Nounou Trail

Jun 11, 2007 7:42PM

This is a great hike to do right in town. Gives you perspective on all of East Kauai. Feels great to go jump in the water at Lydgate afterwards.

Jun 15, 2007 6:58AM

AWESOME addition (trails) and thank you! :) This is a great hike. Can get VERY slippery during/after rains. Would recommend to do this is the earlier part of day (hot!). For those of you brave (or foolish) you can hike past the picnic benches, and traverse the neck of the giant, up the chin. VERY STEEP DROP and a slip most likely will result in DEATH. A NO WAY for kids~ but for an adult with good balance (can be windy) and guts...... unparalleled beauty! (Neither myself nor anyone associated with this site will be held accountable if you choose to go beyond picnic benches and sustain any injury/death. Proceed solely at your own risk).

Jun 16, 2007 2:46PM

My apologies. I thought the later part of the trail was marked & a human trail~ that's why I continued on. Maybe a sign should be erected stating that people should not continue on? (I am not implying liability, just a suggestion since it appears to be a continuation of the trail). I sincerely did not mean to offend. Mahalo! -Karen

Jun 17, 2007 8:42AM

I did this hike last Dec. '06 with my father. It was a puffer all the way up, easy to come down. We both went across the neck and I continued up the chin part, not my father. How far up does it go? It was to slippery for me as I loaned my hiking shoes to my mother and was on tennis shoes. She quit about halfway up anyway. I just couldn't see continuing up when it was so slippery and steep, especially coming down those steps. Are they goat trails?

Jul 29, 2007 3:15PM

After reading the great beach reports I noticed the trails report. This is the best website for finding out exactly what I need to know.
I plan on taking this hike and staying on the marked path, thank you very much. An explanation of where to park would be helpful.

Michael

Aug 07, 2007 9:24PM

I have been trail running Nounou the past couple weeks (four times so far). The run up is definitely a workout as it is almost completely up hill but it is totally worth it. There are a few shortcuts that shorten the switchbacks but be careful - some dont lead back to the main trail. The very top of the mountain (past the picnic area) is neat to visit and allows you to say that you summited the mountain but it doesnt offer very good aerial views. You are better off going to the second highest point on the mountain. The passage is a little narrow but the view of Wailua Homesteads, Kapaa, and Lihue off in the distance cannot be beat. After enjoying the view at the top, the run down the mountain is excellent. You can run around the switchbacks and bank your turns as if you were mountain biking. Even when the trail is not wet, the loose rock/gravel can foul you up. Just use good footwork and you will be fine.

Sep 19, 2007 8:25PM

If you go up after 4PM then take a flashlight. It can get dark faster than you think after sunset and the last 1/4 mile at the bottom is particularly dark because of the tree canopy. My daughter was slower than I anticipated and we got caught after sunset once. The twilight was adequate in the middle of the trail but we had to feel our way by hand as we approached the bottom. It wasn't life threatening but it was frustrating. I had taken the trail dozens of times but the last 1/4 mile took over 20 minutes that evening.

It is a great trail to take on your last day after you have checked out of the hotel and you are hanging around until your 8PM flight. You can shower at Lydgate after the hike. Quick folks can do it in 2 hours round trip, slow folks may take 4 hours.

There is a deceptive switch back about half way up that many people miss. You are walking along along a moderate dirt grade to the south after you break out of the initial tree canopy, then the trail takes a steep staircase climb in the opposite direction to the north through a rocky outcropping. So many people miss this turn and continue on to the south, that there is a false continuation of the trail for a short distance to the south. If the trail looks like it is fading out then you missed the turn, BACKTRACK! A friend of mine in his 50's fell off the trail and broke his leg in this area. Luckily he had a cell phone with him or he might still be there.

