Kayak
A kayak plus hike excursion, either on a guided tour or on your own, is the only way to visit the 120-foot Secret Falls, Kauai.
There is no legal road access to the Secret Falls trailhead, so prepare to access via the waters of the Wailua River!
In this article we will tell you all about the Wailua River paddle and how to prepare for an enjoyable excursion.
Quick Stats for the Secret Falls Kauai Wailua River Paddle
Length: About 2 miles each way, out and back
Difficulty Level: Moderate
What to Expect on the Wailua River Paddle
The Wailua River is usually a placid river. It is one of the largest rivers on Kauai, and the only river in Hawaii that can be traversed by craft larger than kayaks. In fact, you can take a motorized boat cruise on the river to Fern Grotto and back.
For the Secret Falls excursion, if you have joined a guided tour, your tour company will advise you where to meet and then take you to the kayak launching point on the river.
You can also rent a kayak and do a self-guided Secret Falls hike. If you plan to visit on your own, check with your kayak rental shop about where to launch. Usually you can drop your craft in the water at the launching area of Wailua River State Park, right opposite the Wailua River Marina.
Once you are on the river, you will paddle upstream to the small beach where the Secret Falls hike begins.
On a guided tour, your guide will lead, otherwise, just paddle towards the mountains. If you rent a kayak, your outfitter will provide you with a hard copy waterproof map of the river if you ask.
Paddling upstream on the usually calm Wailua River is actually easier than the return paddle, since on the way to the hike you are assisted by a trade wind blowing inland.
The scenery on either side of the river is splendid, with lush green vegetation that includes swaying coconut palms.
At the fork in the river, take the right fork for the Secret Falls trailhead. The clearing where kayaks are beached comes up in a few minutes after the fork and is quite obvious, even if you do not see kayaks already “parked” there.
When you reach the beach where the Secret Falls rainforest hike begins, you will beach your kayak until it is time to paddle back to your start point.
On the way back, you may have to battle the trade winds, so it may be a more difficult paddle.
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Helpful Tips for the Wailua River Paddle
Note that the paddle back can be more difficult than the paddle in, because you will be paddling against the trade winds blowing inland.
These trade winds generally tend to kick up in the afternoons, so you’ll find that most guided Secret Falls tours depart in the morning.
Pick an early morning departure if you can, both for calmer conditions and less heat.
The southern bank and middle of the Wailua River are reserved for motorized boats and barges, so paddlers should stay close to the north bank. If you are part of a guided tour, your guide will explain where to stay on the river as you paddle in and out.
Keep an eye out to the mountains, because storms at higher elevations can cause the river to flood abruptly. If you plan to paddle independently, seek higher ground at once if the waters start getting murky and the flow accelerates.
Always check the weather forecast before your Wailua River paddling trip, and pick a calm bright day for the best paddling conditions.
Wear a rain poncho if you want to stay relatively dry as you paddle, since rain showers can occur on Kauai any time. Sometimes these showers can be heavy.
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