Waimea Canyon: the Grand Canyon of the Pacific on Kauai

We were so lucky to get a clear morning at the top of Waimea Canyon here on Kauai. Looks at this view! Kalalau Valley expands below us, all the way to the ocean. This is where the famous Na Pali coast trail ends, 11 miles later. If you aren't going to hike into it, standing above it is the next best thing. And you can just drive up Waimea Canyon, park, and this view is only a few steps away from the parking lot.

Last time I was on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, I missed the opportunity to drive up to Waimea Canyon. The rain and low clouds had settled in by the time I was there. So this time, it was high on my list. I was there with a film crew, getting material for an UnCruise Adventures promotional film for a new land-based extension for our Hawaii cruise. After coming with us on a seven day expedition cruise to the Big Island, Maui, Molokai, and Lanai, guests could then opt to fly to Kauai for an extra five night package. We needed to get all of Kauai's best attractions and adventures for the promotional film, so our first stop was the famous Waimea Canyon.

It is called the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific", and in some places is over 3,000ft deep. Rivers slowly carve away at its bottom, as do waterfalls and rain on its sides. There was also a tectonic fault that opened and deepend the canyon as well. Just like the Grand Canyon, you can drive along the rim, stopping at different overlooks along the way. Once you get to the very top, you find yourself on a ridge, with a high elevation bog on one side, and the Na Pali coast on the other. Hidden valleys spread out beneath you, all the way to the Pacific ocean. If you are lucky enough to catch this on a clear day, like today, then you will feel like you are up in a helicopter, getting a birds eye view of the island.

Check out these jagged cliffs and beautiful views from our trip up Waimea Canyon.

Dirk and Denee, trekking along the rim above Waimea Canyon and the Na Pali coastline.

Beautiful overlook of Kalalau Valley from the top of Waimea Canyon State Park.

At the top of Waimea Canyon lies a high elevation bog. It is one of the wettest places in the world, and contains the only native orchid to the Hawaiian islands.

The fern life here on top of the canyon was amazing. It was so green, especially contrasting with the red soil.

Looking across at the clouds rolling in over part of the ridgeline.

As we kept hiking farther along the ridge above Waimea Canyon, our views kept changing. Someone put down an offering at this viewpoint.

Another beautiful overlook from Waimea Canyon State Park.

Kauai is the best island for finding the Hawaiian state bird, the nene goose. Here they were walking right near one of the overlooks.

There are several canyon overlooks along the drive up that are worth stopping at. Some points of Waimea canyon are 3,000ft deep. They don't call it the Grand Canyon of the Pacific for nothing.

Nature and the elements have had over five million years to carve out this deep canyon, along with some tectonic shifting.

One of the beautiful overlooks along the drive.