Paddle up Kauai's Wailua River, hike a muddy rainforest trail and swim under
100-foot Uluwehi Falls. Every bookable trip compared honestly, from guided half days to
paddleboard rentals.
Secret Falls is temporarily closed after Hurricane Lowell. Since DLNR's September 19, 2026 notice, the Wailua River and the kayak landing are open again, but hiking past the trailhead and all access to Uluwehi (Secret) Falls remain closed until further notice, and individual kayakers cannot enter the Fern Grotto. Operators may run river-only trips or move your date; every tour here cancels free up to 24 hours ahead. Check the latest DLNR noticeStatus checked September 27, 2026
Every outfitter side by sideAli'i, Duke's, Kayak Kauai, Rainbow
Real traveler ratingsLive Viator & Tripadvisor figures
Honest effort levelsMud, crossings and wind, stated up front
Secure checkout on ViatorMobile voucher, free cancellation to 24h
Tours & tickets
Choose your Secret Falls kayak tour
Three guided trips cover most visitors: the most-booked half day, a relaxed version with
a paddling lesson, and the small-group trip with a picnic lunch.
A slightly longer day with a paddling lesson before you set off: about two miles upriver, a 45-minute hike to Secret Falls with time to swim, and the float back. Reviewers love the small afternoon departures and the guides' island stories.
What's included
Professional guide, paddling lesson and all gear
Backpack-style dry bag
All taxes and handling charges
State parking fee about $10 per booking not included
The classic half day and the most-booked Secret Falls trip on Kauai: a guided paddle up the Wailua River, then a rainforest hike with stream crossings to 100-foot Uluwehi Falls and time at the pool before the paddle back. Kayaks, backrests and life jackets provided; bring your own lunch and water shoes.
What's included
Guided kayak on the Wailua River (about 4 miles round trip)
Guided rainforest hike to Uluwehi Falls (about 2 miles round trip, 465 ft gain)
The longest-running outfitter on the river: a small-group paddle up the Wailua, a guided nature hike to the falls, a deli-sandwich picnic with pineapple and cookies, and a swim at the base of the falls. Meet at the Kayak Kauai store at the marina.
Check the second column: not every "waterfall kayak" on Kauai goes to Secret Falls.
The Hule'ia River and Lihu'e trips visit different falls, which is useful while Uluwehi is closed.
Prices are Viator from-prices in USD at the last update and include Viator's
fees; they move with season and availability. Some tours add the state's Wailua marina fees (about $10
per car to park and $5 per non-resident, charged since February 2026). Tips for guides are customary.
Know before you go
It isn't a secret, and it isn't a stroll. That's the fun of it.
Uluwehi Falls earned its nickname because no road reaches it: you paddle about two miles up the
Wailua, often called Hawaii's only navigable river, then hike a rainforest trail to a 100-foot fall and its
swimming pool. Today it is one of the most visited waterfalls on Kauai, and on a weekday you will share
it with other groups.
The river is tightly managed. Commercial tours and rentals run Monday to Friday only (Sunday has long
been closed, and DLNR withdrew Saturday permits in 2021), rentals stop during flood advisories, and
only permitted outfitters may launch. Expect wet, muddy feet, one or two river crossings that can reach
your waist, and a headwind on at least one leg. Book a weekday, wear water shoes, and treat the
closure notice above as the first thing to check.
100 ft
Uluwehi (Secret) Falls, reached by a 2-mile
paddle and a 1-mile rainforest hike each way.
Wailua River State ParkMon to Fri only~4 mi paddle~2 mi hike
The Wailua River: calm water, a mountain backdrop and, usually, a trade-wind headwind on the way back.
01
How fit do I need to be?
Reasonably. Two miles of paddling each way and a muddy mile of trail with crossings; reviewers call it moderate to strenuous.
02
Guided or rental?
Rentals from about $64 if you are confident on the water. Guides handle navigation, crossings and timing, and add the stories.
03
When is best?
Weekday mornings, before the trade winds build. After heavy rain the river runs high and trips are cancelled.
04
Who should skip it?
Pregnant travelers (leptospirosis risk), anyone with back or heart problems, and non-swimmers uneasy near moving water.
