Waimea Canyon State Park, Kauai
I drove to Waimea Canyon through heavy rain but luckily it cleared enough after my arrival to see this magnificent place before the rain set in again. I was sceptical about the claims that this was Hawaii’s version of the Grand Canyon but had to admit that it is a stunning place and an exceptional beauty spot. In some ways it seemed more striking because many of the cliff faces were green, a sharp contrast with the multi-coloured rock. I’d considered a helicopter ride but the price ($200 +) put me off. While I was on one of the lookouts, a helicopter came into the canyon and swooped along a cliff face ; a bit too close for my taste and I doubt that I would have enjoyed the ride.
The highway rises from sea level up to 4,000 feet and there are several lookout points on the way to the top. Alas, when I got to the top, the whole area was covered in mist and fog, so I got no views from there. My photos were taken at the 3,400 foot level.
To link to photo gallery, click here.
The fine print
Date of travel: 8 - 15 October 2008
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