Waimea Canyon
The Grand Canyon of the PacificKauai is quite possibly the most beautiful Hawaiian island for many reasons, one of which being Waimea Canyon. Mark Twain visited the islands in 1866 and he is widely credited for penning Waimea Canyon as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific but the fact was, he didn't visit Kauai. Waimea Canyon is a 3600 feet deep and 10 mile long canyon located within Kokee State Park on the west side of the Hawaiian island of Kauai. While this is no where near as large (or as old) as the Grand Canyon, there are similarities. The spectacular views and vivid colors are probably the most prominent. My personal thoughts on what makes the canyon so unique and beautiful is the growth within it. Although in some areas it does take on those rusty red hues that make it look like a (the) canyon, it is mostly lush and green ... more like you would imagine a valley. It offers waterfalls, birds, rainforest-like vegetation, scenic points, horses, mules, downhill bike rides, walking and riding tours, koa forests, and incredibly scenic hiking trails for beginners through advanced. If you don't want to hike the canyon you still should spend a few hours looking around. The scenic lookouts and points are easy to drive to and offer great views and panoramic pictures. Try and get there early because afternoon showers sometimes bring fog and a light mist making it hard to see anything. If you want to hike, well, you are in for a treat. You can take an hour trail, or go all day and have a picnic lunch in the canyon. Many places suggest the half day trip to the 800 foot Waipoo falls as a good place to start. Don't worry, once you get to the island you are visiting, it is always easy to find out how to do the stuff you want to. Every island has its own official tourism representative with all the up-to-date information on island activities right at the airport! The fact that Waimea Canyon is adjoined with Kokee State Park makes it especially easy. The State and National Parks always do the best jobs telling visitors what is available. Just be ready for anything, go to the visitors center, and have a great time! |
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