Do You Need A Permit To Hike The Napali Coast?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

In order to hike past Hanakāpī’ai Beach along the Kalalalau Trail

a valid camping permit for Napali Coast State Wilderness Park is required

whether or not you choose to camp.

Can you hike Napali Coast in one day?


If no permits are available, you can still enjoy the Kalalau Trail for a day hike (day-use reservations required)

. You can hike to Hanakāpīʻai beach (4-Mile round trip) or to Hanakāpīʻai Falls and back (8-Mile round trip). Permits are available up to 90 days out. Get your permits early to ensure a permit is available.

What do I need to hike the Napali Coast?

In order to hike the Kalalau Trail, you’ll need to obtain

a camping permit

. Permits open up a month ahead of time and go quickly, so be diligent in checking the website. If you wish to leave a car overnight, you’ll need to obtain a parking permit as well.

How many people have fallen from crawlers ledge?

Accidents, Falls, and Deaths

An unofficial sign near Hanakapi’ai Beach records almost 85 deaths, as seen in 2014. More recently, an article published by The Daily Beast website in 2019 claims “

over 100

” deaths along the trail.

Can you hike Napali Coast right now?


DAY-USE RESERVATIONS OR A VALID CAMPING PERMIT, AND PARKING RESERVATIONS ARE NOW REQUIRED TO ACCESS THE KALALAU TRAIL

. The Kalalau Trail is one of the adventurous hiking trails in the world. Originally built in the late 1800s, the trail serves as one of the only ways to access the beautiful Napali Coast via land.

How much does it cost to hike the Kalalau Trail?

Preparations: Permits: The Kalalau Trail is very popular and permits are required to spend the night along the trail. The cost for non-residents is

$20 per night

and you can book the permit for the Napali Coast Wilderness Park online.

Can you do Kalalau Trail in 2 days?

The trail is 11 miles long one way and ends at a famous camp spot. Originally planned as a 4 day and 3 night event, we ended up shortening it to

2 days and 1 night

while still completing all of the 22 miles, camping at the beach, visiting one of the major waterfalls, and capturing the Milky Way along the way.

How long does it take to hike first 2 miles of Kalalau Trail?

The first 2 miles of the Kalalau Trail are strenuous and tricky. You’ll probably want a

1/2 day

to do this hike. That will allow time for breaks and photo stops. And that’s if the weather cooperates!

Can you hike the Kalalau Trail without a permit?


The first 2-miles of the Kalalau Trail from Ke’e Beach to Hanakāpīʻai Beach is open for day-use without a permit

. Visitors must have advanced reservations to enter Hā’ena State Park. Hā’ena State Park has a 900 visitor per-day limit.

Do I need a sleeping bag for Kalalau Trail?

pack plus water. Enjoy, it is a very special hike!

No sleeping bag needed

, but a blanket of some sort, is usually necessary.

Can you drive to NaPali Coast?

Finally, if you are not a hiker,

you can see the NaPali Coast by driving to Polihale Beach or Kee Beach

where you have stunning views down the coastline or by driving past Waimea Canyon in Kokee State Park and stopping at either the Kalalau Lookout or Pu’u o Kila overlook which is the start of the Pihea Trail.

Is road to NaPali Coast Open?


As of June 17, 2019, the Kalalau Trail is officially reopened and ready for visitors

. Hāʻena State Park and Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park (Including the Kalalau Trail) were closed in April 2018 due to severe flooding and damage to the parks and roads after several storms that hit Kaua’i’s north shore.

Do you need a permit to hike in Hawaii?

If you wanting to hike the first 2-miles of the trail, please see our day-use page.

Anyone proceeding past Hanakāpīʻai Valley (2 miles in) must possess a valid camping permit whether or not you plan to camp

. Permits are required to camp at Hanakoa or Kalalau (Same permit).

How long is Crawlers Ledge Kalalau Trail?

Hiking the

7 mile

mark on the Kalalau Trail

This is known as the hardest and most dangerous part of the 11 mile Kalalau trail.

What are the dangers of hiking in Hawaii?

  • Nightfall. …
  • Extreme weather conditions.
  • Narrow trails. …
  • Rockfalls. …
  • Leptospirosis. …
  • Hyperthermia (overheating) …
  • Hypothermia (low body temperature) …
  • Hunters.

Is Stairway to Heaven in Hawaii Open?

Hawaii’s famous Haiku Stairs, known as the “Stairway to Heaven,”

will be removed due to illegal trespassing and injuries at the site that have led to hefty costs

. The stairs, built by the U.S. Navy in the 1940s, are now known to lead the best views in Hawaii, despite being closed to the public for over 30 years.

Is the road to Kee Beach Open?

For the first time since the historic rainfall and flooding in April 2018,

the section of highway between Hanalei and Kee Beach has reopened to the public

. Visitors will be strictly limited to 900 each day to preserve the pristine nature of this world famous area. Reservations are required for cars or the shuttle bus.

What island is Napali Coast on?

Spanning 17 miles along

Kauai’s

North Shore, the Napali Coast is a sacred place defined by extraordinary natural beauty. These emerald-hued cliffs with razor-sharp ridges tower above the Pacific Ocean, revealing beautiful beaches and waterfalls that plummet to the lush valley floor.

Why is the Kalalau Trail closed?

Kalalau Trail closed due to

weather/landslide

.

How do you get a permit for NaPali Coast?

  1. Napali Coast Camping Permits are currently available 90-days in advance.
  2. PERMITS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE ONLINE through this website.
  3. Limited overnight parking is available at the trailhead in Hāʻena State Park. …
  4. Limited overnight parking is also avaialble in cooperation at the Alii Kai Resort – 808-826-9988.

Is the Kalalau Trail worth it?

It isn’t as scenic as the rest of the trail, so for this reason I’d say that

it’s not worth it just to hike to Hanakoa and back

. If you don’t have time to hike the full Kalalau Trail, save it for another time and just do the day hike to Hanakapai’ai.

How do you get to NaPali State Park?

The Napali Coast State Park begins at Haena State Park at the end of Kuhio Highway. It’s 41 miles from Lihue Airport, a roughly 1 1⁄2 hour drive. You can

take a public bus to Hanalei and then a cab to Kalalau trailhead

. However, this is recommended if you’re not carrying camping or hiking gear.

How difficult is Kalalau Trail?

Though it’s unbelievably beautiful, there’s no doubt that the Kalalau Trail can be

extremely perilous at points

. The trail is narrow, steep, rocky, and dotted with natural hazards ranging from strong water currents to falling rocks. Steep dropoffs into the water are especially dangerous.

Can I hike to Hanakapiai Falls without a permit?

1:

Advanced Reservations and Permits are Required

. All vehicles, walk-in entry and shuttle riders visiting Haena State Park and day hikers accessing the Kalalau Trail are required to make advanced reservations and/or purchase parking permits. Entry fees to the park are $1 per person for non-residents.

Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.
Exit mobile version