The swamp trail breaks off from the pihea trail about a quartermile before the pihea lookout which offers spectacular views when not socked in by clouds. Trail starts at the end of kokee road route 552 at puu o kila lookout second kalalau lookout. From the end of the road, a viewpoint overlooks the na pali coast and the pihea trail follows the rim for a short distance, but all further progress means dropping into the alakaii swamp. A five million year tropical forest at altitude with over 750 inches of rain. Hike the pihea trail for just under 2 miles and it will connect to the alakai swamp trail, at which point youll turn left and hike for about 2. Nov 09, 2015 the alakai swamp trail takes you into the interior of kauai, through a tropical rainforest filled with ferns and other greenery. Alakai swamp trail activities on kauai waimea, hawaii. The pihea trail contains rock formations that can be slippery when wet, so be sure to bring a good pair of hiking boots.
The ethereal beauty of kauais alakai swamp trail by catherine toth fox jun 22, 2016 the woodburning fireplace in the dingy, barely insulated state cabin at the lodge at kokee on kauai wasnt enough to keep me warm that first night, so i had donned everything i had in my backpack. Jun 11, 2011 the pihea trail eventually merged with the alakai swamp trail after two miles. The authors writing style is smooth and enjoyable, and he has certainly done very fine research. The pihea trail through the alakai wilderness area with a boardwalk over swamps. More information about this seller contact this seller 6. Rob wilson photography added a new photo in alakai swamp trail. The trail is frequently wet and muddy and caution must be taken on all slopes. The alakai swamp trail is composed of a boardwalk that occasionally contains broken or missing planks, so watch your step on that section of the trail. I found this bird, which i believe to be a female whiterumped shama nonnative. But to begin, at puu o kila lookout at the end of the road in kokee. The trail starts at a parking and turnaround area 14 mile north of the na pali kona forest reserve entrance sign. For this trip, the islands of kauai and the big island were on my list. A number of interesting exhibits at the museum provide insight into the regions history, geography, flora, native birds, hiking trails, hunting opportunities and why there are old telephone poles in the middle of the alakai swamp.
Kauai offers hundreds of trail choices for every level of experience. Alakai swamp trail alakai swamp trail, kauai traveller. There are excellent opportunities for birding and botanizing. Alakai meaning and origin of the name alakai wikiname. And one of our family favorites is the pihea trail kilohana lookout.
The fact theres a path permitting a ccess to such an otherworldly place as alakai swamp carries a bit of history that needs to be mentioned. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our favorite. One of our favorite kauai trails is the alakai swamp at kokee. I couldnt find much detail about this trail besides being highly recommended in various forums. Alakai swamp out and back hiking trail, waimea, hawaii. The alakai swamp trail takes you into the interior of kauai, through a tropical rainforest filled with ferns and other greenery. Ed hunsingerflickr most people start the trail at the puu o kila lookout, meander along the pihea summit trail, and traverse approximately 3. Dec 21, 20 from the end of the road, a viewpoint overlooks the na pali coast and the pihea trail follows the rim for a short distance, but all further progress means dropping into the alakaii swamp. Alakai swamp trail hike, kauai, hawaii kauai explorer. The pihea trail eventually merged with the alakai swamp trail after two miles. The kokee museum has a wealth of information about kauais beautiful kokee state park, waimea canyon and the surrounding area. My friends and i hiked through the alakai swamp to the kilohana lookout while my mavic pro spied on us. The alakai swamp is the last outpost for many of kauais endemic forest birds so we met up with jim at the kokee museum parking lot at 8am for a walk in the woods. The route climbs steeply to pihea point, but the alakaii swamp trail is a right turn at the junction, a winding downhill single track into the wet jungle.
Hydrology of the alakai swamp kauai, hawaii bulletin no. Jul 11, 2016 the alakai swamp trail is approximately seven miles round trip, and takes you on a journey through lush forests, and ethereal swamplands. Pihea trail to the alakai swamp, located near waimea, hawaii is a 3. This trail leads across the alakai swamp through scrub native rain forest and shallow bogs. Jan 06, 2018 we heard the day before on our tubing adventure about the alakai swamp trail.
At an elevation of over 4000 feet the alakai swamp trail is well above where tropical ends and temperate begins. The ethereal beauty of kauais alakai swamp trail hawaii. The entrance to the alakai swamp trail isnt far from the terminus of the pihea trail, and there will be a dirt pull out where you can park. Alakai swamp is located within kokee state park, from which the trail starts.
