Relax in a shallow mountain pool as the beautiful Uluwehi Falls, locally known as Secret Falls, cascades from 100 feet above you. Snap photos of this picturesque destination, which will surely be one of the highlights of your Kauai trip.
Surrounded by lush green plant life in the Wailua River Basin, this waterfall will require a substantial amount of effort to reach. Despite its name and location, however, don’t let the name “Secret Falls” lead you to believe that you’ll have the waterfall to yourself. Secret Falls is well known by locals and travelers, and there are several kayak tours that will keep people flowing in and out of the area. However, if you’re up for a kayaking adventure with a beautiful waterfall as an end reward, it’s still well worth the paddle.
Tours at the Secret Falls
If you don’t want to worry about doing the navigating yourself, there are several tour companies that run kayak tours to the falls, such as Kayak Kauai and Outfitters Kauai. The tours provide lunch as well as a knowledgeable guide to navigate and share interesting information about the surrounding area. If you’re feeling adventurous and would like to head out on your own, kayak rentals from these companies are also an option.
Location
You’ll need to be prepared to paddle approximately 45 minutes each way, followed by a 20-minute walk through the Wailua River Valley to reach Secret Falls Kauai. Start out at the boat ramp on Kuamoo Rd. After paddling for about 30 minutes upstream, you’ll come to the Kamokila Hawaiian Village on your right, and then the river will fork. Take the fork to the right and stop at the Fern Grotto for a short break. Paddling on from the Fern Grotto, the water will become too shallow to continue. Pull your kayak far out of the river on the right side and secure your boat and paddle to be sure you don’t get left stranded! Follow the trail along the right side of the riverbank until you come to a river crossing where you’ll see a long yellow rope, which you can use for balance as you cross. Once across the river, you’ll continue along the trail until you reach Secret Falls. After stopping here for a snack and plenty of photo ops, you’ll retrace your steps and paddle back downstream. Paddling downstream can be deceivingly difficult as you often have to contend with trade winds.
Contact Us
Staying at one of our east coast vacation rentals, such as Banyan Harbor, will put you just ten minutes away from the Wailua River, the gateway to your Secret Falls Kauaiexperience. Whether you have questions about where to stay and what to do, or you’d like to make a reservation at one of the many rentals we have across the island, we are here to help you. Please contact us at 800-215-9880 or info@arrivednow.com, or find more information throughout our website.
