The Na Pali Coast is one of the best things to do on the island of Kauai. From iconic Jurassic Park mountain ridges to jungle and ocean views, the Na Pali Coast needs to be at the top of your Kauai bucket list. However, it is not as easy to see as you might think. Here’s how to see the Na Pali Coast in Kauai, Hawaii.

Disclaimer: Thank you Blue Hawaiian Helicopters for hosting us on our tour. All thoughts are our own. This post contains affiliate links. If a product is purchased using one of the following links, I may earn a small commission from the brand at no cost to you.
How Do You See The Na Pali Coast?
The best ways to see the Na Pali Coast are by helicopter, boat and by foot. Although you can get a small peek of the Na Pali Coast by car at the Kalalau Lookout, which we’ll discuss later on, the Na Pali Coast is truly only accessible by helicopter, boat or hiking.
Best Time Of Day To See The Na Pali Coast
The best time of day to see the Na Pali Coast is in the morning because you’ll have a better chance for cloudless skies and clear views, regardless of whether you’re visiting by air, boat or foot. When there are clouds on the Na Pali Coast, the clouds often cover the entire mountain and valleys, making the views near impossible to see. If you have partly sunny skies and still get fogged out — and if you have the option to wait out the clouds (you likely won’t have this option when visiting by helicopter or boat tour) — then I recommend waiting around for 20-30 minutes to see if the clouds pass.

My husband and I ended up hiking the Pihea Vista Trail twice to see the iconic Kalalau Valley views because we were completely fogged out the first time. On our second attempt, the weather on the island overall was much sunnier, and we still managed to have clouds blocking our views. We decided to wait around for about 25 minutes, and we were rewarded with an unforgettable view of the valley. The clouds move quickly, though, so keep your eyes peeled!
Both of our hike attempts were in the afternoon. On the other hand, both our helicopter and boat tour were in the morning, and we had near-perfect views of the Na Pali Coast for both tours. So, if you can, plan to visit the Na Pali Coast in the morning.
How To Hike The Na Pali Coast
The most famous way to hike the Na Pali Coast is on the Kalalau Trail. However, my favorite way to hike to the Na Pali Coast is on the Pihea Vista Trail.
Kalalau Trail
Most people have heard of the notorious Kalalau Trail to get a view of the Na Pali Coast. The Kalalau Trail will run you a whopping 19.8 miles and 12.5 hours of hiking, as well as over 6500 feet of elevation gain. Given these trail stats, there’s no surprise that this hike has a hard difficulty rating. Many hikers take this trail overnight for backpacking.
Pihea Vista Trail

But, believe it or not, there’s a much easier and quicker way to hike the Na Pali Coast. There is hidden-gem trail called the Pihea Vista Trail on the Na Pali Coast of Kauai, and the views here do not disappoint. You get very similar views to the Kalalau Trail, but in a fraction of the time and elevation gain. Pihea Vista Trail will cost you just 4.4 miles or less of hiking, and a mere 715 feet of elevation gain maximum, making it an easy-to-moderate hike.
To find the Pihea Vista Trail, start at the Kalalau Lookout and walk through the gates at the end of the lookout parking lot. There’s about a mile walk on paved road until you get to Pu’u O Kila Lookout. Just to the right of Pu’u O Kila Lookout, you’ll see the Pihea Trail trailhead. Take this hike as far or as short as you want to get incredible Na Pali Coast views like the views seen in these photos.
The best time to hike the Pihea Vista Trail is between 8:00 and 11:00 a.m. for the best weather conditions. If you get caught in a little fog, wait 30 minutes and the view will probably peek through. Again, we got completely fogged out on our first attempt of Pihea Vista. So, on our second attempt, we decided to wait out the clouds and, thankfully, we were rewarded with an amazing view of the Na Pali Coast.

