Nualolo Trail, Kauai Hawaii

Nualolo Trail starts near the Kokee State Park Headquarters at 3600 feet elevation. The trail ends at 2,234 feet elevation. This trail is used mostly as an access route for hunters but also serves as an alternate route to the cross over Nualolo Cliff Trail to Awaawapuhi Trail. On our hike we saw 2 separate hunters with hunting dogs looking for wild boars. This hike descends through a lush forest for the first 2 ½ miles, to panoramic vistas of the Nualolo Valley, Kaahole Valley, and Na Pali coastline. The trail ends at Lolo Vista Point, a vertical perch 3,000 feet above the Nualolo Valley. This hike can be combined with the Aaawapuhi Trail for a 10-mile loop hike.

Map created and provided by : hawaii-guide.com
It was recommended to start the round trip “loop” from the Nualolo Trail. The Nualolo Cliffs Trail followed the Nualolo Valley Rim but it started in dense forest. There were very few lookouts the first mile of the trail. The trail changes to 7 foot tall grass and you definitely get very limited views. After about 1 mile you will find a shelter and picnic table. Beginning near the 1.5 and 1.75 mile marker, there is a dangerous section of washed out and eroded trail. Use caution and proceed at your own risk. Once you get past this gut checking section, the valley views begin. You look down the green and black lava ridges. You see the Nualolo stream cutting through the Awaawapuhi Valley. The Nualolo Cliffs Trail is 2.2 miles long, with a total elevation change of 780 feet. With the exception of about 50 feet of hugging the side of the cliff, the trail is pretty easy. Most of the hike is through forest, crossing several streams, and short incline and decline switchbacks. But remember, you have to hike 3 miles before you do this trail, and the hike back out on either end is all uphill back to the road.

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