There are many trails in Waimea Canyon for everyone from casual to serious hikers. Visit the Kokee S

You probably will not arrive on Kauai and be totally surprised by the existence of Waimea Canyon . In almost outdoor adventure travel every guidebook you will learn that Waimea was originally dubbed The Grand Canyon of the Pacific by Mark Twain on a visit in 1866.
The first surprise is that Waimea is really grand in size, running 26 miles across and 21 miles north to south at is largest points. But Waimea is more than just a Grand Canyon sized hole in the ground: Although overshadowed by Kauai s Napali Coast as far as iconic views, outdoor adventure travel the canyon is visually stunning outdoor adventure travel and a major geological feature of this oldest and smallest of the four major Hawaiian Islands.
What is surprising about Kauai in general are its diverse geography and micro climates outdoor adventure travel relative to its size. As a result of the island s geography, Kauai features sunny beaches, giant waves, outdoor adventure travel the only navigable river in Hawaii, rainy peaks and tropical rain forests.
Kauai, came into existence by volcanic eruption five million years ago. Approximately four million years ago there was  of a catastrophic collapse of the volcano. Lava flow from this event filled in the giant fissure. Waimea Canyon was formed over years of erosion of this lava by water flowing down from Kauai s Mount Wai ale ale. This central peak in Kauai is known  as one of the wettest spots on earth, receiving an average of 452 inches of rain per year since 1912.
Turning off the coast road head up Waimea Canyon Drive. Stop along the way at Waimea Canyon Lookout, located between mile marker 10 and 11, and the Puu Hinahina Lookout located a few more miles up the road. By car you also have the option to visit Koke'e Natural History Museum. Last but not least, be sure to visit Kalalau Lookout, which is one of the best views of Kauai that doesn t involve outdoor adventure travel a strenuous hike. First thing in the morning is generally best, before cloud cover forms
There are many trails in Waimea Canyon for everyone from casual to serious outdoor adventure travel hikers. Visit the Kokee State Park website for information outdoor adventure travel about trails and guided hikes. On an island filled with seemingly endless hiking options, one of the best hikes on Kauai is the hike to Waipoo Falls.
We ve talked before about how seventy percent of Kauai is inaccessible by car, and how if you are ever going to splurge on a helicopter tour, this island may be the place to do it. First tours of the day are generally best for visibility.
Kauai Beach Resort is located on Kauai s longest beach, near Lihue, one of the most central areas on Kauai with easy access to all the island s major attractions. From there it is less than an hour s drive to Waimea Canyon and  an easy Kauai day trip. It takes just an hour or so to get to the Waimea Canyon Road from almost all of the island except for the North Shore from which the drive is two hours.
The Shrimp Station and Jo Jo s Shave Ice are located near one another in the town of Waimea. The Shrimp Station offers a wide variety of shrimp outdoor adventure travel dishes and Jo Jo s, which is an otherwise hole in the wall with iffy service, has simply divine shave ice.
Margo is the publisher and editor of The Travel Belles. She believes nothing comes close to getting outdoor adventure travel out of town every now and then, as a means to fully appreciate outdoor adventure travel and engage with the amazing world we live in. She lives with her husband and two teenage daughters in Myrtle Beach, SC.  She can be found on Twitter: @travelbelles outdoor adventure travel or @gomarwrites.   Full bio.
Briana Palma is the associate editor of The Travel Belles. She is a writer and translator with a passion for Mediterranean culture. She lived in Madrid for one year as she pursued outdoor adventure travel a master's degree in Spanish language and translation. She then spent five months in Rome, where she learned to eat, cook and speak Italian. Briana has written for US Airways, In Madrid and The Lost Girls and Bostoniano websites. She currently is located in Ireland. You can read more about her work at www.brianapalma.com .
Learning to make pottery in Peru along with a few things about kindness It was just an ordinary journey in the Peruvian Andes. I was squashed into a corner of the minivan while the hardy-looking matriarch beside me unwrapped a small child, blanket after blanket and ended up on my lap. We bumped and juddered [...]
Recent Comments judith works on 7 Surprises for Your Other Half While on the Road Let's see; I bought him a baseball hat from the Red... judith works on Memories of Finding New Life on the MS Stockholm This delightful outdoor adventure travel story just came up on TB. I think the... Elizabeth Schneider on 7 Surprises for Your Other Half While on the Road I love this idea. What a wonderful tradition to start. And... Anne - Music and Markets on 7 Surprises for Your Other Half While on the Road One of the most fun gifts I brought home for my... Debra Kolkka on 6 Reasons to Visit Belgium Next Time You Go to Europe We visited Antwerp earlier this year and loved it. I now...