Koke\u2018e State Park offers sweeping views of some of the most gorgeous vistas on Kaua\u2018i.<\/p>\n
From the red chasms of Waimea Canyon State Park to the lush valleys of the N\u0101 Pali Coast, you don\u2019t want to miss taking a scenic tour of this pristine region of the Garden Isle.<\/p>\n
To get here, take Kaumuali\u2018i Highway to Waimea Canyon Drive and follow the road up the steep incline until it intersects with Koke\u2018e Road. Continue on this road, and it will take you through Waimea Canyon State Park until reaching Koke\u2018e State Park at about mile marker 14.<\/p>\n
Stop and treat yourself to the many different landscapes along the way, including phenomenal views of Waipo\u2018o Falls plunging 800 feet into the ravine below\u2014there are plenty of places to pull over and snap pictures.<\/p>\n
Just be aware of other drivers as you do so.<\/p>\n
Once Koke\u2018e State Park begins, so do a plethora of more visual treats. The pinnacle, however, is at the end of the road after mile marker 18 where the clouds cling to your car and a crisp mist settles in the air. The lookout here, Pu\u2018u o Kila, offers one of the best perspectives of Kalalau, a N\u0101 Pali Coast valley where native Hawaiians once resided. Elevated around 3,600 above sea level, you\u2019ll get a bird\u2019s eye view of this tropical beauty as its fluted peaks surround you in an epic embrace.<\/p>\n
You can experience even more hidden wonders of Koke\u2018e State Park by embarking on a hike. Enchanting forests dripping in native ferns and decorated with \u2018ohia<\/em> trees frequented by Hawaiian honeycreepers are part of this adventuresome allure.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got strong legs, the Nu\u02bbalolo Trail (between mile markers 15 and 16) or the \u2018Awa\u2018awapuhi Trail (located at mile marker 17) are a perfect fit. These two trails, each more than six miles long, are deceivingly easy during the first leg but require a strenuous ascent on the way back. Still, the midway views are spectacular and perhaps some of the best the N\u0101 Pali Coast has to offer.<\/p>\n Even though you\u2019ll need to fill your vehicle with a full tank of gas before journeying to this west side attraction, there is little doubt this trip is worth the time and effort.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Koke\u2018e State Park offers sweeping views of some of the most gorgeous vistas on Kaua\u2018i. From the red chasms of Waimea Canyon State Park to the lush valleys of the N\u0101 Pali Coast, you don\u2019t want to miss taking a scenic tour of this pristine region of the Garden Isle. Take the Road Through Waimea…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":109,"featured_media":123676,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3908],"tags":[2447],"class_list":["post-41860","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kauai-nature-parks","tag-hiking"],"yoast_head":"\n