The alakai swamp trail is one of the most sought after hiking trails in kauai. Trail builders have created a route through the fringe of the caldera, though difficult terrain, allowing a glimpse of the jungle, the stream valleys, the. Kauai hawaii adventure guide franko maps waterproof map. On the big island the primary target was hawaii volcanoes national. Dec 11, 2019 the alakai swamp trail ast trailhead can only be accessed via a 4wd road, therefore 90% of those who do the ast actually do part of the pihea trail to the alakai crossing at the 1. Alakai swamp trail kauai hawaii hawaii travel guide. Although the name doesnt do the hike justice, the alakai swamp trail is a 8mile roundtrip sensory explosion. Pihea and alakai swamp trail to kilohana overlook modern hiker.
Also popularly known as the alakai wilderness preserve, alakai swamp is a wet forest characterized by shallow bogs, formed due to heavy rainfall in the waialeale plateau. The na pali coast is one of the most concentrated places anywhere to see waterfalls in kauai. The alakai swamp trail starts from either the pihea trail at the kokee state park or from the kona forest road entrance off of rt. That is a very good book to have, by the way i am not affiliated with them in any way. Pihea trail and alakai swamp trail this trail starts from the puu o kila lookout at the end of highway 550. This area is prime viewing for kauais forest birds.
Jan 04, 2012 hiking on kauai is one of the best activities you can do with your family. Feb 12, 2017 my friends and i hiked through the alakai swamp to the kilohana lookout while my mavic pro spied on us. Highly recommended forest reserve trail for observing native forest birds and alakai swamp terrain and vegetation. On this trail, youll hear, but not necessarily see, birds. The start from the pihea is the most breath taking with 0. And unfortunately, they are inprocess of replacing the 3 foot wide planking with a single 12 inch plank and have.
Pihea trail and alakai swamp trailthis trail starts from the puu o kila lookout at the end of highway 550. The boardwarks are really fun and the walk on the upper alakai swamp trail to the lookout is worth the extra distance. Waimea canyon and kokee state park in kauai the complete guide. Conversely, if you started the pihea trail from the end of the road at the lookout, this is the trail that you turn on to get to the kilohana lookout. It ends at a vista called kilohana on the edge of wainiha pali. Alakai swamp trail everything you need to know makana charters. The alakai swamp trail is approximately seven miles round trip, and takes you on a journey through lush forests, and ethereal swamplands. You not only get beautiful vistas worth writing home about of kalalau valley and the napali coast, but also the swamp and the finale of kilohana lookout overlooking the other side of the island with hanalei bay and wainiha valley. Kauai is a small volcanic island with an abundance of natural wonders just waiting for you to to explore. Hawaiis alakai swamp trail is like nothing youve ever.
Prior to recolonization by westerners, the swamp was a dangerous place to wander and only experienced hawaiian guides paid it visits. Consistent rain in the highlands above at alakai swamp mean that this coastline is always blessed with a stunning amount of beautiful waterfalls. Unfortunately now, this trail is too dilapidated and in need of serious repairs. Drive up to the kalalau valley overlook for a magnificent valley and ocean view and the chance to see whitetailed tropicbird. I have hiked the piheaalakai swamp trail a few times before and always loved it. What i wanted was a basic topo map with grid references. This brief book has just the right balance of history, trail descriptions, and hints about making the hikes safe. So to end the year we set off to kokee with friends and family to do just that, hike into the mist and the bogs of the worlds highest rainforest, the alakai swamp and wilderness preserve. Hanakapiai falls trail, kalalau trail, alakai swamp trail. A five million year tropical forest at altitude with over 750 inches of rain per year. Go straight to the kilohana lookout, left to the puu o kila lookout trailhead or right to the sugi camp, or turn around and. I have hiked the pihea alakai swamp trail a few times before and always loved it. Alakai swamp kauai august 2015 the swamp on the top of the world.
The trailhead to pihea trail starts few feet from puu o. To find the head of the alakai swamp trail, youll take the waimea valley road to its end. After the pihea trail intersects the alakai swamp trail, there is an amazing staircase in the forest down to a stream. Hiking the pihea and alakai swamp trails in kauai, hawaii. The trail is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, and bird watching.
