North America · United States
Kalalau Trail
Nā Pali Coast, Kauaʻi, Hawaii, USA
Hikes / North America / Kalalau Trail
Effort at this pace: Easy · about 3 mi (4 km) and 200 ft (61 m) of climbing a day over 4 days. Our grade for the days given, worked out from distance, climbing and altitude a day; it isn't the trail's usual difficulty rating (under Basics) and doesn't rate exposure, terrain or weather.
Where these numbers come from
Public sources, official ones first, each numbered and listed under Sources, checked Nov 2026. Anything they don't give is left out.
Relief map
The route
A coastal footpath along Kauaʻi's Nā Pali cliffs from Kēʻē Beach in Hāʻena State Park to Kalalau Beach, crossing five valleys. It passes Hanakāpīʻai and Hanakoa on the way and ends where sheer cliffs block the coast. NOTE: the State Parks notice of Nov 2 2026 says all Kauaʻi camping is closed.1,2
Route drawn from OpenStreetMap (Kalalau Trail, read Nov 2026). © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Terrain: Mapzen Terrain Tiles (SRTM, GMTED) on AWS. A sketch for planning, not for navigation.
Before you go
The basics
- Start
- Kēʻē Beach trailhead, Hāʻena State Park, at the end of Kūhiō Highway (Route 56)1
- Finish
- Kalalau Beach (return the same way)1
- Direction
- Out and back on the same trail; going past Hanakāpīʻai needs a camping permit, and the full round trip in one day without one is not allowed1
- Distance
- 11 miles one way, 22 miles round trip (Kēʻē to Hanakāpīʻai 2 mi, to Hanakoa 4 mi, to Kalalau 5 mi).1
- Days
- The 11 miles to Kalalau take most fit backpackers a full day each way; permits allow up to 5 nights.1
- Elevation gain
- 800 ft as the State Parks page gives it, including the steep 800 ft climb out of Hanakāpīʻai Valley.1
- Usual difficulty
- Rated difficult by State Parks: wet gulches, open ridgeline, narrow sections with big drops to the ocean, flash floods in the streams and little shade from Hanakoa to Kalalau1
- Best time
- Summer (May to October) has steady trade winds and passing showers; winter weather is less predictable and big surf strips much of Kalalau Beach. Permits sell out fastest in summer1,2
- Permits
- A Nā Pali Coast camping permit is required past Hanakāpīʻai: online at explore.ehawaii.gov or at a State Parks office, released 90 days ahead and often sold out months early; $35 per person per night for non-residents ($25 residents); 5 nights maximum, never two nights in a row at Hanakoa. Day hikers to Hanakāpīʻai need Hāʻena entry and parking reservations (gohaena.com); camping-permit holders show their permit instead. Overnight parking at Hāʻena is bought separately after the permit, up to 90 days ahead, billed per calendar day. As of the Nov 2 2026 notice, all Kauaʻi camping is closed, so check park notices first1,2
- Getting there
- Fly to Līhuʻe; Hāʻena State Park is about 41 miles (1½ hours) away by road. Overnight hikers use permit parking at Hāʻena, a shuttle or a drop-off; the Hāʻena shuttle runs from Waipā Park & Ride in Hanalei1,2,3
- Lodging
- Tent
Camping only, at Hanakāpīʻai, Hanakoa and Kalalau (behind the beach), with composting toilets but no tables or drinking water1
Bookings and permits
When bookings open, from the sources named under each. Dates move: confirm on the official site.
Nā Pali Coast camping permit (Kalalau)
Released 90 days ahead and often sold out months early. As of the Nov 2 2026 notice, all Kauaʻi camping was closed: check park notices first.
Opens a set time before your start date: make a plan with your dates to see yours.
Book on explore.ehawaii.gov.
Source: Hawaiʻi Division of State Parks: Kalalau Trail (official). Checked November 2026.
