Mt. Waialeale
Mt. Waialeale
4.5
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This mountain is considered to be the wettest area in Hawaii.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
18 reviews
Excellent
13
Very good
5
Average
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Terrible
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ShaktiDance
Hilo31 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
OK folks: first of all, get real… Most of these reviews are written by people who flew over. Here’s one from someone who’s hiked it several times.
Wai’ale’ale is the wettest place on earth. The trail is minimal, and crosses the river many times. If the river, floods, which it frequently does, those crossings become manifestly dangerous, especially at,& below the slot, canyon, which comprises the middle 1/3 of the trail.
Getting to the trail head is extremely challenging in and of itself. A four-wheel-drive with good clearance and expert driving skills is absolutely required. Expect to put some damage on your car in the process: you will be driving through a river, through a pond, and over a deeply-rutted road which becomes a river in heavy rain. If you want to walk an extra 5 miles each way, you can park at the Arboretum and avoid damaging your vehicle.
Expect to get wet. And muddy. Bring Tabis. If you’re used to hiking barefoot, wool socks will help you stick to the slippery rocks when in the river. Resistance to rain is useless: you’re going to get wet. So for gear, I usually hike this trail in a bathing suit. Everything in your pack should be in a Ziploc bag and you don’t need to bring water, but a life straw is a good idea.
Pick your day wisely. The ideal day to hike Wai’ale’ale is cloudless & rainy days should be avoided… If it’s raining a little at the coast, it’s dumping in Wai’ale’ale. And hiking Wai’ale’ale in heavy rain is not fun… very dangerous, cold, no view.
Start extremely early. This way you’ll have time to jump in some of the innumerable gorgeous pools that line your route. Go in with an attitude of reverence… this is Sacred land, and you are blessed to have the opportunity to gently explore it. She is incredibly powerful, treat her like a goddess she is.
The trail is difficult to find. In particular, River crossings can be challenging to identify recently someone scratched all the rocks in the trail. There are places where you will need to step on a very particular rock in order to make safe progress… those are currently marked to anyone who has a really sharp eye. But if you’ve never gone before, then I highly recommend going with someone who has or an expert guide.
If your hiking skills are less than excellent or you have significant health problems, this is not the hike for you. If it was a ski slope, it would be rated black diamond.
Enjoy 🙏
Wai’ale’ale is the wettest place on earth. The trail is minimal, and crosses the river many times. If the river, floods, which it frequently does, those crossings become manifestly dangerous, especially at,& below the slot, canyon, which comprises the middle 1/3 of the trail.
Getting to the trail head is extremely challenging in and of itself. A four-wheel-drive with good clearance and expert driving skills is absolutely required. Expect to put some damage on your car in the process: you will be driving through a river, through a pond, and over a deeply-rutted road which becomes a river in heavy rain. If you want to walk an extra 5 miles each way, you can park at the Arboretum and avoid damaging your vehicle.
Expect to get wet. And muddy. Bring Tabis. If you’re used to hiking barefoot, wool socks will help you stick to the slippery rocks when in the river. Resistance to rain is useless: you’re going to get wet. So for gear, I usually hike this trail in a bathing suit. Everything in your pack should be in a Ziploc bag and you don’t need to bring water, but a life straw is a good idea.
Pick your day wisely. The ideal day to hike Wai’ale’ale is cloudless & rainy days should be avoided… If it’s raining a little at the coast, it’s dumping in Wai’ale’ale. And hiking Wai’ale’ale in heavy rain is not fun… very dangerous, cold, no view.
Start extremely early. This way you’ll have time to jump in some of the innumerable gorgeous pools that line your route. Go in with an attitude of reverence… this is Sacred land, and you are blessed to have the opportunity to gently explore it. She is incredibly powerful, treat her like a goddess she is.
The trail is difficult to find. In particular, River crossings can be challenging to identify recently someone scratched all the rocks in the trail. There are places where you will need to step on a very particular rock in order to make safe progress… those are currently marked to anyone who has a really sharp eye. But if you’ve never gone before, then I highly recommend going with someone who has or an expert guide.
If your hiking skills are less than excellent or you have significant health problems, this is not the hike for you. If it was a ski slope, it would be rated black diamond.
Enjoy 🙏
Written November 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
afra b
Bern, Switzerland43 contributions
Waialeale, the wettest spot in the pacific !... Breathtaking, awesome, thrilling.... Flying into the crater looking at the many waterfalls, the splendid greens and the surreal landscape of a volcano long extinct ... An unforgettable helicopter ride is what anyone should experience...truly incredibly beautiful!!
Written February 25, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike O
Las Vegas, NV3,881 contributions
Nov 2016 • Couples
Mt. Waialeale is almost never seen from the resort and beach areas. It is almost always shrouded in clouds that produce rain and making it the wettest spot on earth. Most people view it via helicopter, or you can try Puu O Kila lookout. Early hours are usually the best. The clouds usually roll in late morning and early afternoon. If you are really adventurous there are trails from the lookout that take you through Alakai Swamp to Mt. Waialeale. I have heard people say that this is an amazing hike, but it is slippery and you will get wet.
Written June 8, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SoCalOregonian
Murrieta, CA10,355 contributions
Nov 2016 • Couples
Can be viewed from the Puu O Kila lookout across the Alakai Swamp, provided it is not covered in clouds. At the Puu O Kila lookout there is a directional sign pointing towards Wai'aleale. There is also a trail that leads from this lookout to Wai'aleale
Written November 19, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
QuickWhitTravel
Washington DC, DC3,776 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
Our view was unfortunately obstructed by the clouds and rain (imagine that!), but now we can say we have been to the wettest place in the world! Worth the trip through the canyon.
Written May 4, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CaptMorgan
Chula Vista, California, United States22 contributions
Mar 2013 • Couples
A little tough to get to, but well worth it. This is where they filmed part of Jurassic Park. Very wet and seems to rain all the time. Very lush and beautiful. Bring a plastic bag to protect your camera.
Written March 13, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thaward
The Villages, FL702 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
Mount Waialeale is in the center of the island of Kauai, and the top is seldom visible from the valleys and beaches below, due to the near constant cloud cover at the top. The best views are from helicopter island tours that fly around and over the island. With an elevation of just over 5,200 feet, the rising warm and moist air from the island condenses in the cooler area at the top of the mountain and creates a wet tropical mini climate where rain is nearly constant. Rain totals measure over 450 inches annually. The result is lush and tropical growth around the mountain, and water runoff and waterfalls through the Hanalei River to the north, which empties into the Hanalei Bay. It's an amazing ecosystem and ecological gem of the island.
Written July 30, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
keithlky
2,967 contributions
May 2017 • Solo
This is the wettest spot of earth and looks absolutely marvellous! The lush green sceneries with waterfalls everywhere is just great!
Written May 19, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bongo88
Alberta137 contributions
Sep 2016
We were able to see the crater of Waialeale from a helicopter, but I'm told there are also hiking trails for the younger and braver to experience this wonder! The walls of the crater are a continuous line of towering waterfalls fed by the more or less constant rain at the top! A misty, but amazing sight to see!!
Written September 30, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rob M
Escondido, CA2,839 contributions
Nov 2015 • Couples
Awesome site on the north side of Kauai. Been to the mountain many times, but you really need to take a helicopter ride to see the true beauty of the mountain with literally hundreds of waterfalls cascading down the steep cliffs all around.
Written February 26, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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