Oct 24, 2007 7:12AM

My husband and I hiked this trail on 10/21/07. We started a little after 9 and finished a bit before noon. I would suggest going earlier -- maybe starting at 7 because the sun blasts down on you. Take lots of water.
The view is beautiful throughout the entire trail. Even doing half the trail would be worth it. It did get a bit long. (My husband and I are in our 30\'s and in good physical health although I personally haven\'t exercised for almost a year.) When you get to the picnic area, there is a lookout, but it\'s not 360 degrees. We enjoyed a sandwich on the picnic table and continued on the trail (we weren\'t going to because KE staff stated it was a goat trail but all the other hikers on the trail said it was part of the trail). To the head of Nounou is maybe less than 10 min and is a gorgeous 360 view.

Jan 03, 2008 8:24PM

My boyfriend did this hike the day I was flying back to Oahu. We thought it would be easy (according to some websites) but come to find out was mildly difficult. Should be done early because it does get very hot and there wasn't much cover. My favorite part of the hike was the strawberry guava (Only eat it if you know what it is) that I stored by the handful and the view from the picnic area. (The bench there is pretty cool too.) Not for weak ankles; thankfully I wore my brace on this hike. It was a lot of fun and a great workout.

Jan 20, 2008 5:09PM

just to clarify - there's multiple ways up - east side with small parking lot off Haleilio, west side with 2 separate small parking areas and south side (least used) with no real parking. At the fake top, where the shelter and picnic table, is you can then proceed to the real top (USGS marker) that isn't too difficult or scary. Nice views from a rocky outcropping before you get to the real top which is a little disappointing. Also a little trail off to the left onto the giant's chin which is the part everyone worries about. Narrow, rocky. A fall means death. Nice views. I never go up there if anyone else is there - don't trust 'em. Less scary but thin trail on west side of this knife edge to the hole in the chin. Fall=injury but not death.

Feb 28, 2008 3:53PM

We did the hike to the "secret falls" after kayaking up the Wialua River . I haven't seen anything at this site about that hike, which is one of our favorite hikes. The fun of kayaking and the fun of hiking IN the water as we crossed several streams to get to the 120ft. waterfall makes this hike very memorable.

Mar 14, 2008 1:54AM

Why is there a picture of a bikini clad blond child in the middle of the trail?

Mar 26, 2008 3:30PM

Great site for beach and trails, but which website is good for mtn biking Kauai? We arrive in a week and I'd like to rent a bike.

Jul 05, 2008 12:30PM

We hiked the East Trail of Nounou last month with our 9 year old son. We got started close to noon and it was hot but not difficult. Took us about two hours to get to the picnic table and 1.5 hours back down. There were great views of the ocean, and much of the trail was shaded. We loved the hala trees and other beautiful plants along the way. It was great to have a snack at the top! I have some photos I would be happy to send if you let me know how.

Jul 31, 2008 7:45PM

I\'ve hiked this trail three times. The first time was with two friends (we\'re young men in our 20\'s, so despite not being super fit we handled it pretty well). They led me to the \"chin\" which is tricky/dangerous to walk in one part (you gotta lean against the mountain to avoid falling into the forest far below), but has a very small cave tunnel that catches an incredible, non-stop breeze. I recommend it as a rest-stop if you\'re brave enough. If you\'re curious about the \"forehead\" of the mountain, it\'s just a short hike further, but not that interesting.

Overall I did pretty much the entire hike while carrying a camera/bag in one hand (even when climbing over rocks), so to the average young adult this is an easy hike. The trail is short enough, with enough occasional tree coverage from sunlight, that you don\'t need to bring water if you\'re well hydrated to start with. But bring a pint to a liter of water if you can. Also note that the trail zigzags a lot, with narrow shortcuts through the brush that can be a lil hard to squeeze through. Try to just stay on the main trail.

The other two times I hiked the trail (only halfway up) was with a group of about a dozen kids and two other adults. 3-4 suffered minor scratches/injuries, mainly due to going too quickly on the way down the trail, or attempting the lil shortcut trails. Be sure to supervise your kids very well if you bring them along.

