Hawaii Has A Magnificent Swamp Trail And You'll Definitely Want To Hike It
By Megan Shute|Published July 11, 2016
×
Megan Shute
Author
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
The Hawaiian Islands are home to pristine beaches in a variety of colors, majestic mountain peaks, lush valleys, and incredible vistas everywhere you look. But the islands are also home to landscapes you might not expect: redwood forests, snow-capped mountains, and even swamplands. Nestled in the heart of Koke’e State Park, just north of Waimea Canyon, is the Alakai Swamp, a truly one-of-a-kind Hawaiian landscape.
Koke'e State Park sprawls over 4,300 acres, and contains approximately 45 miles of hiking trails along canyon rims, and through native Hawaiian forests. While one could spend weeks exploring this incredible park, if you're short on time, the Alakai Swamp Trail is a must-visit.
Most people start the trail at the Pu'u o Kila Lookout, meander along the Pihea Summit Trail, and traverse approximately 3.5 miles of boardwalk through a unique wet forest, and a boggy swamp.
Construction on the boardwalk began in 1991 in order to minimize the impact of hikers on this incredible landscape, and is comprised of redwood planks outfitted with chicken wire to provide much-needed traction.
The enchanting swampland gets approximately 70 inches of rainfall annually, often between the months of October and May, so you better start planning your trip!
Can you believe that only 600 people hike the Alakai Swamp Trail every month? If you’re looking for an easier Kauai hike, check out the Wai Koa Loop Trail, or any of these 11 incredible hikes under five miles found throughout the islands.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
