The Waimea Canyon Lookout sits at mile marker 10 on Waimea Canyon Drive, on Kauai’s west side, about a 23-minute drive up from Waimea town. It looks across a canyon more than 3,600 feet deep. Hawaii State Parks reopened it on October 24, 2026, after Hurricane Lowell. The other lookouts stay closed.
Below are the lookouts in road order, what each one shows, and its status in the latest state notice.
Is the Waimea Canyon Lookout open right now?
Yes, as of the state’s latest notice, but only that one stop. Hawaii State Parks announced on October 23, 2026 that the Waimea Canyon Lookout would reopen on Saturday, October 24. It is open daily during daylight hours, including holidays, unless there is an emergency closure. The release called it “not a full reopening of the park, only the first lookout.”
The same release said Puʻu Hinahina, Puʻu Ka Pele and Puʻu o Kila stay closed while crews clear hurricane debris, make repairs and restore utilities. Kōkeʻe State Park and the rest of Waimea Canyon State Park are closed until further notice. The Important Park Notices page also says, in its October 23 update, that Kōkeʻe Road remains closed until further notice. The notice does not say which stretch.
Storm damage was heavy. In mid-September, Hawaii News Now reported trees down across Waimea Canyon Drive and Kōkeʻe Road, and a 24/7 roadblock at the junction of the two roads. Much has changed since then.
I plan most trips around seasons and road logistics, and a mountain road is the first thing I check. Up here, one closure can change the whole day. Read the state’s notices page the morning you drive up.
Waimea Canyon lookouts in order by mile marker
Two roads climb toward the canyon: Waimea Canyon Drive from Waimea town, and Kōkeʻe Road. TravelPulse says neither is much faster or more scenic. The mile markers below follow Waimea Canyon Drive from Waimea town.
| Stop | Mile marker | What you see | Status (state notice, Oct. 23, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waimea Canyon Lookout | 10 | Main canyon view, paid lot | Open, daylight hours |
| Puʻu Ka Pele Lookout | about 12.9 | Canyon lookout | Closed |
| Puʻu Hinahina Lookout | 13 | Side gorge, Niʻihau on clear days | Closed |
| Kalalau Lookout | 18 | Kalalau Valley | Closed (Kōkeʻe State Park) |
| Puʻu o Kila Lookout | 19, end of the road | Kalalau Valley, start of the Pihea Trail | Closed |
The mile markers come from Hawaii-guide.com’s route page and a TravelPulse guide, which agree on 10, 13, 18 and 19. Hawaii-guide.com alone lists Puʻu Ka Pele at 12.9. Kōkeʻe.org’s touring page puts the main canyon lookouts between miles 10 and 14. Treat the markers as a guide.
Waimea Canyon Lookout
This is the first stop and the only one open. Hawaii-guide.com lists a paid lot, restrooms and a viewing platform. TravelPulse describes the canyon as a mile wide, more than 3,600 feet deep and 14 miles long. Kōkeʻe.org says some drops off the canyon edges reach 1,500 to 2,000 feet.
On a clear morning, Hawaii-guide.com says, the view runs to the ocean. By mid-afternoon, clouds often roll in. The site also warns that construction has affected this lot. The state closed the lookout in July 2025 to build safety improvements, so check the notice before you count on parking or restrooms.
Puʻu Ka Pele and Puʻu Hinahina lookouts
These two sit a short drive apart on the same stretch of road. Hawaii-guide.com lists Puʻu Hinahina at mile 13, just over three miles past the Waimea Canyon Lookout. Its route page describes two platforms. One looks down a side gorge. The other faces Niʻihau, which the site puts about 17 miles offshore.
Puʻu Hinahina is also a trailhead. Hawaii State Parks’ trail poster lists it as a start for the Canyon Trail and the Halemanu-Kōkeʻe Trail. Both lookouts were on the closed list in the October 23 notice.
Kalalau Lookout and Puʻu o Kila
Higher up, the road reaches Kōkeʻe State Park. Kōkeʻe.org puts the park headquarters between miles 15 and 16 at 3,500 feet, and Kalalau Lookout at mile 18 and about 4,000 feet. Past it, the road ends at Puʻu o Kila, where the state’s poster places the Pihea Trail start.
Both look into the Kalalau Valley. Both are often clouded over. Hawaii-guide.com says Kalalau is often clouded in by 1 p.m. and that the weather at Puʻu o Kila clears and closes fast. If the view is socked in, it suggests waiting about ten minutes, since the cloud bank often shifts.