Aug 17, 2008 9:12PM

I discovered your website before my trip to Kauai last week and it was a great resource for our activities. My wife and I hiked the trail August 10 and it was a great hike. We went up the east trail and stopped at the picnic tables. There were a couple of tricky places where we had to climb some rocks, but overall was a great experience. We got there early and avoided the heat and had the mountain to ourselves. We passed quite a few hikers on the way back.

Oct 24, 2008 4:52PM

My wife and I (both 62years old) are from the Seattle area and this was mentioned to us as a "Great Warm-up" hike to take. I agree it was a very nice hike but we took it on Sept 17, 2008 beginning in the late morning. It was a very hot experience to which we weren't accustomed. It hit 95 on our thermometer that we on our pack so it kind of drained us. As someone said earlier take it in the early morning when it is cooler. Otherwise, great hike with great views of East Kauai and some unusual foliage along the route.

Feb 12, 2009 5:19AM

Are there more hikes to water falls or pools? Are they not official trails? How do we find them? From what I've learned so far about Kauai they have lots of waterfalls but I have not seen many ways to get to them. Besides helicopter. Arriving in March and want to make the most of our trip. By far the most helpful website I've found. Thanks

Mar 01, 2009 5:47PM

Took this hike 02/27/09 in the late morning. Conditions were VERY windy, but this helped keep things cool.
Moderate is a good classification of this particular hike, I would not attempt if not in good physical condition, however, you do not need to be Superman either.
Be sure to keep looking ahead and stay on the paths. There are a lot of "Y's" with no indicators which way to go.
Be careful along the "spine" it is narrow, but not impassable.
We came across an elderly couple, stranded on an outcrop and could not get down nor go back the way they came. After a little finessing we were able to help them down.
Took my wife and I a little more than 2 hours to get to the top, that included frequent photo taking and looking at the spectacular views.
Take some water and take your time. The views of the island are incredible.
Good all around hike.

Apr 25, 2009 6:43AM

Hi
My 2nd graders just finished studying the rainforests, and would like to spend a day hiking the Kauai rainforest.
What trail(s) would you recomend for a couple of strong 8 year old Hapa twins?
We would be on island for a thursday 4-30-09 hike.
Thanks

Jun 05, 2009 4:34AM

This trail is right behind my house and I love it! It is steep on the way up but there are some truely beautiful moments throughout the trail.
I went beyond the pinic area to the highest point in the trail and the 360 view of Lihue Kapaa and the Homesteads was worth it. This section of the trail is NOT for the inexperienced and NOT for children. I would only suggest going on a dry day, and only if you are confident.
I have some pictures I would submit, but need instructions in doing so.
Thanks for the website!!!

Jun 16, 2009 4:39AM

I am an ultramarathoner (very strong) and I hike with my baby in a backpack. This trail sounds good except the narrow/knife-edge part. How far up the trail is that part?

Jun 25, 2009 5:10PM

You mentioned that there would be a new site that includes a waterfalls section coming out in March. How do I find that site? I do not see a waterfall section on this one. We will be in Kauai in Nov and would love to hike to a waterfall. We are staying at the Kauai Coast Resort at the Beachboy. What path would you recommend?

Aug 12, 2009 8:00AM

We made the ascent 4x last year - 2x in one day (I forgot my glasses at the hole in the chin....oops). Anyway, on one of our trips up the giant, we left before dawn, climbed the east trail and other than being attacked by the biggest moth I have ever seen it was a great experience (my wife says I scream like a little girl!). Sunrise was spectacular, the whole island woke up at our feet and we had the mountain to ourselves. I have never felt more at peace.

My question is - Did we violate any rules about use of the park, we plan to do this again in Sept. when we return, but, not if it is against the rules.

Note: I DO NOT recomend this for the beginner or the ill prepaired. Predawn hikes are very dangerous and should NOT be attempted by just anyone. Know your limitations, bring your gear. We are from the northwest and do a bit of spelunking (cave hiking) so we come prepaired. Also, we have hiked up the giant so many times we could do it blindfolded. OK maybe not but we are very familiar with the trail.