The day
How a Secret Falls trip works
Every outfitter follows the same rhythm; lunch, pickup and group size are what change.
01
Check in and gear up
Meet at the outfitter in Kapa'a or the Wailua marina, sign waivers, stow valuables in a dry bag and get a paddling briefing.
15 to 30 min early
02
Paddle upriver
About two miles in tandem kayaks past the Fern Grotto turn-off to the landing, where kayaks are pulled up on the bank.
45 to 60 min
03
Hike to the falls
A mile of roots, mud and bamboo, with a rope-assisted river crossing and a smaller stream, to the 100-foot fall and its pool.
30 to 45 min each way
04
Swim, snack, paddle back
Time at the pool, a picnic on the lunch tours, then back to the kayaks and downstream, often into the wind.
Photos: traveler and operator images from the Viator listings on this page.
Plan your day
Plan your Secret Falls trip
Getting there, timing, the rules and what to bring: one tab each.
Where: the Wailua River meets the sea just south of Kapa'a on Kauai's east side, about 15 minutes' drive north of Lihu'e Airport.
Outfitters: Ali'i Kayaks on Wailua Road, Duke's in the Wailua Shopping Plaza, Kayak Kauai at the Wailua River Marina; most tours need you to drive yourself.
Parking: the state charges about $10 per car at the Wailua marina and $5 per non-resident entry since February 2026.
Getting there: the kayak tours meet at the river, so plan on driving yourself; parking fees are paid by card at the marina.
Tours and rentals run Monday to Friday only; no commercial trips on Saturdays or Sundays.
Morning departures beat the afternoon trade winds; afternoon slots are quieter.
Allow a full half day: 4.5 to 6 hours including check-in.
Keep a spare weekday: high water and flash-flood watches cancel trips.
Only permitted outfitters may rent or guide; individual kayakers currently cannot enter the Fern Grotto.
Do not cross the river if the water is above your waist or rising; people have drowned here.
Freshwater carries leptospirosis: cover cuts, don't swallow the water, and skip it if pregnant.
Stay out of the pool after heavy rain (brown water, falling debris).
Pack out everything; the valley is a state park and sacred ground.
Closed-toe water shoes or grippy sport sandals; no flip-flops.
Swimsuit and quick-dry clothes; a light rain layer.
Reef-safe sunscreen, hat and bug spray.
Water and lunch or snacks if your tour does not include them.
Phone pouch; outfitters supply dry bags.
On the riverFern GrottoThe fern-draped lava cave on the Wailua, reached by riverboat; closed to individual kayakers for now.
Roadside'Opaeka'a FallsA tall twin fall with a roadside lookout off Kuamo'o Road, five minutes from the river.
RoadsideWailua FallsThe roadside double fall from the opening credits of Fantasy Island, near Lihu'e.
CultureWailua heiauThe river valley holds some of Kauai's most important sacred sites, once reserved for ali'i.
HikeSleeping Giant (Nounou)The ridge above Kapa'a with a summit view over the river valley; check DLNR status.
BeachLydgate Beach ParkRock-walled swimming ponds at the river mouth, good for kids after the paddle.
Where the day starts
Secret Falls tour meeting point
Ali'i Kayaks, Wailua
180 Wailua Rd, Kapa'a, HI 96746
The flagship Secret Falls Kayak & Hike checks in on Wailua Road, just off the Kuhio Highway on
the north bank of the river, 30 minutes before departure. There is no transport, so drive or take a
taxi from Kapa'a or Lihu'e. Other outfitters meet nearby: Duke's in the Wailua Shopping Plaza
(4-361 Kuhio Hwy) and Kayak Kauai at the Wailua River Marina (3-5971 Kuhio Hwy). Your voucher
confirms the exact spot.
Check in 30 minutes early (15 at Kayak Kauai)
About 15 minutes' drive from Lihu'e Airport
Leave valuables at the hotel; bring cash for parking and tips
Beautiful scenery and knowledgeable guide. I would rate it an upper-level moderate activity: the hike was strenuous with muddy, slippery trail sections and rocky river crossings. The kayaking was excellent.
