Honopu Ridge Trail

NaPali Coast Trail

Koke'e and Waimea State Park

Honopu Ridge Trail is a 4.2 to 5 mile (round trip, depending on how far you go) hike that takes you to incredible views of Honopu Valley and a portion of the NaPali Coastline.

The total distance depends on how far you hike out on the ridge at the end, but we estimate that to the logical and safe stopping point it's about 2.4 miles one way. The trail drops about 1,400-1,950 ft. in elevation from the trailhead to the ridge; again, depending on how far you go out on the ridge. Check out our Google Earth Honopu Ridge Trail map for more an overview.

This is rated a difficult trail based on the fact that the trial is not officially maintained. In our opinion, it is one of the best– though roughest– hikes on Kauai. While the trail is pretty short, it is no longer maintained by the park (due to Hurricane Iniki damage way back in 1992 and Hurricane Iwa in 1982) - so prepare to bushwack; the ferns are especially brutal on the legs if you're not prepared. Wearing long pants is a great way to get through the ferns (we personally love convertible cargo pants). 

The main trail can sometimes become vague and you might be misled by several other smaller (hunters) trails that branch off from the main trail. This is especially true near the trailhead. Keep an eye out for the orange and pink ribbons that others have tied up to mark the trail. Sticks and branches are often laid across the wrong trails, so watch for them.

At the trailhead, just as you leave the road, take the left branch (under the large limb) to find the main trail. At approximately 10 minutes or so into the hike you'll come to a junction in the trail - you'll want to bear to the right at this junction and from that point follow the most worn portion of the trail (again, look for the orange and pink ribbons). If you find yourself at a stream bed (the left fork), go back and take the other fork which continues out onto the ridge. A GPS can come in really handy as well when retracing your steps out, as there are opportunities to get lost coming out, too.

Overall though, we feel the trail is fairly easy to follow and is well marked. Once you get through the initial "maze" it's very easy to follow the trail out onto the ridge.

While there is a good bit of descent in the first mile and a half, it's not that much different than many of the ridges in the area. Nualolo is probably steeper going down than Honopu; though Honopu does have some very steep areas.

There are three major parts of the trail. The forest/fern portion of the trail, which terminates at an overlook of the valley mostly blocked by trees. From here the ridge descends steeply onto the ridge where the views get increasingly better as you hike up and down the hills along the ridge. Eventually, you'll come to a hill where the trail descends very steeply again onto the outer (third) portion of the ridge. This is where we'd advise you to stop, as the third and final portion of the ridge is very narrow and dangerous. The views from the end of the second portion of the trail are fantastic, and they won't get much better further out. If you do continue, use extreme caution as the trail is only two or three feet wide in places with a very steep drop off on either side and the ground itself is very crumbly and erosive. Experienced guides have been caught in small debris slides out here and have needed help to get back up to the top of the ridge.

If you happen to be someone who likes to jog across a knife-edge ridge with a several-thousand-foot precipice on both sides, the end of Honopu Ridge will give still give you pause to be mindful about how you proceed.