Alakai Swamp Trail
Photo Credit: Kelvin Lu
Alakai swamp trail

 

3/20/20 – DUE TO COVID-19 CONCERNS, UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, VIRTUALLY ALL OF HAWAII STATE PARKS AND FACILITIES ARE NOW EITHER FULLY OR PARTIALLY CLOSED.  ALL CAMPING AND LODGING WITHIN OUR PARKS IS SUSPENDED.  WE ASK THAT THE PUBLIC RESPECT THESE CLOSURES IN THIS UNPRECEDENTED TIME AS WE WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH COUNTY, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES IN THE STATE TO LIMIT THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS.  IN ADDITION, ALL STATE PARKS OFFICES ARE TEMPORARILY CLOSED, AND NO CAMPING, LODGING, SPECIAL USE, FILMING OR EVENT PERMITS ARE BEING ISSUED, AND COMMERCIAL TOURS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED.  SEE “ANNOUNCEMENTS” BELOW FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION AND UPDATES.  MAHALO.

 

Alakai Swamp Trail

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    CAUTION: Deep mud and fog along trail.
    Trail Length 3.5 miles (one way)
    Time approx 3 hrs.
    Activity Pedestrian
    Difficulty Difficult
    Elevation Gain 329 ft
    Park Name Kōkeʻe State Park

    Route

    The trail starts at a parking and turnaround area 1/4 mile north of the Na Pali Kona Forest Reserve entrance sign. This trail leads across the Alakai Swamp through scrub native rain forest and shallow bogs. There are excellent opportunities for birding and botanizing. It ends at a vista called “Kilohana” on the edge of Wainiha Pali. On a clear day, the views of Wainiha and Hanalei Valleys provide for an unforgettable experience. If you hike this route, be sure to wear appropriate clothing. Portions of the trail are a boardwalk, and the trail is often wet, slippery and very muddy.

    Additional Info

    • No commercial use (Paid guides or ecotours) allowed within the Alakai and Pihea Trail and the Alakai Wilderness Preserve.
    • No commercial use allowed on the Alakai Swamp Trail.

    As of March 22, 2014, the Kauai recreational trail map is temporarily unavailable for distribution or purchase.

    Do not use any trail or access road that is not delineated by name and color and that may also be displayed on these maps. The marked features are managed for public recreational use. Other trails or roads that branch off from the public features may be on private property, and are not managed for any public recreational use. Access is subject to adjacent landowner approval, and if used without authorization, you will be trespassing and possibly putting yourself at risk.