★★★★★
One of many highlights of our vacation. If you're healthy and active you can do it with no problems. The secret (not so secret) falls at the end was so worth seeing!
★★★★★
What you should know: your feet and legs will get wet and likely muddy. You wade the kayak in and out of the river and through a couple of water crossings, including a sometimes thigh- or waist-high river.
★★★★★
Make sure everyone knows how to kayak before they go. It is a two-mile kayak trip, then a mile and a half hike to the Secret Falls, then the return trip. It is worth every moment.
★★★★★
Good guides who made it a safe trip. They cancelled our trip on the first day because of high river water and the chance of flash flooding, but rebooked us for the next day.
★★★★★
I liked going on the 12:45 pm trip as it was a small group. A super chill kayak and not hard at all!
★★★★★
Beautiful views and a fun activity. Just be ready for the paddle back upstream and upwind, and don't stand on the board when the barge comes by and leaves a wake.
★★★★★
One of the highlights of our vacation in Kauai. The kayaking was fun, the hiking was strenuous, and seeing and swimming at the waterfall was priceless.
★★★★★
The hike is a bit challenging at times due to rocky terrain and mud. Definitely wear water shoes, and bring your own walking sticks.
Quotes from verified Viator bookings on the tours above, lightly trimmed for length.
Want the big waterfalls too?
See Kauai's falls from the air
Most of Kauai's tallest waterfalls cannot be reached on foot. A helicopter flight is the
only way to see them, and it works whether Secret Falls is open or not.
Waterfall Helicopter Tour: Na Pali, Waimea Canyon & Wai'ale'ale
★ 4.8 · 963 reviews · 55 min
See the waterfalls you can't hike to: a 55-minute flight over the Na Pali cliffs, Waimea Canyon and the crater of Mount Wai'ale'ale, the rain-soaked summit that feeds the Wailua River and its falls. Hotel pickup and all fees included; about six guests per flight.
The Secret Falls kayak hike is Kauai's favourite half-day adventure: a jungle river, a
muddy trail and a waterfall you can swim under. It is also more work, and more regulated, than most
people expect. Here is what the day really involves.
The river, the trail and the falls
The Wailua runs from the flanks of Mount Wai'ale'ale, one of the wettest places on earth, to the sea
at Kapa'a. It is often called Hawaii's only navigable river, and its valley was a royal and sacred place. From
the outfitters near the river mouth you paddle about two miles upstream past the turn-off for the Fern
Grotto to a landing on the north fork, 45 minutes to an hour for most tandems. From there a trail of
about a mile climbs through hau, bamboo and guava, crosses the river on a guide rope and a smaller
stream on stepping stones, and ends at Uluwehi Falls: roughly 100 feet of water dropping into a
boulder-ringed pool. Most groups get 30 minutes to an hour there before the hike and paddle back.
The trail to the falls: roots, mud and a rope-assisted crossing. Water shoes, not flip-flops.
What it really costs
Guided kayak-and-hike tours on Viator run from about $135 (the most-booked half day, bring your own
lunch) to $150 to $165 for longer trips with a lesson, lunch or a smaller group. A paddleboard rental from
a permitted outfitter starts around $64 if you can navigate yourself. Since February 2026 the state also
charges about $10 per car to park at the Wailua marina and $5 per non-resident, which some tours fold in.
Booking on Viator adds one checkout and free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead, which matters on a
river that closes when it rains hard upstream.
The honest small print: tours and rentals only run Monday to Friday, the falls
can dry to a trickle after a dry spell, and one leg of the paddle is usually into the wind. And right
now, after Hurricane Lowell, DLNR has closed the falls themselves; check the notice before you book.
Safety, plainly
The main risk is water, not the trail. The river crossing can reach your waist and rises fast after
rain upstream; people have been swept away here, so do not cross high or rising water. The streams carry
leptospirosis, a bacterial infection spread through freshwater, so cover cuts, avoid swallowing water,
and if you are pregnant, skip it: outfitters advise the same. Guides make these calls for you, which is
the strongest argument for a guided trip on your first visit.
