Often referred to as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” Waimea Canyon is certainly a thing of immense beauty. Nearly 10 miles long, one mile wide, and more than 3,600 feet deep, the stunning Waimea Canyon is full of striking cliffs, incredible colors, and cascading waterfalls. It is perhaps Hawaii’s most unspoiled natural beauty, and luckily for us, it’s home to several epic hiking trails — including the unparalleled Iliau Nature Loop.
With brilliant shades of red, brown, green, blue, gray and purple, Waimea Canyon State Park encompasses approximately 1,866 acres and is one of the island’s most popular tourist destinations.
Eric Satterblom/AllTrails
Most people stop at the several lookout points found within Waimea Canyon and Koke’e State Parks, but few venture to explore the hiking trails found crisscrossing the landscape.
J. C. Stofle/AllTrails
If you’d like to say you enjoyed a hike within the undeniably breathtaking Waimea Canyon, but are short on time or simply aren’t able to traverse ridgelines and endure massive elevation changes, you’ll want to embark on the short, simple, and stunning Iliau Nature Loop Trail.
Jim Jackson/AllTrails
Located at the start of the Kukui Trail, this short, .3-mile roadside loop trail on the western edge of the canyon not only gives adventures an up close and personal look at native upland scrub vegetation but afford excellent vistas of both Waimea and Waialae Canyons.
Jim Jackson/AllTrails
And while the views are truly terrific, they’re not the star of the show here. That would be the iliau, a unique plant belonging to the sunflower family and a close relative to the aesthetically similar and equally fascinating silversword, endemic to Mount Haleakala on the island of Maui.
Jim Jackson/AllTrails The iliau lives between two and ten years, flowers once, and then dies. If you happen to visit during the right time (May through July only), you’ll enjoy a surreal fluorescent display sure to amaze you.
No matter when you visit, you’ll want to make sure you don’t forget your camera. You’ll want to capture the landscapes found along this trail and remember them forever.
Bill Watson/AllTrails
For a trail this short, the views are absolutely priceless — if you visit when the canyon isn’t shrouded in clouds, that is.
Pantalones Verdes/AllTrails Here’s my biggest tip: if it’s raining as you make your way into the canyon, hang out for a few hours — you never know when the weather will change up here and you will get to experience the beauty of this canyon, perhaps even with a rainbow.
So, what are you waiting for? Make sure the Iliau Nature Loop is on your agenda the next time you make your way into Waimea Canyon — you won’t regret it.
Jaci Nicole/AllTrails
Address: Kokee Road, Waimea, HI 96796
Eric Satterblom/AllTrails
J. C. Stofle/AllTrails
Jim Jackson/AllTrails
The iliau lives between two and ten years, flowers once, and then dies. If you happen to visit during the right time (May through July only), you’ll enjoy a surreal fluorescent display sure to amaze you.
Bill Watson/AllTrails
Pantalones Verdes/AllTrails
Here’s my biggest tip: if it’s raining as you make your way into the canyon, hang out for a few hours — you never know when the weather will change up here and you will get to experience the beauty of this canyon, perhaps even with a rainbow.
Jaci Nicole/AllTrails
Have you experienced the wonder that Hawaii’s Grand Canyon? Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below. Then, if you’re looking for a longer adventure, click here to check out the Pihea Vista Trail, found within the neighboring Koke’e State Park.
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