Hiking the Na Pali Coast
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31 family found this helpful
"Beautiful views"
Plan to arrive early to hike here as the parking area fills very quickly.This was awsome! We only hiked part of the way, as you need a permit and reservations to go along the whole coast and camp. The views of the ocean are so beautiful. The water is a beautiful crystal blue. It is a bit strenuous, so be prepared with good hiking shoes and plenty of water and snacks. I would not advise taking small children. We did encounter one problem with a group of local teens at the beginning of the hike. They were not dressed for hiking but seemed to be following us. Everytime we stopped they stopped and seemed to be looking around to see if we were alone. We caught on pretty quickly and as soon as other people came by we quickly followed them. As soon as the teens realized we were not alone, they left. I don't know if this is unusual, but I would just be aware of who's around as you hike.
We ended our hike at a remote beach where we had our lunch. (This is the spot that they recommend you turn back if you are only doing a day hike.Please be advised that the currents here are dangerous and you should not go in the water under any circumstances. ) After lunch and relaxing on the beach, we headed back to the start of the trail. It was one of the most scenic hikes I've ever been on.
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1 family found this helpful
"Amazing but not for little kids"
The Na Pali Coast is an amazing, beautiful place to see. There is an 11 mile hike that goes across the whole thing. There are different stops along the way. We hiked 2 miles in to a little beach. The hike is pretty strenuous so it is not made for small kids. It is really steep with drop offs into the ocean. We hiked when it was a little rainy which makes the dirt trail muddy and slippery. The sights were breath taking.
'10, '11
1 family found this helpful
"Approach Cautiously"
The hike along the Na Pali coast is one of the most beautiful on Earth, and one of my personal favorites. The problem is that it is not a good hike to take young kids on. The cliffs are high, the paths are slippery, and it is difficult to get medical help if you should get hurt.
That said, I did take my 6-year-old son on the hike when we were in Kauai the last time we went. We only hiked about a quarter of a mile though, before the path began to border some of the cliffs. He was fine for that bit, but I wasn't ready to go on to the first beach. I have done the first leg of the hike without my child, and it was pretty grueling because of the heat and humidity.
Go take a peek of the coast, but spend most of your time at Ke'e beach where the trailhead begins.
0 families found this helpful
"The amazing Napali Coast"
This is one of my most favorite locations. It is simply beautiful. However, I am not sure I would take children on this hike. Older kids, yes. Toddlers and such, no. It can be wet and slick and there is a good drop on one side. There are no fences for protection. Also, people drown at the beach after the first leg during certain times of the year. It is not a swimming beach.
The only reason I am giving it a low review is because I would probably not bring my toddler. It was be greuling. Just adults? Then most definitely go. It is amazing.
0 families found this helpful
"Absolutely breathtaking"
The vistas on the Kauai coast and the Pacific Coast are simply stunning. The hike is amazing and will take your breath away... literally. There are lots of rocks and cliffs to navigate through, but we loved it with our kids stowed away happily in our kid carriers.
There are 3 legs to the Na Pali Coast Hike. The first leg is 2 miles from Kee Beach to Hanakapiai Beach. The kids fell asleep in the backpacks and woke up just in time to enjoy Hanakapiai Beach and the stream that feeds into it. We had brought floaties and lunch, so it was a great way to relax and rejuvenate for the trip back.
If you've got more legs than us, you can do the second leg to Hanakapiai Falls. That's another 2 miles down the trail. The entire trail is 11 miles to the end (so that's 22 miles in all) which would require an overnight stay. Given we had 1 and 1.5 year olds, we were happy to go back to the rental and sleep in real beds.
After the kids played around, they promptly fell asleep again in the packs on the hike back. It was a fun trip and I would definitely do it again.
Be sure to dress you and your kids in sturdy shoes. Flip flops are great for tanning your feet on this trail, but your ankles and toes may not make it. Be sure to lather up and bring plenty of water because you'll need it.
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