Situated on the north shore in Kauai, The Nā Pali Coast is comprised of vibrant green lush mountains that rise up 4,000 feet into sharp, narrow ridges. Nā Pali, meaning high cliffs, stretches 16 miles from Ke’e Beach to Polihale State Park. Sitting along the Pacific Ocean, the picturesque Nā Pali mountains meet the aqua blue ocean making the Nā Pali Coast State Park a profoundly beautiful place to visit.
There are a few different ways to see the Nā Pali Coast including by air via a helicopter tour, by sea on a boat or kayak pending time of year, by foot through a rugged and very difficult 11 mile hiking trail from Ke’e Beach or by car by driving into the Koke’e State Park and enjoying the magnificent views at Kalalau lookout point. If you have an adventurous spirit, then there is one more not so common way to not only see the Nā Pali Coast, but to actually experience being immersed into the mountains themselves. Since I visited Kauai during the winter months and my first choice by sea was not an option because the ocean’s rip tides and swells make it impossible to get a tour, I opted for a semi secret hiking trail so I could surround myself by the magical beauty of the Nā Pali mountains.
The Kalepa Ridge hiking trail is an unofficial trail that takes you on a dangerously narrow path along a ridge .75 mile into the mountains. Since the Koke’e State Park is one of the wettest spots on earth the already dangerous path becomes more death defying when it’s muddy.
To get to Kalepa Ridge out and back hiking trail, drive up to the Kalalau Lookout in Koke’e State Park. This lookout point is at 4,000 feet elevation making it the highest point one can venture to by car in the Nā Pali Coast. I easily found the location by downloading the All Trails app and typing in Kalepa Ridge Trail. It is quite important to take this hike between 8 am and 10:30 am because the thick clouds roll in and limit your view. I didn’t know this in advance but I happened to get lucky and started my hike at 9:30am. If you are going to hike 4,000 feet up one step from the edge you better make sure you get the view!
Since this is an unofficial hike there is no trailhead and no trail marker. After parking in the lot, walk up the paved path and you will see the Kalalau Lookout sign. Go to the left of the sign and walk toward the fence. Go ahead and hop the fence to begin this death defying hike along the Nā Pali Coast.
As you start on the trail, you will quickly become engulfed in dense vegetation. It is important to wear hiking boots or trail running sneakers with grips because not only are there an abundance of thick slippery tree roots along the first part of the trail, there is a lot of mud, which will make even the best hiking boots slip! I made my way slowly through the path, careful not to lose my footing, holding onto tree branches when I needed assistance making my way through the forest. After a quarter mile the first partial lookout point unfolds through trees. This is a safe area to stop and take in the stunning views and maybe contemplate if you are up for the dangerous trail ahead.
If you decide to keep going, which I highly recommend, then make your way another quarter mile to the half mile point where the path narrows to single file right along the ledge of the mountain. The trail will give way to a wider opening making for the perfect place to stop and take in the breathtakingly beautiful sweeping views of the Nā Pali Coast. It is this very spot that is the most magical place on the island of Kauai. Never in my life have I pushed myself to hike on such a dangerous trail knowing that one slip or misstep I could plummet 4,000 feet. I couldn’t help but feel more alive knowing that life could slip away in an instant. That very moment everything seemed to stand still in time; any cluttered thoughts in my mind dissipated providing the kind of clarity you don’t think about you just feel. Birds chirped in the distance, the wind lightly kissed my skin and as I looked out into the deep evergreen cliffs that dive into deep valleys meeting the aqua blue ocean in the distance, I could feel life and beauty all around me so much so that I was part of it. I experienced no fear and for a brief moment I let go of everything I was holding onto, any stress or anxiety melted off my being and I felt weightless in time. This is a feeling you can’t experience by looking over a fence at a lookout point, you need to immerse yourself into nature to become part of it.
The Kalepa Ridge Trail is not for everyone and I truthfully I did not finish this hike. After attempting to walk around the bend from this lookout point I turned back for a photo and my viewpoint was much different from this angle. I realized how narrow the path is and right then my nerves hit me like a lighting bolt and anxiety and fear instantly swept right back in. I had my aha moment and decided my life was not worth risking any further. I made my way back knowing that I accomplished the most death defying hike I will probably ever take! The memory of the feelings I experienced on Kalepa Ridge Trail will stay with me forever. I simply cannot explain in words the kind of high one can get from feeling so small in such a vast world. Nature has a way of opening up your soul and making you feel alive.
Kauai’s Kalepa Ridge Trail / Jill E. Gallien/ February 25, 2018
