Outdoor Adventure Gals

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adventure travel

Arizona Hot Springs Trail Hike

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I love discovering new trails, especially those with bonus activities. It’s even better when they are in unexpected places. Most people think of Las Vegas as a gambling mecca. I’ve found the best Las Vegas and surrounding areas outside of the casinos. While technically not in Las Vegas but just over the border in Arizona, the Arizona Hot Springs Trail is close enough to the Las Vegas area to make a nice day trip.

The Arizona Hot Springs Trail starts in a parking area at mile marker 4 just after going over the bridge on Highway 93 from Las Vegas across the Arizona border. It is about 45 minutes southeast of Las Vegas. It is also known as the White Rock Trailhead and is part of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

A sign marks the beginning of the trail. Be prepared for desert conditions and bring plenty of water. Because of extreme summer temperatures, the trail is closed from June-September. Please respect the closure dates as rescuers have put their lives in danger for those who weren’t prepared.

 

 

The beginning of the trail follows the wash and crosses under Highway 89. Not much elevation change make for an easy start.

 

 

 

Follow the trail down toward the wash that leads into the canyon. Be sure to pack a swimsuit and towel as the upcoming hot springs are a must for relaxation. I love my microfiber towel as it takes little space but absorbs a lot.

 

 

 

 

 

We entered the slot canyon of the hot springs from above the ladder and climbed down the ladder at the end. We saw others entering the pools by climbing up the ladder. When entering from above, there are three pools blocked off by sandbags. The first pool is the hottest. We walked through it quickly and settled on relaxing in the second pool. I wish I had brought water shoes to change into as I ended up with wet trail shoes for the hike out.

Just a word of caution for those who want to take families on this hike, be prepared to run into nudity. Some like to enjoy the hot springs in the buff and even those who bring suits need a place to change and there aren’t a lot of hiding places. It didn’t bother me but it might be offensive to others.

After soaking in the hot springs, we climbed down the ladder and hiked  toward the Colorado River.

 

The trail is supposed to loop around for a round trip of just over 6 miles. We tried to find the loop and somehow missed the trail and ended up hiking an extra mile before we connected to it along the wash. I would suggest doing the trail as an out and back to avoid this.

Overall, we had a great time. It took us about three hours round trip which included soaking in the springs. It may take longer for those who don’t hike a lot or for those with families. Make sure to check the weather as slot canyons can flood quickly. Also, be mindful of temperatures. This hike is not suitable for hotter weather as it is exposed.

 

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Hiking and Trail Running Awa’awapuhi Trail in Kauai Hawaii

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Part of the Kokee State Park trail system, the Awa’awapuhi trail offers stunning views of the Na Pali Coast and the Nu’alolo and Awa’awapuhi Valleys. The difficult rated trail starts  past the Kokee Museum on Kokee Road or state road 550.

An unpaved area at the trailhead allows parking for several cars. The beginning of the trail passes through rain forest and can get slippery and muddy. While I wanted to run, the tree branches combined with the mud had me moving slower than I wanted.

 

 

 

 

The well marked trail is mostly downhill to the lookout so be prepared for a harder, uphill climb. However, it is well worth it as it passes through lush rain forest as well as high desert terrain and eventually leads to stunning vista views.

 

I loved the view of the ocean. It’s not something I get to see everyday and I can’t describe the awe inspiring feeling of getting to the end of the trail and soaking in that view.

There is a fenced at the end of the trail which all of the guide books warn about not going past. With the drop off and the unstable ground, I would definitely recommend heeding the advice. I didn’t think the trail was that hard but the climb out would present a challenge for young children or inexperienced hikers. The length of the trail varies with different guides but my GPS had it about 3.2 miles each way for a 6.4 mile round trip hike. I wore my regular running shoes but because of the mud, I wished I had worn my trail running shoes for better grip.

I had my running pack which allowed me to easily carry my water bladder and snacks. While I didn’t need the snacks, I used most my water. I recommend carrying at least 1 liter or more depending on the temperature and how quick you think you will finish. It took me about 2 1/2 hours but could take the average person 3-5 hours.

 

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Hiking and Trail Running in Kauai: Mahaulepu Heritage Trail

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While staying near Poipu Beach in Kauai, Hawaii, I wanted a run I could do in the mornings before our group got together for a day activity. Any introvert can relate to the need to have alone time while on vacation. Lucky for me, I found the Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail early in my trip and had the chance to run it several times.

The trail starts on Shipwrecks Beach by the Hyatt Resort. I had about a mile run to get to they Hyatt, ran along the public sidewalk through the resort and found the trail on the other side of the wall at the end of the sidewalk.

For those willing to get up before dawn, the morning sunrise along the trail offers tranquility and the satisfaction of having having the trail to yourself for a short time. The absence of trail markers along the trail left me guessing at mileage but soaking in the scenery made the distance insignificant.

 

The trail passes through sandy dunes which makes for slow running but also gave me a chance to seize the moment. No need to hurry in Hawaii.

The mere 150 ft. elevation change along the trail make it one of the easier hikes in Kauai. I didn’t let that lull me into a sense of security as I still had plenty of tree roots and jagged rocks grabbing at my feet and daring me to fall.

 

I was lucky enough to catch a pod of harbor seals swimming off the coastline one morning. Instead of taking photos, I stood at the point and took in the incredible scene.

