Beyond the OverlookKalalau Trail: Our 22-Mile Nāpali Coast Day
One of the longest hikes we have done - and one of the most unforgettable. Nāpali is unparalleled, but this is a serious hiking day and current permit rules matter.
Firsthand guide · Last reviewed August 2026 · How we review our guides
Yes, we did the full 22 miles in one day
We hiked the full Kalalau Trail to Kalalau Beach and back as a day hike, roughly 22 miles. It was a very long day. Even with long summer daylight, we needed headlamps at both the beginning and the end.
This was separate from our Hanakāpīʻai Falls hike a couple of days earlier. On that earlier day, we followed the shared first section of the Kalalau Trail to Hanakāpīʻai Beach, turned inland for the waterfall, swam at the falls, and returned.
We would not blur those into one recommendation. Hanakāpīʻai Falls is a substantial hike on its own. The full Kalalau out-and-back is a much bigger endurance day that requires an extremely early start, enough food and water, and a realistic plan for finishing after dark.
Distance: 22 miles round trip · Difficulty: hard · Terrain: wet valleys, exposed ridges and constant elevation changes · Our approach: out-and-back in one very long day.
What our day actually looked like
We started by headlamp and finished by headlamp because we did not have time to make this a two-day trip. It is possible for very strong hikers to cover that distance, but we would not present our approach as the default. The official trail is 11 miles each way, crosses five major valleys and is almost never level.
Crawler's Ledge slows you down
The famous exposed section was no joke. This was not where we tried to make up time: we moved slowly and deliberately. The trail repeatedly shifts between lush valleys and open coastal ridges, which is a huge part of what made the day feel so varied.
Kalalau Beach is the payoff
Reaching the beach after that much hiking felt incredible. We were also surprised to encounter some clothing-optional beachgoers. Mostly, though, what stays with us is how remote the beach felt beneath the enormous Nāpali cliffs.
Important: current access rules are different from our trip
Today, Hāʻena access requires advance reservations, and anyone continuing beyond Hanakāpīʻai must have a valid Nāpali Coast camping permit - even if they do not plan to sleep overnight. State Parks specifically prohibits hikers without that permit from attempting the full 22-mile route as a day hike. Check current closures and permit rules before planning.
Want the Nāpali experience without 22 miles? Hike the first section and add Hanakāpīʻai Falls. That is a substantial day hike on its own.