Hiking the Iliau Nature Loop Trail in the Waimea Canyon on Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 0.4 miles / 0.6 km
The Iliau Nature Loop Trail on Kauaʻi feels like a hidden gem next to other, more popular trails in the Waimea Canyon, like Awaʻawapuhi and the Kālepa Ridge Trail further up the road.
That said, the Iliau Loop Trail isn’t much in the way of a long adventure, but what it lacks in distance, it makes up for with its stunning views of the Waimea Canyon—especially when the colors really come out in the late afternoon!
For these reasons, I highly recommend adding the quick and easy Iliau Nature Loop to your list if you are already planning to spend the day in the Waimea Canyon and Kōkeʻe State Park!
Iliau Nature Loop Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Iliau Loop Trail is located on either side of Kōkeʻe Road, adjacent to the trailhead.
Out of caution, consider the Iliau Nature Loop Trailhead to be a high-crime area for petty theft, meaning you should never leave visible bags or anything valuable in your car.
Google Maps Directions: Iliau Nature Loop Trailhead
Hiking the Iliau Nature Loop Trail
Overall, the Iliau Nature Loop is a very easy and self-explanatory trail, and it doesn’t make too much of a difference which direction you decide to hike.
However, I kindly ask that you exercise caution around the native and endangered Iliau plants, which are endemic to the Island of Kauaʻi, meaning they’re found nowhere else on earth!
Iliau Nature Loop Trail
On this hike, I chose to go right around the Iliau Nature Loop.
Iliau-Kukui (Lonomea) Junction
At the Iliau-Kukui junction, go left to continue on the Iliau Nature Loop.
That said, this is the split for the much longer and much more involved hike down into Waimea Canyon via the Kukui Trail, the only trail to the bottom of the canyon from Kōkeʻe Road.
It is here that both day hikers and overnight backpackers descend nearly constantly to the Waimea River, which is why I recommend continuing on the Iliau Loop if you weren’t prepared for such an adventure.
To learn more about the full hike, including what is required to secure an overnight permit, I highly recommend reading my separate article linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Kukui Trail (Lonomea)
After the Iliau-Kukui junction, there are a few lookouts along the loop that offer some of the best views in Waimea Canyon on a clear day!
You can see a number of waterfalls, and, if you know where to look, you can see much of the distance up Koaiʻe Canyon to the end of the Lonomea hike mentioned previously.
Native Plants on the Iliau Nature Loop
As I’m sure it comes obvious from the name, but the best native plant to see on the Iliau Nature Loop Trail is the Kauaʻi endemic Iliau.
That said, Iliau is an endangered species, so please don’t do anything that would damage or disturb these rare plants! Furthermore, there is also Kāwelu, Koa, ʻAʻaliʻi, and ʻŌhiʻa lehua, to truly only name a few more that you can expect to see on this short hike.
If you would like to learn more about these and many other native Hawaiian plants from across the islands, I encourage you to check out my separate post linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide
