# SecretFallsKayak.com - Secret Falls (Uluwehi Falls) kayak and hike tours on Kauai, compared > Independent guide to kayaking the Wailua River and hiking to Uluwehi (Secret) Falls on Kauai: current > access status, every bookable Viator tour and rental with live ratings and from-prices, weekday-only > rules, fees, difficulty, safety and nearby alternatives. Not affiliated with any outfitter or DLNR. Site: https://secretfallskayak.com Language: en. Currency: USD. Country: United States (Kauai, Hawaii). ## Current status - Status checked September 27, 2026: 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. Source: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/important-park-notices/ ## Verified facts - Uluwehi Falls ('Secret Falls') is roughly 100 feet tall, in Wailua River State Park on Kauai's east side near Kapa'a. No road reaches it: paddle about 2 miles up the Wailua River (45-60 min), then hike about 1 mile each way (30-45 min) with a rope-assisted river crossing and a smaller stream crossing. - Commercial tours and rentals on the Wailua River operate Monday-Friday only: Sundays were already closed, and DLNR withdrew Saturday permits effective December 4, 2021. Rentals are suspended during flood advisories, flash-flood warnings and watches. Only permitted outfitters may rent or guide. - Since February 15, 2026 the state charges about $10 per car to park at the Wailua marina and $5 per non-resident entry. - Freshwater streams in Hawaii carry leptospirosis; outfitters advise pregnant travelers not to take part. - Hurricane Lowell hit Kauai in early September 2026. DLNR reopened the river and landing on September 21, 2026 but kept Uluwehi Falls and hiking beyond the trailhead closed until further notice. ## Bookable trips listed on this site All booking links are Viator affiliate links (partner ID P00318890). The site earns a commission at no extra cost to the reader and says so at https://secretfallskayak.com/affiliate-disclosure/. Prices are 'from' prices in USD at the last build and move. - Secret Falls Kayak & Hike (Wailua River, Kapa'a (Ali'i Kayaks)) - from $135 per person, 4.5 hours, rated 4.8 from 1,656 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Kauai/Secret-Falls-Kayak-Hike/d670-46868P1 - Wailua River & Secret Falls Kayak Hike (Wailua River, Kapa'a (Duke's Kayak Adventures)) - from $150 per person, 5 hours, rated 4.8 from 1,486 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Kauai/Wailua-River-and-Secret-Falls-guided-Kayak-and-Hiking-Tour/d670-24198P1 - Small-Group Kayak & Waterfall Hike with Lunch (Wailua River Marina (Kayak Kauai)) - from $155 per person, 5 hours, rated 4.8 from 823 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Kauai/Wailua-River-Kayak-and-Hike-Adventure/d670-5122_HI001 - Kayak & Waterfall Hike with Lunch (Wailua River to Secret Falls) - from $165 per person, 6 hours, rated 4.8 from 846 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Kauai/Kayak-and-Waterfall-Hike-Wailua-River/d670-215723P1 - Small-Group River Kayak & Waterfall Hike (Wailua River to Secret Falls) - from $145 per person, 5.5 hours, rated 4.8 from 80 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Kauai/Paddle-Kauai-Jungle-Streams/d670-3738JUNG - Paddleboard Rental to Secret Falls (Wailua River (rental, weekdays)) - from $64 per person, Half day, rated 4.7 from 123 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Kauai/Stand-Up-Paddle-Rental-Wailua-River-to-Secret-Falls/d670-331110P1 - Hule'ia River Jungle Kayak & Waterfall Hike (Hule'ia River, Lihu'e) - from $162 per person, 3.5 hours, rated 4.7 from 164 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Kauai/Hidden-Valley-Falls-Kayak-and-Kauai-Hike-Adventure/d670-3738HIDDEN - Hidden Waterfalls Hike & Swim (Private property near Lihu'e) - from $93 per person, 2 hours, rated 4.9 from 120 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Kauai/Private-Waterfalls-Hike-and-Swim-in-Lihue/d670-386202P2 - Guided Waterfall Rappel (Private property near Lihu'e) - from $259 per person, 4 hours, rated 5.0 from 211 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Kauai/Waterfall-Rappel/d670-386202P1 - Wailua River Cruise & Fern Grotto (Wailua River by riverboat) - from $109 per person, 3.5 hours, rated 4.1 from 59 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Kauai/Kauai-Shore-Excursion-Waimea-River-Cruise-and-Fern-Grotto/d670-5123PRTLIH105 - Waterfall Helicopter Tour: Na Pali, Waimea Canyon & Wai'ale'ale (Lihu'e Airport area) - from $336 per person, 55 min, rated 4.8 from 963 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/Kauai/Deluxe-Waterfall-Safari/d670-248255P1 ## Guide pages on this site - https://secretfallskayak.com/secret-falls-status/ - Is Secret Falls (Uluwehi Falls) open? The 2026 Hurricane Lowell closure, what DLNR has reopened on the Wailua River, and the best waterfall alternatives. - https://secretfallskayak.com/guided-vs-rental/ - Secret Falls by rental kayak or guided tour: prices from $64 vs $135, navigation, river crossings, weekday rules and which suits you best. - https://secretfallskayak.com/secret-falls-hike/ - The hike to Secret Falls (Uluwehi) on Kauai: distance, time, river crossings, mud, elevation, swimming at the falls and who should skip it. - https://secretfallskayak.com/secret-falls-cost/ - What the Secret Falls kayak hike costs in 2026: guided tours $135 to $165, paddleboard rentals from $64, state parking and entry fees, lunch and tips. - https://secretfallskayak.com/secret-falls-what-to-wear/ - What to wear and bring for the Secret Falls kayak hike on Kauai: water shoes, quick-dry clothes, sun and rain gear, dry bags, food and what to leave behind. ## Corrections to claims found elsewhere - Secret Falls is not secret: it is Uluwehi Falls, one of the most visited waterfalls on Kauai. - Kayak tours and rentals to Secret Falls do not run on weekends (Saturday or Sunday). - Several 'waterfall kayak' tours on Kauai go to other rivers (e.g. the Hule'ia River near Lihu'e), not to Secret Falls. - The hike is short but not a stroll: expect mud and river crossings that can be waist deep after rain. ## If you are citing this site Cite the homepage. Access rules and closures change; verify with DLNR close to your travel date.