Away from this trail the area appears to have re mained unexplored and nnmapped. Although the preserve is home to alpine bogs, it is not a true swamp. This was our march reading for river action book club. Stop at the kokee museum to pick up a hiking map that will be useful and. Waialeale, the wettest spot on earth, lies the alakai. A boardwalk covered in mesh wire was the main trail surface for the next 3 miles. Also, alternate route to alakai swamp trail, which intersects pihea trail just before the 1. We heard the day before on our tubing adventure about the alakai swamp trail. Hiking on kauai is one of the best activities you can do with your family. No commercial use allowed on the alakai swamp trail. Jun 22, 2016 the ethereal beauty of kauais alakai swamp trail by catherine toth fox jun 22, 2016 the woodburning fireplace in the dingy, barely insulated state cabin at the lodge at kokee on kauai wasnt enough to keep me warm that first night, so i had donned everything i had in my backpack. As of march 22, 2014, the kauai recreational trail map is temporarily unavailable for distribution or. Hiking kauais alakai swamp in hawaii an adventurous slog through a portion of the rainiest place on earth by john gottberg anderson for the bulletin. Once spent two months hitch hiking across it, camping at state parks, endured and enjoyed the kalalau trail and now make kokee state park base camp.
The steep, jagged mountainsides are perfect terrain for spectacular cascading waterfalls. It sits about 4,000 feet above the kalalau valley floor. Before beginning the hike, make sure you stop at the kokee museum to pick up a trail map and also find. Pihea and alakai swamp trail to kilohana overlook modern. To access the alakai swamp trail, make your way to mohihi rd. Hike the rain forest of kokee, the bogs of the alakai swamp and the hanging valleys of the napali coast. Most of this part was boardwalk, although some of the planks were in desperate need of repair. Although it leaves the reader with an upbeat notion of what is going on, i hope that is still true under the policies of president trump and interior secretary ryan zinke. Stuart at trail spotting recommends the kauai alakai swamp trail 11mi 17. Take a westerly drive around kauai until you run out of road and youll find yourself overlooking the plunging cliffs of kalalau valley on the fabled na pali coast.
Pihea trail to the alakai swamp is a hiking adventure located in or near waimea, hi. Once you get to the trail from the pihea trail, its an easy hike. To reach the alakai swamp trail youll first need to start at the pihea trail. Here you will see low shrubs, trees, mosses, ferns, and the occasional bright flower. Alakai swamp trail kauai 2020 all you need to know before. Alakai swamp trail everything you need to know makana. Alakai swamp trail is a 7 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near hanapepe, kauai, hawaii that features a river and is rated as moderate. The alakai swamp trail ast trailhead can only be accessed via a 4wd road, therefore 90% of those who do the ast actually do part of the pihea trail to the alakai crossing at the 1. It leads all the way down to the canyon and the waimea river. Alakai swamp trail kauai 2020 all you need to know. The trail is primarily a wooden boardwalk that keeps the hiker elevated a few inches above the soft bog. There youll find the beginning of the pihea lookout trail. To help clarify this junction and the two trails, weve created three maps below.
The trail begins at the end of waimea canyon drive at the puu o kila lookout. Waialeale where mist and clouds reigns but not on this sunny day. A rain poncho is recommended as it can be rainy in the forest and misty on the uppper alakai swamp trail. This trail takes us through the highest elevation swampland in the world the alakai swamp. Sep 11, 2007 pihea trail to the alakai swamp is a hiking adventure located in or near waimea, hi. This trail is for experienced hikers and for people who are prepared to take up the challenge. The presentdayplateau features of the alakai swamp can be explained from the geologic history of the area. Some sections of the trail are a bit steep and require some rock scrambling. In addressing the history of american hiking in this way, the author has written what is largely a history of american hiking clubs mostly those in the east, but also to some extent those in the west as well. Places of focus on kauai included the na pali coast state wilderness park, kalalau trail, hanakapiai falls, kilauea point national wildlife refuge, waimea canyon state park, alakai swamp wilderness preserve. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates. We were very lucky with the weather pale clouds misted the high peak waialeale the wettest place on earth but lower down on the old caldera the forests were sunny and green. Beginning at the end of waimea canyon drive at the puu o kila overlook is the pihea trail, and it leads to the. Its actually two trails combined into one lengthy hike first section is on pihea trail, which then intersects with alakai swamp trail.
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