Dec 13, 2009 12:26AM

Took this trail with my wife this year and it was fun! Didn't see the Goat trail at all and used took to the Human trails...

Dec 24, 2009 5:33AM

A good hike. Can easily take upto 3 hours to complete. A few steep climbing areas but it\'s not hard to complete. It\'s better to descend before sunset because it gets dark pretty fast in winters.

Dec 24, 2009 6:11AM

Can you please tell me of the 10 Hiking sites you show on your map which of them would only be accessible with a 4 wheel drive car.

Many Thanks

Mick

Jan 04, 2010 3:04AM

This was the last hike I took with my then five year old on my back. I about burst a lung. The guide said it was "risky", which is why she was on my back. Well the marked trail was hardly all that risky; just steep in places, with a couple of "use your hands" spots. So she hiked down on her own. We went to the beach after we were done, I spotted a young couple with a child in tow, who looked fit, and like they could use a nice carrier, and gave it to them. ;-)

Jan 04, 2010 3:16AM

FWIW, I remember the "goat trails" at the end. Don't do that. We rock climb in my family and even really good climbing granite can "get you". Stuff that breaks away (like lava on this trail) is a crap shoot. You might get away with it, but there is a good chance that - no matter how skilled you think you are (if you are really skilled you don't do that) - it might break off and you get to experience a sudden stop (falls don't kill - sudden stops do).

My .02

Jul 31, 2010 5:23PM

My wife and I are in decent but not great cardiovascular shape and did the hike in less than 3 hours with many stops to take pics and to hang out at the picnic area as well as the tip of the mountain. AWESOME view from the top, though a little scary for those not used to heights. At the very top, one false step could spell disaster--please be ultra careful.

A lot of fun with some steep areas. Probably not great for young children (less than 5) unless you are willing and able to strap them to yourself while you climb. I did see a young local girl up at the top with her dad--she was probably around 7 or 8 yo, but it may not be fair to extrapolate her experience to your child's.

Aug 07, 2010 11:08PM

I will be in Kauai in November with my 12 year old son and a friend who will be wearing her baby in a pack. We would like to go on a hike and I've been looking for something doable for my group but with maximum rewards. Which do you think would be best for us: Sleeping Giant or Maha'ulepu? Or I welcome any other suggestions. Thank you.

Sep 01, 2010 9:22PM

I just hiked this trail yesterday for the first time. I moved here a couple months ago and decided yesterday to hike this trail. I live in Wailua so I took the kuamoo/west trail. I remember going up a point on the mountain that was kind of like a ledge and a big fall to the left before I got to the top picnic area. I didn't continue on past the little shelter or bench with RESPECT on it. Was the ledge I came across on the way up to there the one you guys are talking about? I'm not a big fan of heights but it didn't bother me at all. Or is the ledge on up past that bench and shelter area at the top on the goat trail?

Oct 27, 2010 3:36AM

Hiked East Trail - enjoyed it, good, quick workout - be sure to add the segment past the picnic tables to the facial features of the Giant - worth it and not truly as daunting as the description would lead one to believe - at least for experienced hikers in good condition. One word of caution - at the point where there is a trail post [half ripped off and not readable], go up what looks like a short cut and then go to the right, and proceed, going down for a bit before turning back up up on the trail - going straight is apparently no longer maintained and this 'detour' replaces it even though not clearly marked. I also took a 'use trail' near this and coulda/shoulda kept going - I saw later where it intersected the regular trail but it is steep, not well used and has some steep areas - so this is only for the experienced hikers - but if you do take it, enjoy.