How To See The Na Pali Coast Without Hiking
Not a hiker? Don’t worry! There are a few different ways you can still see the Na Pali Coast without hiking. To see the Na Pali Coast without hiking, you can take a boat tour, take a helicopter too, or drive to the Kalalau Valley Lookout in Koke’e State Park. The easiest way to see the Na Pali Coast without hiking is to drive to Koke’e State Park’s Kalalau Valley Lookout, but you’ll only get a small look at the coast. The most rewarding ways to see the Na Pali Coast are by helicopter and boat tour, without a doubt.
Helicopter Tours Over The Na Pali Coast

The best way to see the Na Pali Coast without hiking (or any physical activity, for that matter) is by helicopter. In fact, much of the coast is only accessible by helicopter. Na Pali Coast helicopter tours are definitely expensive but so worth it. If you fly all the way to Hawaii and are staying on Kauai, you can’t skip taking a helicopter tour over the Na Pali Coast.
We faced our fears and took a helicopter tour over the Na Pali Coast of Kauai with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, and it was hands-down the best tour I’ve ever done in my life. We got to fly over an 800-foot waterfall (yes, 800 feet), explore coastline areas that aren’t accessible even by foot, and see the entire island of Kauai in 50 minutes. Our jaws were on the floor the whole flight.

Plus, Blue Hawaiian had their helicopter tours down to a tee. From check-in to the safety briefing to the actual flight, the whole tour was seamless from start to finish. The pilot even explained turbulence in flight so that no one was worried about the occasional bumps. This company is perfect for people who want to helicopter over the Na Pali Coast but struggle with flight anxiety.
Boat Tours On The Na Pali Coast

The final way to see the Na Pali Coast is by boat. I highly recommend taking a boat tour if you choose to see the coast by boat, as the ocean conditions can be very dangerous and unpredictable if you aren’t a professional. In general, there are two types of boat tours you can take on the Na Pali Coast: zodiac boat tours and catamaran boat tours.
Our whole group agreed that the zodiac boat tour was one of the highlights of our entire year. We took the Na Pali Coast Morning Adventure raft tour with Blue Ocean Adventures and loved every minute. Although, I will admit that this tour is not for the faint of heart. Our hands and rear-ends were super sore afterward from holding onto the raft ropes so tight, in hopes we wouldn’t get launched out of the boat whenever we hit a wave.
Alternatively, for a much more laid-back and relaxing Na Pali Coast boat tour, you could take a catamaran boat tour on the Na Pali Coast. Even though we opted for the adventurous zodiac boat tour, I’ve read great reviews about the Holo Holo Charters Na Pali Coast catamaran tour.
The Na Pali Coast boat tours usually range from 3-6 hours long. Including check-in, plan your boat tour to take a half a day. Our tour included a round-trip boat ride to and from the Na Pali Coast, wildlife sighting, snorkeling, Hawaiian snacks and more. I highly recommend going in the morning because you’ll have the best chance for calm waves and marine life. Like I said, we took the morning tour, and we saw dozens of dolphins and sea turtles throughout the tour.
How To See The Na Pali Coast By Car
Unfortunately, the Na Pali Coast is not accessible by car — only by foot, boat or helicopter. However, you can drive to the Kalalau Valley Lookout to get a small glimpse of the Na Pali Coast by car. To see the Na Pali Coast by car at Kalalau Valley Lookout, take the Kuhio Highway (Highway 550) to the west side of Koke’e State Park, or simply type “Kalalau Lookout” into your GPS. The lookout is a short two minute walk from the parking lot. You’ll have to pay to enter the state park and to park at the parking lot, but the views of the Na Pali Coast’s Kalalau Valley are certainly worth it. There are restrooms and picnic tables at this lookout as well.

Is The Na Pali Coast Worth Visiting?
The Na Pali Coast is hands-down the best thing to do in Kauai, Hawaii, and is 100% worth visiting. Although it is somewhat harder to access than other coastlines, the seclusion and careful protection of the Na Pali Coast makes it all the most beautiful, exotic and worthwhile.
Want to learn what other Kauai things to do should be on your must-see list? Read my top 10 things to do in Kauai, Hawaii, here.
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