I never want to be in too big of a hurry to stop and see the flowers. While I didn’t see a lot on my run, I did see flowers I didn’t even know existed.

 

Part of the trail runs along the edge of the Poipu Golf Course. It looked like it use to extend toward the water and has eroded away.

I made it to the Makauawahi Cave Reserve on my last run of the week. The reserve is home to Hawaii’s largest limestone cave. Tours are available but it was more fun to stumble upon it not knowing it was there. Signs dot the walking path through the reserve for those who want to learn more about the sight. I spent a lot of time walking around the sinkhole.

I didn’t do more than 6 miles round trip even on the day I made it to the cave reserve so I can’t comment on the length of the trail. I recommend taking a full water bottle as it does get warm when the sun comes out. Also, a good pair of running shoes works better than sandals or flip flops even if only walking the trail. For those staying in Poipu, this trail makes a great daily morning walk or run.

 

Not a sponsored post but does contain affiliate links.

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Hiking and Trail Running in Kauai: Sleeping Giant Nounou East Trail

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Not a sponsored post but post contains affiliate links.

On my recent trip to Kauai, Hawaii, I wanted to do some trail running. My daughter and husband found the Nounou east trail on the Sleeping Giant Mountain. While I would have liked a longer trail, I still loved the Nounou trail.

The first part of the trail consists of several switchbacks under a canopy of trees. At about .75 miles, the trail gains elevation.

 

 

 

For those who prefer trail running over hiking, it’s perfect for both. The trail is well marked. Always follow the bigger trail, staying off of the smaller side trails. I made the mistake of getting off trail after my husband told me to veer left at the fork and since he didn’t wait for me, I had no idea where he was talking about. The trail is easy to follow without bad directions so I shouldn’t have had the veer left in my head. I ended up climbing up a rock face that was not part of the main trail. I decided it was safer to bush whack back to the trail than to climb down the wall again. I eventually made it back to the main trail and ignored any directional advice after that.

The trail offers stunning views of Kapaa and Waipouli in various places. A picnic area sits near the top in what is referred to as the giant’s chest.

Some of the guides we read said the next part of the hike was treacherous and could result in death. We forged ahead anyway as the trail didn’t look bad and we are experienced hikers. There are a few steep rock scrambles that may be more treacherous if wet but didn’t seem too difficult. I would not recommend this part of the hike for those with poor balance or young children but we handled it well.

 

The views from the top are amazing. I love the ocean views since I can’t get those  at home.

Besides the rock scrambles, I ran the majority of the trail down. It took me a little over an hour round trip but might take up to 2-2 1/2 hours, depending on experience and activity level.

Be sure to wear proper footwear and bring plenty of water. Depending on the time of year, it can get hot.

Getting There:

Take the Kuhio Highway to Haleilio Road. Take the road toward the mountains. Drive about a mile through the neighborhood in Wailua. Just past a telephone pole to the left is a small parking area with the trailhead marking. The trail can be tricky to find so best to use phone navigation.

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Adventures in Kauai: Wailua River Kayak and Uluwehi Falls Hike

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Not a sponsored post though post contains affiliate links.

Exploring the island of Kauai in Hawaii offers many beautiful surprises. We rented kayaks along the Wailua River for one of our vacation adventures. The rental shops along the river offer guided tours but we opted to rent two person kayaks and found our way without a guide. This saved us a considerable amount of money and let us travel at our pace. The kayak shop gave us great directions on where to park our kayaks to find the hiking trail to Uluwehi Falls.

We enjoyed the lunch vegetation and beautiful flowers with our relaxing two mile paddle along the Wailua River. The calm river made the kayaking portion relatively easy. With four of us in two kayaks, it meant we could switch off and have a break as needed. My 75 year-old mother-in-law handled the kayak portion by sitting back and letting my husband to the work most of the time.

We parked our kayaks and began the little over one mile hike to the waterfall. The trail can present a challenge for those not as steady on their feet. While three of us handled it well, the muddy conditions made it slow going my 75 year-old  mother-in-law.

Thank goodness the river crossing had a rope to hang onto and a very patient granddaughter or we probably wouldn’t have been able to get Mom across. Since the trail is so muddy, I would not recommend flip flops but instead a sturdy pair of water shoes with straps. Hiking shoes work well too but be prepared to get them muddy and wet.

 

My daughter opted to go barefoot but she admitted she wished she had her water sandals.

The well marked trail passes through lush vegetation and gets sloshy about half way through. Be prepared to walk directly in the mud which easily covered my entire feet.

 

 

A pool with a small waterfall makes a great photo opportunity along the way. The shallow water and rocks make it easy to find a good crossing point.

 

A short but steep climb with lots of tree branches presented the biggest challenge for Mom but for experienced hikers, it’s not bad at all. The bigger challenge is getting down as it it wet and slippery.

 

 

 

After clearing the steep hill, Uluwehi Falls (also known as Secret Falls) comes into view shortly after. Plenty of rocks offer a resting spot and a great place to have lunch or a snack. Be sure to wear swimwear for the pool at the base of the falls. The most adventurous will love getting under the falls. Besides hiking in our swimwear, we also carried a small pack with snacks, a bottle of water, and sunscreen for our kayak ride back.

Whether on a romantic trip or traveling with family in Kauai, the kayak ride and hike is definitely worth seeing.

 

 

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