The Hawaiian island of Kauai contains one the wettest spots on earth, so its no surprise its mountains are littered with epic waterfalls. Some require months of training to hike to and others you can see by just pulling your car off the side of the road. If you like your waterfalls with a side of minimal effort, check out the Opaekaa Falls Lookout.
Opaekaa Falls is located just outside of Wailua on the east side of Kauai. It is 140 feet of whitewater eye candy. There are several other roadside waterfalls, like Wailua Falls, but the combination of size, crowds, ease of getting to, and overall scenery makes Opaekaa Falls Lookout the best on Kauai.
Best time to Visit
The falls flow year round so there isn’t a bad time to see the falls.
Helpful Tips
Tour Buses: If you find people annoying, wait for the tour buses to leave. The buses don’t stay long so once they leave you will usually have the place to yourself.
Views of the Wailua River: Cross the street at the crosswalk for a great view of the Wailua River. Remember to look both ways when crossing like your parents taught you.
A Ridiculous Amount of Chickens: Kauai’s Wild Chicken population is no joke. If you want to see hundreds of chickens at once there is a scenic lookout just a few hundred feet east of the waterfall lookout along Kuamoo Road. Beware they could care less about you and will block your car in.
Directions to Opaekaa Falls Lookout
The lookout is easy to find. Check out the Map below for directions. There is a good size parking lot at the lookout so finding a spot is a breeze.
If you are looking for a little more challenging waterfall experience try hiking to Hoopii Falls.
Chad can be summed up by his idea of a perfect day: Waking up early to watch the sunrise over the mountains, warm cup of coffee in hand then grabbing his camera and fly rod, hitting the trail to explore some uncharted territory followed by cold beers and campfire steaks. Chad is often joined on his adventures by his wife, Tori, and their dog, Kona.
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