Alert me when bookings open
From the sources
Safety
Rescue numbers
- Emergency: 911 (ambulance, fire, police in the US)
- There are no emergency services on the trail: someone must hike out for help or signal a passing helicopter or boat
Insurance
- The UK government says medical treatment in the US is expensive and to have travel insurance that covers treatment, unexpected medical evacuation and repatriation
Source 6
From the sources below, checked Nov 2026. For planning, not navigation: check before you go.
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Typical: 2–6 days (the hike's facts).
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Planning questions about Kalalau Trail, answered only from this page's facts, the creators' versions and hikers' public tracks, with where each answer comes from. When the data doesn't say, the answer says "not given".
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Answered from the data
Questions people ask
How many days do you need for Kalalau Trail?
2–6 days. The 11 miles to Kalalau take most fit backpackers a full day each way; permits allow up to 5 nights.
From Hawaii DLNR Division of State Parks: Kalalau Trail (official), checked Nov 2026. [1]
How long is Kalalau Trail?
11 mi (17.7 km). 11 miles one way, 22 miles round trip (Kēʻē to Hanakāpīʻai 2 mi, to Hanakoa 4 mi, to Kalalau 5 mi).
From Hawaii DLNR Division of State Parks: Kalalau Trail (official), checked Nov 2026. [1]
When is the best time to hike Kalalau Trail?
May–Oct. Summer (May to October) has steady trade winds and passing showers; winter weather is less predictable and big surf strips much of Kalalau Beach. Permits sell out fastest in summer.
From Hawaii DLNR Division of State Parks: Kalalau Trail (official); Hawaii DLNR Division of State Parks: Nā Pali Coast State Wilderness Park (official), checked Nov 2026. [1] [2]
Do you need a permit for Kalalau Trail?
A Nā Pali Coast camping permit is required past Hanakāpīʻai: online at explore.ehawaii.gov or at a State Parks office, released 90 days ahead and often sold out months early; $35 per person per night for non-residents ($25 residents); 5 nights maximum, never two nights in a row at Hanakoa. Day hikers to Hanakāpīʻai need Hāʻena entry and parking reservations (gohaena.com); camping-permit holders show their permit instead. Overnight parking at Hāʻena is bought separately after the permit, up to 90 days ahead, billed per calendar day. As of the Nov 2 2026 notice, all Kauaʻi camping is closed, so check park notices first.
From Hawaii DLNR Division of State Parks: Kalalau Trail (official); Hawaii DLNR Division of State Parks: Nā Pali Coast State Wilderness Park (official), checked Nov 2026. [1] [2]
How do you get to Kalalau Trail?
Fly to Līhuʻe; Hāʻena State Park is about 41 miles (1½ hours) away by road. Overnight hikers use permit parking at Hāʻena, a shuttle or a drop-off; the Hāʻena shuttle runs from Waipā Park & Ride in Hanalei.
From Hawaii DLNR Division of State Parks: Kalalau Trail (official); Hawaii DLNR Division of State Parks: Nā Pali Coast State Wilderness Park (official); Hāʻena State Park reservations (official booking site), checked Nov 2026. [1] [2] [3]
Where do you sleep on Kalalau Trail?
Tent. Camping only, at Hanakāpīʻai, Hanakoa and Kalalau (behind the beach), with composting toilets but no tables or drinking water.
From Hawaii DLNR Division of State Parks: Kalalau Trail (official), checked Nov 2026. [1]
Sources
- Hawaii DLNR Division of State Parks: Kalalau Trail (official) · official · checked Nov 2026
- Hawaii DLNR Division of State Parks: Nā Pali Coast State Wilderness Park (official) · official · checked Nov 2026
- Hāʻena State Park reservations (official booking site) · official · checked Nov 2026
- www.gov.uk · official · checked Nov 2026
- dlnr.hawaii.gov · official · checked Nov 2026
- www.gov.uk · official · checked Nov 2026
Facts are written in our own words from these pages; nothing is copied. Rules, fees and closures change: check the official page before you go.