Located on the west side of Kauai, Waimea Canyon stretches 14 miles long, is one mile wide, and is more than 3,600 feet deep. These photos were taken from the Waimea Canyon Lookout (elevation 3,400 feet) which provides these panoramic views of crested buttes, rugged crags and deep valley gorges. The grand inland vistas go on for miles. Mark Twain dubbed this natural wonder "The Grand Canyon of the Pacific".
The canyon was carved thousands of years ago by numerous floods and rivers flowing down from the summit of Mount Waialeale; However, what makes Waimea Canyon even more impressive is when you consider its size in relation to the size of Kauai, which is only 26 miles across and 21 miles north to south.
On this trip to Kauai my family and I encountered a lot of rain, not entirely surprising considering we were near one of the wettest places on earth (Mount Waialeale receives an average of 466 inches of rain each year), but we also had to endure Hurricane Ana which fortunately only hit the island with Tropical Storm force. One morning we woke up to a sunny sky and seized the moment to drive to Waimea Canyon Lookout where we were blessed with these great views. A local woman selling fresh produce near the lookout parking lot told us she hadn't seen clear sunny skies over the canyon like this for quite a few years.
The sunny clear skies didn't last long, for (as you can see in some of the above photos) rain clouds came moving in just as we were leaving the canyon. Nonetheless, if you find yourself on the island of Kauai, Waimea Canyon is a must see. Hopefully you'll see the canyon under clear sunny skies like I did...I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
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