Waimea Canyon State Park

Our Readers' Favorite Islands in Hawaii of 2023

"Waimea Canyon on Kauai is not quite as big as the Grand Canyon but offers similarly grand vistas." - Travel + Leisure Editors

Alternatives to the Traditional Honeymoon

"A canyon park known for its impressive vistas and hiking trails, commonly paired with other island activities like snorkeling and coastal sightseeing for a varied outdoor itinerary." - Chadner Navarro Chadner Navarro Chadner Navarro is a writer and editor who specializes in travel, food, design, and culture. He was born in Manila, grew up in New Jersey, and travels often. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

Cheap Hawaii Vacations: How to Take Your Dream Trip for Less

"A craggy chasm over 10 miles long and up to 3,500 feet deep in Kauai, offering extraordinary vistas. Visitors can stay up top or hike through the canyon floor alongside the Waimea River." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"Waimea Canyon Often described as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, this 10-mile-long Kauai valley is a kaleidoscopic array of scarlet earth, verdant valleys, and raw volcanic crags. Bands of color streak the corrugated landscape, each representing a different eruption and layer of lava. Waimea Canyon Drive has a series of lookouts; among the most popular is Waimea Canyon (past the Mile 10 marker on Highway 550), where a number of rivers once cascaded down the gently sloping shield volcano. When part of its flank collapsed, the rivers combined with dramatic results. Continue into the mountains to explore Koke'e State Park beyond. Its small, free museum contains a 3-D map, which sheds light on the canyon's wild beauty, while the gift shop specializes in local art, crafts, and Niihau shell jewelry."

"That same day we also went to Waimea Canyon State Park, which was epic. There’s a huge canyon and you can drive up to a little viewpoint called Waimea Canyon lookout. You drive up to the lookout and you can see the huge gaping canyon."