Payments are made at kiosks set up at several locations, including the Waimea Canyon and Kalalau Lookout parking areas. The fees are good for all day at both parks. The fees are $10 per vehicle and $5 per person. It can be very windy, rainy and even cold, so have a light jacket handy just in case.įor similar, if perhaps better views of the Kalalau Valley, go another mile to the end of the road to the Puu o Kila Lookout.) Kalalau Lookout FeesĮffective April 19, 2021, out-of-state visitors to Kauai’s Waimea Canyon State Park and Kokee State Park (including the Kalalau Lookout) will be required to purchase both entrance and parking permits.
There are restroom facilities and picnic tables at the lookout.ĭue to the elevation and location, weather can be an issue at the lookout. (However, in our experiences, we’ve had the best luck with clear views in the afternoon.) Going early, before noon, is said to increase the chances of seeing the valley without fog though no time is guaranteed. The trail, rated as difficult, offers additional views of the valley.įog can sometimes obscure the view at the Kalalau Lookout. To the left of the lookout, through an opening in the chain link fence, is the trail head for the Kalepa Ridge Trail, perhaps the most spectacular trail on the island. There is paved parking at the lookout that is usually sufficient for the vehicles at hand. It is a primary destination for adventurous couples and families in private vehicles as well as large groups in tour buses.
Very near the end of the road, the view is well worth the winding trip up the mountain. The Kalalau Lookout is located in Kokee State Park on Kokee Road (Highway 550) at Mile Marker 18 (past Waimea Canyon). From the lookout, you can look down onto Kauai’s magnificent Kalalau Valley from high above, from an elevation of almost 4,000 feet! The lookout is one of the top star attractions on an island filled with star attractions.
The view is one of the most featured scenes on Kauai, and is often seen on book covers, advertisements and promotional materials for the island. They will speak with campers and hikers about Kalalau’s natural and human history, and about the importance the area holds for native Hawaiians.The Kalalau Lookout features incredible views of Kauai’s Na Pali Coast and the Kalalau Valley.
In addition to checking permits and ensuring the safety of hikers and campers, the rangers will serve as cultural liaisons. The state parks division says that the closure of the trail meant the loss of at least $500,000 in camping permit fees.Īmong the changes at the Kalalau Trail will be that park rangers will be stationed in the valley seven days a week. It sees up to 500,000 visitors per year, much of that traffic on the two miles leading to Hanakapiai Falls. The Kalalau Trail is one of the most popular destinations in all of Hawaii. With it, the hugely popular Kalalau Trail will also reopen, but with some changes that visitors should be aware of. Hawaii Accommodations & Dining Hawaii Animals & Nature Hawaii Beaches & Ocean Hawaii Culture & Happenings Hawaii Hiking & Outdoors Hawaii Travel & Vacation InfoĪfter disastrous flooding well over one year ago destroyed Kuhio Highway on Kauai, it is set to reopen on Monday, June 17.