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Pictures of Waipi'o Valley
 
 
If you have just a single day for hiking on the Big Island, this is the one for you! The trail described here takes you from the town of Waimea to the back of Waipi'o Valley. The trail head is found at the end of White (Lindsey) Road, an indiscriminately marked residential road (click here for map). This road dead-ends at a gate, park here. Rainfall is common and the trail is frequently muddy. A poncho and old shoes are recommended. Though a sign reads “no trespassing”, visitors are allowed to pass through. Be sure to close the gate behind you, leave no trash, and be on your best behavior. This is still private property!

After an eighth of a mile you'll come to a second gate, marking the entrance to the Kohala Forest Reserve. The next two miles is through a dense rain forest, crisscrossing the upper Hamakua drainage ditch. The real treat comes about two-and-a-half miles in, where you'll be rewarded with an incredible outlook and a 2,000-foot drop-off to Waipi'o Valley. If you're lucky, a stunning waterfall will be flowing down the opposite side.
The lush, rolling fields south of Waimea. The lush, rolling fields south of Waimea. White (Lindsey) Road dead-ends at this gate. Though the sign reads 'no trespassing', visitors are allowed to pass through. Be sure to close the gate behind you, leave no trash, and be on your best behavior. This is still private property! You'll hike about an eighth of a mile before reaching the entrance to the forest reserve. On this day, clouds were streaming down the mountainside, enveloping us (and the cows) in an eerie mist.
You'll hike about an eighth of a mile before reaching the entrance to the forest reserve. On this day, clouds were streaming down the mountainside, enveloping us (and the cows) in an eerie mist. A plant growing from the top of a wooden fence post. The first two miles is through a dense forest. The trail crisscrosses the upper Hamakua drainage ditch.
Beauty beyond words. The drainage ditch stretches across this ravine. The drainage ditch stretches across this ravine. Hiking into the unknown.
There are many obscured waterfalls along the trail, so listen for the roar of falling water. There are many obscured waterfalls along the trail, so listen for the roar of falling water. After 2 1/2 miles of hiking (about an hour without photo stops) you're rewarded with this incredible vista and a 2,000-foot drop-off to Waipi'o Valley. Waipi'o Valley
A stunning waterfall was flowing down the side of the valley. A stunning waterfall was flowing down the side of the valley. I think I hear T-Rex in the distance. Time to go! A stunning waterfall was flowing down the side of the valley.
Be careful to stay on the trail, there's not much keeping you from a 2,000-foot plunge. Doh! This cave is located a couple hundred feet down the trail from the overlook. A quick picture before the Velociraptors pounced on us. Just kidding... A quick picture before the Velociraptors pounced on us. Just kidding...
The trail is very muddy, so leave your Bruno Maglis at the hotel.      

 

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