Jan 13, 2011 4:46PM

My husband, son (11 1/2 yrs. ) & I are visiting Kauai the first week of Feb. 2011. We all plan on doing lots of hiking :) My husband is a ultra trail runner and he's planning on running the Na Pali, 11 mile trail, in one day.
A. does he need a campers permit to run the whole way, even though he's not camping?
B. can we order maps of the Kauai trails now so we can study them before we arrive?
C. is there a local network of trail runners on the Island that my husband could connect with?
Thanks, we are looking forward to our adventure :)

Apr 11, 2011 6:25PM

A descent hike through some interesting woods but you are basically backing onto a subdivision along the the whole route, and since it was a Sunday the lovely sounds of lawnmowers and whipper-snippers filled the air.
The hike encircles the hill and after walking for about 1.5 miles we looked down a small hill and looked at our vehicle, but if you\'re looking for something close to Kappa, then this one works.

Jun 17, 2011 6:24AM

Nice little trail run from the hotel. Watch the dampness and roots for slipping. After the picnic area, be careful if you want to go up to the "chin."

Phiia

Apr 28, 2012 7:33PM

First, I love the socks. And, Mama Earth has never looked more beuatiful than she does in those pictures :) Thank you for sharing them!

May 02, 2012 2:13PM

Hiked up the front to the pavillion at the top in 29 min and 53 sec. Nice. Good challenge for speed hiking workout.

Rebecca Snow

May 19, 2012 12:18PM

Just hiked (almost) this trail....washed out areas of the trail made it kind of treacherous! (May 6, 2012)

Jen

May 28, 2013 3:41PM

I just did this hike and took a wonderful companion for a day trip from the humane society. Anyone on vacation who is a dog lover, I highly recommend visiting there. They provide you with everything you need and a wonderful companion for the day :)

Jun 25, 2013 9:01AM

We are planning to do this trail with my husband and my 9 months daughter. Any advice if I should do it or should I pick an easier trail?
if not any other suggestions??

Aug 07, 2013 9:08PM

My family lives on the backside of Sleeping Giant abutting the trail. Most of the time it is enjoyable for us listening to hikers. It is only disturbing at night when it sounds like hikers are inside our home as we try to sleep. Serously. Night hikers also chance falls and injury from exposed rocks, tree roots, and slippery dirt; possible in daylight but dangerous at night with only a flashlight. Be careful, be considerate, and enjoy our beautiful mountain! Aloha.

Sep 19, 2013 8:11PM

Just a good word of advice to anyone visiting our island doing outdoor activities such as hiking. Stay on all marked and designated hiking trails. Also follow all signs and never wonder or explore these "short cuts" that people have been mentioning. The biggest thing that gets people hurt on these trails are their egos and poor decision making skills. If you do hear recommendations from anyone take into account their credibility. Some of us locals that have been here for generations would not recommend our visitors to go on some of these trails. And as many people mentioned above, always have more than enough water with you and if possible always hike or venture with a friend or family member. Safety first, take care and god bless everyone.

Jan 26, 2014 11:58AM

Hiked NouNou last week. Am I wrong in thinking there is a view NORTHWARD to Sleeping Giant but the NouNou trail is on a different mountain? Or is the picture I have from NouNou towards the north with the distant two peaks (looking like a gaping mouth) something different?

Dec 29, 2014 10:12AM

We have been doing this hike yearly for about 6 years. This year it was very evident of the destruction and trail erosion due to people taking the shortcuts across the switchbacks. In one area the trail was completely washed out making this trail more dangerous and not what I would call family hardy any longer. Please be respectful of the environment and stay on the trail. We all want to continue to enjoy this beautiful place. Have fun and be safe.

Oct 20, 2015 8:52AM

We hike this trail regularly, usually to the picnic tables but sometimes all the way to the top. Now there is a sign posted right on the trail, just past the picnic tables, stating END OF TRAIL. From there on the climb gets much steeper and scarier. Obviously the State does not want people on that part of the mountain, and I can understand why: Very Steep Drops

Mar 16, 2016 9:38PM

My mother lives right off Haleileo and sees EMS heading up to the trail almost weekly. This hike is beautiful but please be careful as even the most avid of hikers can get hurt!

Aug 13, 2016 6:04PM

I am planning on doing some backpacking in Kauai but am not sure what permits are required or areas where it is aloud. Any recommendations or advice?