As my last post about my Na Pali Coast experience in Hawaii received white a lot of feedback and questions about the hike, this post is all about tips for hiking the Kalalu Trail on Kauai. It is one of the things I would definitely recommend doing if you ever get the chance. as it was one of the best hiking experiences I've had so far. However, the trail can be dangerous and there are some things you want to know before you hit the trail. Here is my list of helpful tips for hiking the Kalalu Trail on Kauai - I wish I had known some of them before my jaunt along the coast!
Prepare appropriately
To be fair - I didn't, really. Due to my short amount of time on Kauai, I only hiked the first part of the trail to the beach area and didn't complete the entire 22 mile hike. No matter if you decide to hike the short or long version of the trail - be prepared to hike up and down as you will cross several valleys! In order to be prepared for that, you might want to do more than just take the stairs in advance. It's definitely doable without any training in advance, but with the humid climate and the difficult trail you might want to make sure that you are still able to enjoy the nature when you get to your destination.
Pack light
You don't want to bring make up, extra clothes or other luxury items. Trust me - you will be glad if you don't have to carry the extra weight. Consider bringing dried meals if you plan on being out there for a while. Those are super light and you might find some that are delicious. You don't need a ton of food anyways as the hike is not super long and you will probably focus on the hike itself (and focus on not breaking your legs) rather than think about food. Plus, it's very humid, so bring a lot of water instead.
The usual
Definitely bring enough water, sunscreen, bug spray and something to cover your head. Wear the right shoes and chose an appropriate backpack. Pack your stuff intelligent - meaning pack the heavy stuff towards the middle of your backpack in order to distribute the weight and have important things handy. Duck tape might be a useful helper as well as waterproof stuff sacks to keep your things dry. And again - pack plenty of water.
Wear the right shoes, seriously.
Did I mention this before? Yeah, this seems obvious, but you'd be surprised how often I only wear "okay shoes" just because I think it won't be that bad. Even if you are only planning on hiking to the beach area - the trail can be very difficult as there might be muddy and stony areas. So do yourself a favor and wear your "really good shoes".
Plan early and thoroughly
Yeah, because you don't wanna arrive too late and then not be able to make it to the second part of the trail, right? ;) Plus, there is a limit of 30 people per day that can get a permission for the part past the falls. As the trail can be very slippery when it is wet, you might also want to avoid the rainy season. The trail will be even more difficult. Also, because it might be hard or even impossible to cross the steams (you actually shouldn't cross steams during high water. at all! Many have been hurt and killed. Even during the drier season serious flash floods can occur. so be very careful when crossing!).
Know your limits
The hike can be steep, stony and very slippery. Additionally, the weather will most likely be hot and humid. Even on the shorter hike to the beach we've encountered people who had difficulties hiking back. So know your limits and take a break if you have to - it is much wiser to take your time and enjoy the hike anyways!
Take your time
You can do the whole trail in 2 days if you want. If you are hiking fast you can do the first part to the beach in only a couple of hours. In order to have enough time to actually enjoy the nature and rest after an exhausting day of hiking, you might want to be more generous with your time. Plus an extra day at the beach isn't as bad as rushing through this once in a lifetime experience.
Protect the environment
This point is not so much about protecting yourself as it is about protecting the trail. Take your trash and use the comfort station. It's an amazing hike with beautiful views in one of the most beautiful places on earth - so make sure that the ones who come after you enjoy it, too.
I hope my tips have been helpful! Do you agree with them? Or do you think I forgot an important aspect? I am looking forward to your comments :)