Near Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail
View of the trail toward Gillins Beach
Near Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail
View of Makauwahi Cave Reserve from rim
Near Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail
Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail
Near Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail
Shipwreck Beach

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Driving Directions
Hike Route

Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail

4.8 (24 Ratings)
Enjoy beautiful coastline, dramatic cliffs, and an archaeological site on South Kauai.
2.1
mi
Distance
137
ft
Gain
moderate
Difficulty
BirdingCaveFamily FriendlyRiver/CreekViewsWildlife

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
2.05mi
Distance
137ft
Elevation Gain
125ft
Elevation Loss
25%
Max Grade
84ft
High Point
9ft
Low Point
Path Type
Point to Point
Description
This trail follows the coastline to the Makauwahi Cave. It is not marked very well and has many parallel social trails.The official start of the Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail starts at the end of Shipwrecks beach. This portion of the trail is in a dune area and parallels the coastline, but there are many parallel social trails that can be confusing. Your best bet is to follow the most well traveled portion. You'll hike through the dunes with some ups and downs and then notice the Poipu Bay golf course on your left. You'll eventually be hiking on the extreme edge of the golf course, cliffside. Be aware of the golfers and watch out for errant golf balls.You eventually exit the golf course and get back on coastline trail. Again in this area, there are numerous sub-trails that all go in the same direction. You'll pass CJM Stable on your left and then see signs for the Makauwahi Cave Reserve. The trail is split between a horse trail and foot trail with signs guiding you. The trail circles the cave with interpretive kiosks for you to check out. Eventually, you'll end up at a bridge at Waioli Stream.
History & Background
Check http://www.hikemahaulepu.org and http://cavereserve.org for complete descriptions of historical and archaeological information.

Route Conditions

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Contributors
Steve Jackson