The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai Revealed by Andrew Doughty & Leona Boyd

Author:Andrew Doughty & Leona Boyd [Doughty, Andrew & Boyd, Leona]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wizard Publications, Inc.
Published: 2011-10-02T00:00:00+00:00

Powerline Trail

The Powerline Trail is an old dirt road cut through mostly untouched wilderness. It was carved by the electric company to facilitate the installation of (surprise!) powerlines in the early 1900s. It was recut in 1996 and goes from northeastern Kapa‘a to southern Princeville over a span of 10 4/10 miles. If you ever wondered why some local trucks have 2-foot lift kits, this road is one reason. It has giant ruts that can swallow stock trucks.

This trail is best taken as a shuttle, starting from Kapa‘a side (the prettier part of the trail) past the end of Kuamo‘o Road, just past the Keahua Arboretum. (See WAILUA & KAPA‘A map and ANAHOLA TO ‘ANINI map for the two trailheads.) You could leave your car there and take The Kaua‘i Bus back from the north shore, but you’d have to take a cab up Kuamo‘o Road to your car. Otherwise, just take the trail until you get tired, then come back. If it’s been raining much, the trail becomes pretty muddy and should be avoided.

There aren’t any super long climbs, just lots of small ones on the hilly first half of the hike. The second half is mostly a gentle descent into the north shore. The area is lush and undisturbed for most of the way—except for the road and those pesky poles. (I guess we shouldn’t whine too much about the poles. If they weren’t there, the trail wouldn’t be either.) The area is so lush that the absence of plants on the trail is easily visible from space. Look at the front cover—the Powerline Trail is unmistakable. Watch for waterfalls along the way, though none are close enough to visit. At about halfway you will be able to see the ocean on the north shore. What a lovely sight! You can see great distances at many places along the trail. This hike, though tiring, is a fine way to see Kaua‘i’s wild side.

Along the trail there are numerous short spur roads leading to individual poles. Some offer great views. Since the road stays fairly near the poles all the time, and since the main road is easy to stay on, you shouldn’t get lost. It ends at Kapa ka Road. (Kapa ka Road is between the 27 and 28 mile markers on Hwy 56.)

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