Magic Mountains and Sunsets in Kauai

The Sleeping Giant trail was my absolute favorite part of my visit to Kauai. We got up at sunrise to embark on our journey and drove about twenty minutes to the trailhead. Stopping along the way to eat clementines and sandwiches we made the night before, it took us about two hours to reach the top of Nounou mountain, where the views were absolutely stunning. The trek through the mud and rocks was absolutely worth it, though for next time I would definitely wear tennis shoes instead of sandals, as the Velcro on my TEVAs began to fail on the trek back down the mountain, making it very difficult to traverse the downhill climb. Our car also got stuck in the mud when we were pulling out of the parking lot, but a few pushes from the front of the car and a fast push in reverse got us out of there in no time. I would highly recommend this hike to anyone staying on the eastern side of the island.

While this was one of the more difficult hikes I've done in my life, the Waimea Canyons are unparalleled in their beauty and a must-see if you are traveling to Kauai. While I have never been to the Grand Canyons in the Midwestern United States, I imagine they must look something like these. 

On the way in, the hike descends about two miles to a stunning river, where we ate lunch and took in the views. The one downfall of the way this hike is designed is that the way back to the trailhead is completely uphill, and was even quite difficult for me, an avid hiker. You will have to take many breaks on the way back. However, I think the difficulty is well worth the experience you have on this hike. The canyons are absolutely stunning, and I wouldn't have missed them for the world.

We stayed our eight days in Kauai on the eastern coast. Thus, we enjoyed beautiful sunrises almost every morning during the trip but decided for New Year's Eve to drive to the western coast of the island to see the sunset. We arrived just on time and had some snacks on the beach before lighting up some sparklers and dancing around in the sand. While the sun was setting we tossed around a Frisbee and took in the amazing colors of the sunset. I thoroughly enjoyed the sounds of the ocean coming in and out as the sun was setting, and it was truly an unforgettable experience.