Adventure
Waimea Canyon: The Grand Canyon of the Pacific
By Rick Kennerknecht · Updated October 2026
Closure notice: as of October 2026, Waimea Canyon and Kokee state parks are closed until further notice after Hurricane Lowell, and Kokee Road is local traffic only. Check DLNR before you plan a visit; the last section covers what is open on the west side. Mark Twain reputedly called it the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, and Waimea Canyon earns the name: about 14 miles long, a mile wide, and more than 3,600 feet deep, striped in rust-red, ochre, and green. When it reopens, you can pair the lookouts with waterfalls, trails, and the cool forests of Kokee State Park just above.
Hurricane Lowell recovery (as of October 21, 2026): Haena State Park reopened October 15 (reservations required), but Kokee and Waimea Canyon state parks, most other Kauai state parks, the Kalalau Trail past mile 2, all state camping, and Secret Falls remain closed, and Port Allen's small boat harbor is only partly open. See our what's open on Kauai page, and check DLNR state parks, openkauai.org, and your tour operator before you go.
How to get to Waimea Canyon
From Poipu it is about a 45-minute to one-hour drive; from Lihue closer to 75 minutes. Once the parks reopen, take Waimea Canyon Drive (Route 550) up from Waimea town. It is steeper and more scenic than the Kokee Road approach. The road is paved and fine for any rental car, but it is winding, so go slow and use pullouts for photos.
The best lookouts
The Waimea Canyon Lookout at mile marker 10 is the classic panorama. Keep climbing to the Puu Hinahina Lookout, then into Kokee for the Kalalau Lookout and Puu O Kila Lookout, which peer down into the roadless Kalalau Valley and out to the Na Pali Coast when clouds cooperate.
Hikes from the rim
The Canyon Trail to Waipoo Falls (about 3.5 miles round trip) drops to a waterfall with canyon views and is the best moderate hike. For a bigger day, the Awaawapuhi Trail descends toward the Na Pali cliffs. Both trails are inside the closed parks as of October 2026. When they reopen, expect slick mud after rain, so wear real shoes and bring water. There are no services up top.
Best time to go
Mornings are clearest; afternoon clouds often fill the canyon. The west side is the driest part of Kauai year-round, making the canyon a reliable choice even in the wetter winter months. Bring a layer. Kokee sits at 4,000 feet and can be surprisingly cool and breezy.
Combine it with the west side
While the parks are closed, the rest of the west side still makes a good day: shave ice in Waimea town, historic Hanapepe, Glass Beach, or a Na Pali boat tour from Port Allen (catamarans are on reduced schedules, so confirm with the operator). Once the canyon reopens, do it and Kokee in the morning and these stops after. There is no gas or reliable cell service up the canyon road, so fuel up in Waimea first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, once it reopens. It is Kauai's top drive-up sight, a mile-wide canyon more than 3,600 feet deep, striped in red and green. As of October 2026 the state park is closed after Hurricane Lowell, so check DLNR before you go.
More guides: all Kauai guides · things to do.