Two miles up the Wailua in tandems: easy on a calm morning, harder into an afternoon headwind.
Making the most of it
Book a weekday morning, wear water shoes you do not mind ruining, and pack more water than you think.
If you are staying on the North Shore, leave early: the river is on the east side near Kapa'a. Build in a
spare weekday for weather, and read the closure guide before you
commit. If the falls are still closed when you arrive, the Hule'ia River kayak or the Lihu'e waterfall
swim make a good substitute.
The payoff: the pool at the base of Uluwehi Falls, when the water is clear.
Straight answers to what travelers ask most about kayaking to Secret Falls.
Is Secret Falls open right now?
Not yet. After Hurricane Lowell, DLNR reopened the Wailua River and the kayak landing on September 21, 2026, but hiking past the trailhead and all access to Uluwehi (Secret) Falls remain closed until further notice. Operators may run river-only paddles or rebook you, and every tour on this page cancels free up to 24 hours ahead. Check the DLNR park notices before you go.
How long is the Secret Falls kayak and hike?
Plan on 4.5 to 6 hours for a guided trip. The paddle is about two miles each way on the Wailua River (45 to 60 minutes upstream), and the hike from the landing is roughly a mile each way, about 30 to 45 minutes through mud, roots and stream crossings, with around 465 feet of gain. Most tours leave 30 to 60 minutes at the falls.
How hard is the Secret Falls hike?
Moderate, with reviewers splitting between "easy" and "strenuous". The difficulty is the mud, slick rocks and one or two river crossings that can be thigh to waist deep, not the distance. You also paddle against wind or current on one leg. Anyone reasonably fit can do it; it is not a fit for people with back, heart or balance problems.
Can you kayak to Secret Falls without a tour?
Yes, with a rental kayak or paddleboard from a permitted Wailua River outfitter, from about $64. Rentals and tours are both limited to Monday to Friday, and outfitters give you a map and a briefing. Guided trips cost more but handle the navigation, the river crossings and the timing. See guided or rental.
Can you go to Secret Falls on a weekend?
Not with a tour or a rental. Commercial tours and rentals on the Wailua River run Monday to Friday only: Sunday has long been closed to commercial use, and DLNR withdrew Saturday permits in December 2021. Book a weekday and keep a spare weekday in case of weather.
How much does the Secret Falls kayak tour cost?
Guided kayak-and-hike tours run about $135 to $165 per person on Viator, depending on lunch, pickup and group size. Paddleboard rentals start around $64. Since February 2026 the state also charges about $10 per car to park at the Wailua marina and $5 per non-resident entry, which some tours include. Details in the cost guide.
Can you swim at Secret Falls?
Usually, yes: the pool at the base of the 100-foot falls is the reward for most groups. Stay out after heavy rain, when the water turns brown and falling debris is a risk, and do not swim with open cuts: Hawaii's freshwater streams carry leptospirosis, which is why tours advise pregnant travelers not to take part. The falls can shrink to a trickle after dry weeks.
What should I wear for the Secret Falls kayak hike?
Quick-dry clothes and a swimsuit, and closed-toe water shoes or sport sandals with grip: your feet will be wet and muddy all day. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, water, snacks (lunch is not included on every tour) and a phone pouch; outfitters provide dry bags. See what to wear.
Why is it called Secret Falls?
It is not much of a secret. Uluwehi Falls earned the nickname because it can only be reached by paddling up the Wailua River and hiking in, with no road access. Today it is one of the most visited waterfalls on Kauai, and on weekdays you will share the pool with other groups.
Is the Secret Falls kayak tour good for kids?
For active children, yes: outfitters seat kids in a tandem kayak with an adult, and each company sets its own minimum age. The full day of paddling, mud and crossings is demanding, so shorter options like the Lihu'e waterfalls hike or the Fern Grotto riverboat suit younger families better.
What happens if it rains?
Light rain is part of the rainforest and tours go ahead. Operators cancel when the river runs high, during flood advisories or flash-flood watches (when DLNR also suspends rentals), and reschedule or refund. Strong trade winds can make the return paddle hard work.
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure on every tour below. Weekdays only.
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