgettable. Hiking beyond Hanakapi`ai Valley requires a state permit, where the trail continues on to Hanakoa Valley, eventually ending at magnificent Kalalau Valley. Permits are required to hike past Hanakapi’ai even if you don’t plan to camp. All that remained was getting the elusive permits. I’ll check back tomorrow. This means you’ll need to filter water as you go, and while many streams cross your path along the way, there are some stretches of many miles where there is no water source. A: As of August 1, 2019, permits are available 90 days in advance. While the cliffs provide incredible views, they’re also what make the hike so perilous. The water will recede as fast as it flooded. We all highly recommend this hike for anyone who has an adventurous spirit and wants to experience Hawaii at it's best. This ended up being extremely fortunate, because I saw a red announcement on the page: Napali Coast camping permits are currently available 2 weeks in advance. Besides being miserably muddy, it’s far too risky to attempt something as precarious as Crawlers Ledge with anything less than optimal weather. But after reading enough trip reports from other hikers urging others to “not make the same mistake we did,” and to “stay at least two nights,” I thought better of it and decided we will stay two nights and make the hike back on day 3. You can hike 8 miles (roundtrip) to a waterfall or 4 miles (roundtrip) to Hanakapi`ai Beach. While my planned trip wasn’t until September of 2019, I decided to look at the system for acquiring a camping permit back in July. Hanapepe - Enjoy an in-depth look of Waimea Canyon and the Nāpali Coast from the unique vantage points of Waimea Canyon & Kōkeʻe SP. Keep in mind, you’ll likely have a backpack weighing something like 30lbs with all of your camping gear, which will keep you at a moderate pace. Rugged cliffs rise straight out of the ocean to dramatic heights of over 4,000 feet. Camping permits presently are issued 3o days in advance. Eventually the ranching ended and the area was made into Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park. The Kalalau Trail is an 11-mile trail that leads from Ke’e Beach to Kalalau Beach along the Nāpali Coast on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. Overnight parking must be purchased at gohaena.com AFTER securing your camping permits. You can make it to Kalalau Beach in a day by hiking for around 8 hours. Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park & Kalalau Trail: In-order to access the Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park as well as the Kalalau Trail, visitors have to go through Hāʻena SP. Hanakapi'ai Falls along the Kalalau Trail was among them. Beyond the initial two miles of the Na Pali Coast trail, on the road less traveled, hikers are rewarded with jaw-dropping views unlike any available elsewhere on the planet. lost coast trail camping permit. You want to complete this stretch in as dry, and wind-free, conditions as possible. Visitors hiking the Lost Coast Trail one-way will either need to bring an extra vehicle to drop-off at the finishing trailhead or contact an authorized shuttle provider. HONOLULU (KHON2) –A 41-year-old Kapa‘a man died Sunday while hiking the Kalalau Trail on the way to Hanakāpī‘ai Beach on the Nāpali Coast. There are no lights. A backpacker’s permit is required to go past the 6 mile marker, but that still leaves a few amazing day hikes left on the table. The cost for non-residents is $20 per night and you can book the permit for the Napali Coast Wilderness Park online. Photo: Keven Siegert (used with permission). This hike begins at the parking lot of Ke'e Beach at the Northern most point you can drive to on the island. I work six weeks and take off every seventh week as a sabbatical. You can get a permit to camp at designated spots in Hanakapi`ai. #PraiseGod! “Huh. This is where I learned the exact time at which the reservation window was to be extended on August 1st, 2019 and how I was able to snag a permit the moment they became available. People have died on this trail, but it’s typically not from falling off one of the cliffs. Most hikers beyond Hanakapi'ai carry a tent to camp at Kalalau, again requiring a permit. Be smart and don’t cross streams when they are flooded, and you’ll be just fine. How do I reserve a permit for the Kalalau Trail (Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park, Kauai)? The trail starts at Ke’e Beach and ends at Kalalau Beach where there’s a campground. I didn’t complete the purchase, since my trip wasn’t until September, but I went back to the reservation form and refreshed. NOTE: The Na Pali Coast is currently closed indefinitely due to flooding. It took over a year for the parks to finally re-open in June of 2019. The Kalalau Trail is in the Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park which is part of the Hawaii State Parks system. Our flights are booked as well, and we’re traveling there no matter what, but I couldn’t obtain a permit until 14 days prior to my arrival at the earliest. Visit the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources to apply for the “Napali Coast Wilderness Park” permit. This 11-mile trek takes hikers into the heart of the Napali Coast, which is only seen by boat, by air, or on this hike. Curious, I tried to see if I could select a date in the next 14 days. Looking up at the coastline from the water, you can clearly comprehend how this place derives its name. You can hike all the way to Hanakapi’ai and up to Hanakapi’ai Falls as a day hike without a permit. The Kalalau Trail is an 11 mile long trail which winds through several valleys, hugging the Pacific ocean along the Na Pali Coast as it goes. But with the new cap on daily visitors, the limited number of permits required to venture beyond the first few miles of the trail (to experience Kalalau Beach), disappeared almost as instantly as they were made available. I selected my desired location, filled out all of the fields on the form, and instead of using the date picker, I manually typed the future date I wanted in the input box. :)#GodIsGood! 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