Kōkeʻe.org adds that a yellow gate at Kalalau Lookout may be locked when road conditions are poor, which blocks the way to Puʻu o Kila. A January 2026 update on the Kōkeʻe State Park page said Puʻu o Kila had reopened. The October 23 release put it back on the closed list.
Waimea Canyon fees and parking
The Waimea Canyon State Park page lists two fees for nonresidents. Entry is $5.00 per person, with children 3 and under free. Parking is $10 per vehicle. Hawaii residents with a Hawaii driver’s license or state ID pay neither.
For now, only parking is being collected. The October 23 release said entry fees are waived while the other park sections stay closed. The park page says a parking ticket is valid at both the Waimea Canyon and Kōkeʻe State Park lots. Fees can change, so check the page before you go.
Best time to visit the Waimea Canyon Lookout
Go early. Two sources agree on the pattern. Hawaii-guide.com says clear mornings are best at the canyon and clouds often arrive by mid-afternoon. Kōkeʻe.org says clouds often hide the Kalalau view by midday, and that early or late in the day is better.
Anyone who has driven an hour to a viewpoint and found only white knows the feeling. Here, the early start is most of the plan.
For hikes, Hawaii-guide.com advises starting by 8 a.m. for the best chance of clear skies and a dry trail.
Drive time from Waimea town
Hawaii-guide.com puts the Waimea Canyon Lookout about 23 minutes from Waimea town. Its route page lists the drive to the end of the road at about 45 minutes. Adding its segment times gives about 42 minutes to Kalalau Lookout. Those times assume a clear road. Add time for stops and for slow curves in fog.
The page also says Waimea town has the last gas, and there is none in the canyon. Fill the tank before you start up the hill.
Hikes near the lookouts
These trails sit in the same parks, and the October 23 notice keeps the rest of Waimea Canyon State Park and all of Kōkeʻe closed. Treat this section as planning for later. Check the Park Notices page before you count on any of it.
Canyon Trail to Waipoʻo Falls
Hawaii State Parks’ trail poster rates the Canyon Trail moderate and lists it at 1.8 miles, without saying one way or round trip. It follows the canyon rim, crosses Kōkeʻe Stream and ends at Waipoʻo Falls. Hawaii-guide.com gives about 3.4 miles round trip from near Puʻu Hinahina. It says the falls drop roughly 800 feet in tiers.
Iliau Nature Loop
The poster lists this as an easy 0.3-mile loop. The trailhead is between mile markers 8 and 9 on Highway 550. It is a roadside walk through dry shrubland, with plant signs and views of Waimea and Waiʻalae canyons.
Mud and trail hazards
Hawaii-guide.com’s Waipoʻo Falls page says to expect mud. It says the canyon trails stay damp even on sunny days and that sandals will not work. The trail has exposed sections and a few steep switchbacks. There is no water source and little shade, so the site suggests at least a liter of water per person.
The state’s poster says trails can be rocky, slippery and muddy, and that the forest gets dark early and quickly. It calls the Pihea Trail a “slippery, muddy trail that can be dangerous.” The poster recommends good boots. Our Hawaii packing list covers the rest of the gear.
Hawaii State Parks also asks hikers to clean shoes and gear before and after entering forests, to help stop the spread of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death.
What else to do on the west side
If the upper road is still closed when you visit, Kauai has other days to fill. Our guide to off-the-beaten-path adventures on Kauai covers places away from the busiest stops. The island hub, things to do on Kauai, has the wider list.
Trail and road conditions change quickly after storms. Check current park alerts before you go.
Updated October 30, 2026.
Waimea Canyon Lookout FAQ
Is the Waimea Canyon Lookout open?
Hawaii State Parks reopened it on October 24, 2026, daily during daylight hours unless there is an emergency closure. Its October 23 notice kept Puʻu Hinahina, Puʻu Ka Pele and Puʻu o Kila closed. Check the Important Park Notices page before you go.
How much does it cost to visit Waimea Canyon Lookout?
Hawaii State Parks lists $5.00 per person entry and $10 per vehicle parking for nonresidents. Its October 23, 2026 notice said only parking fees are collected for now, and entry fees are waived.
What mile marker is the Waimea Canyon Lookout?
Mile marker 10 on Waimea Canyon Drive, according to Hawaii-guide.com and TravelPulse.
What time of day is best for the Waimea Canyon Lookout?
Morning. Hawaii-guide.com says clear mornings are best and clouds often arrive by mid-afternoon.
How long is the drive from Waimea town?
Hawaii-guide.com puts the Waimea Canyon Lookout about 23 minutes from Waimea town.
