Hiking Sleeping Giant and The Lost Swing on Kauai

Feeling good after climbing to the top of the Sleeping Giant here in Kauai. Looking down at Wailua along the coast. I can see for miles from up here!

I always think that finding some good hiking trails can be one of the best ways to really get to know a new place. Since I was here exploring Kauai Island with Dan, I decided to take him on a few hikes. But first we had to decided which was to try out. I had remembered passing one called the Sleeping Giant during our driving tour, so we decided to go check that one out first. It was just perfect for what we were looking for. It is relatively short, but a good climb, and wonderful views from ontop.

We took the West trailhead, which meant a 2 mile, round trip distance. It also meant we would be climbing about 725ft in elevation. The trail starts at the back of this neighborhood, and a typical rainshower greeted us as we drove up. We were a little worried about the trail being very muddy, but only the first part stayed slippery. We quickly climbed into a grove of Cook Island pine trees. Then a bit of rock climbing and scrambling before reaching the peak. The view was ok, a little blocked by foliage, but then we realized that there were more peaks, connected by a narrow ridgeline trail. We climbed higher to some epic viewpoints, like the one pictured above. I highly advise hiking and photography enthusiast to try out this quick, fun hike, when exploring Kauai.

Then we checked out the Likelike waterfall hike. We ran into a lot of no parking and anti-tourists signs in the neighborhood, so we kept going to another hike, called the secret swing hike. This led us on a relatively flat trail, between two farms, deeper into the forested interior of the island. We eventually got into the Forest Reserve, where the views were lush and beautiful. We found the swing, which was the perfect turnaround spot. This was a very easy hike, about 3 miles roundtrip, and with only 385ft elevation gain. We powered through it in about an hour.

We had to get back to our base of adventures, the Kauai Inn, so we could meet up with a couple of UnCruise guests that we ran into, also staying there. Bill and Chris has just spent a week with me, cruising through the southern islands on the Safari Explorer. I knew this was our kind of place!

Drone overhead shot of our beautiful base of adventure, the Kauai Inn.

Our lodge was located near this river, which you can kayak up and explore, and nestled beneath these picturesque mountains.

Everywhere feels so lush here in Kauai. It is the oldest island, and the often the wettest.

View from the beginning of our hike. A light rain had just passed, which made the trail a little slick, but it stayed away for the rest of our hike, luckily.

Hiking out to the hidden swing along this lush ridgeline. This hike took us deeper towards the wet, center of the island.

Our view in the morning from the Kauai Inn. They provide a wonderful breakfast around the pool.

Getting higher atop the Sleeping Giant. The views get better and better from this short, but steep hike.

Beginning of the Nounou Mt West Trail, also known as the sleeping giant.

Breakfast and a show. This male peacock was on full display for a nearby female at the Kauai Inn. The female was more interested in my bagel than in him, though.

Swing with a view. The hike along the ridge culminated in this majestic view. And what better way to soak it in than while swinging out over the edge on this cool tree swing?

There were a few parts of the sleeping giant ridgeline that you needed to have four points of contact.

Hiking out to the Secret Swing.

Part of the Sleeping Giant west trail takes you through this cook island pine forest.

The clouds parted to give us this amazing view towards the middle of the island from atop the Sleeping Giant.

We had to scramble and rock climb a bit on this section of the trail.

The secret swing trail is known as the Moalepe Trail.

and it looks like this.

The beginning of the west Sleeping Giant trail was a bit slippery and rutted. We were a little worried the whole trail might be like this.

Dan, bringing the hiking determination.

Panorama from the top.

View down into the valley. We were looking down at some white tailed tropic birds flying below us.

As always, keep traveling and keep posting. -Dai Mar