Rainforest Trails

 

Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Park, Washington

Spruce Nature Trail: [August 1996] The Spruce Nature Trail is one of two short trails starting at the Hoh Visitor Center (the other is the Hall of Mosses Trail) which loops through the Hoh rainforest in Olympic National Park. The trail is 1.25 miles long and it offers great views of the rainforest vegetation, including impressive stands of old-growth Sitka spruce. Hoh is a temperate rainforest, and when you step into it's realm you feel like you have been transported into a mythical world—the trees are draped with epiphytes, or air plants, and ferns and mosses fill the forest with every shade of green possible. In addition, there are interpretive plaques explaining the ecology of the rainforest found along the path, which aid in your understanding of the flora.

NBH Tip: As beautiful as the rainforest canopy is, don’t forget to keep looking down, because you just might see one of the coolest gastropod mollusks that ever slimed the earth—we are talking, of course, about the famous Banana Slug. You might also keep an eye out for Roosevelt Elk, they don't slime anything, but they're still very cool animals.

 

Queets Rainforest, Olympic National Park, Washington

Sams River Loop Trail: [August 2004] A pristine example of temperate rainforest exists in the Queets district of Olympic National Park, and the hiker can explore this area via a scenic trail called the Sams River Loop. The Sams River Loop takes the hiker on a 3.0 mile loop into a wild and beautiful area of Olympic, one seldom mobbed with other visitors. In fact, it is very likely that you will have this trail all to yourself, which is quite a contrast to the more popular Hoh Rainforest. We hiked the loop in a clockwise direction, beginning our hike at the end of the Queets River Road. The trail instantly immerses the hiker in a world of green, every shade of green possible is represented in the Queets, and the forest has a mythical quality that makes you feel like you just stepped into a fairy tale—towering trees, draped with mosses, and ferns as tall as the average hiker line the narrow trail as far as the eye can see. At one point, the moss draped branches of vine maples form an arch above the trail, surrounding the hiker with these ominous arm-like projections; you expect a hobbit to come jumping out of the woods at any second.  The trail itself is level, never gaining much elevation as it meanders through a variety of terrain, including ancient forest, river bottoms and fields where pioneer homesteads once stood—the only noticeable sign of the homesteaders are a few fruit trees that still grow in the area. Towards the middle of the trail, you will cross the road and walk past the ranger station before re-entering the forest, but don’t let this section confuse you, just look for the trail once you cross the road and you will be back on track. This last section of the trail sticks closer to the river, often offering views of the water. After admiring a few more examples of the old-growth forest the trail ends, once again intersecting with the Queets River Road. To get back to the car just hike a 0.25 miles down the road to the parking lot.

NBH Tip: If you would like to increase your chances of seeing elk, which often graze in the meadows, then try to arrive for your hike in the early morning or late afternoon.

 

Olympic National Park, Washington

Sol Duc Falls: [August 1994, August 2004] Any hike through a rainforest will help to renew your spirit, but add a beautiful waterfall into the mix and you have the makings of an unforgettable trail! The 0.8 mile (1.6 miles roundtrip) hike to the multi-plumed cascade of Sol Duc Falls in the Olympic Temperate Rainforest is one of our favorite short trails. When you enter the green world of the rainforest, it is easy to forget your worries, as you are at once surrounded by dense foliage that breathes life into your lungs. Epiphytes and mosses cling to, and drape from, the branches of ancient trees such as hemlocks and douglas firs. It is humbling to walk beneath such towering giants, and even more incredible is the fact that they are not the star attraction. After following the level path past the curtains and carpets of moss, you will soon hear the roar from Sol Duc Falls, and then it comes into view! The three beautiful arcs of the waterfall plunge 50 feet into the narrow canyon and then flow under a rustic bridge that serves as a dramatic viewpoint. Sol Duc (also spelled Solduck and Soleduck) is a Native-American name meaning magic waters, and when you see the falls for yourself, you will acknowledge the appropriateness of the title.

NBH Tip: This is a great place to practice some slow-shutter speed photography, so bring your tripod and try a few shots at shutter speeds slower than 1/30th of a second—by doing so, you will insure that the waterfall blurs into a stunning white mist. There is also a more adventurous view of the falls, for those who want to venture down into the Sol Duc River, just take a right at the bridge and then look for a small path off to the right of the trail. This will lead down a very steep incline, which requires going under and over some fallen trees, but the reward is a stunning view of the bridge above you, and the plunge pool at foot level. In addition, be sure to take a left at the bridge and walk to the railings along the side of the trail, from here you can get great views of the falls, the bridge, and the gorge.

 

 

Kalopa Rainforest, Big Island of Hawaii 

Kalopa Nature Trail: [June 1999] Within the Kalopa State Recreation Area, on the windward east coast of the Big Island, you will find the Kalopa Nature Trail. This short trail, a 0.7 mile roundtrip loop, winds through a true Hawaiian rainforest. The forest sits at the 2,000 foot elevation mark, which keeps the air cool and moist, providing a refreshing atmosphere for the hiker. One of the highlights of the trail is the towering Ohi’a trees, which have a fluffy red, or sometimes yellow blossom called the Lehua flower. Another common tree of the Hawaiian rainforest canopy is the Kopiko, a species well represented along this trail. On the ground, you will see hapu'u and hapu'u kane, two similar species of tree fern, that nearly crowd out the trail in certain sections. In fact, they tend to dwarf hikers as they make their way through the dense foliage. A hike through Kalopa’s native forest is a great way to familiarize yourself with Hawaii’s tropical rainforest—don’t miss it!

NBH Tip: Before beginning your hike, be sure to pick up one of the trail pamphlets available at the trailhead, that way you will then be able to identify the plants that are numbered along the trail.

 

Akaka Falls State Park, Big Island, Hawaii

Akaka Falls Loop Trail: [June 1999] Akaka Falls overlook, reached via a paved 0.4-mile trail, is one of the most easily accessed waterfalls on the Big Island. The loop trail that weaves through tropical vegetation such as bamboo, heliconia, noni, and ginger, offers the hiker an easy walk through a lush rainforest to overlooks of two waterhi99falls—Akaka and Kahuna Falls. A sign at the trailhead points out the suggested direction of the circle route—advising the hiker to visit Kahuna Falls first, followed by Akaka Falls. Following the trail in this direction allows you to save the best waterfall for last, as Akaka is much more impressive than Kahuna. The 400-foot Kahuna Falls is on the lower end of the trail and is slightly obscured by the surrounding foliage—still beautiful, but just lacking the impact Akaka Falls has on the viewer. Continuing on the loop, the path climbs an uphill portion towards the top of the incline where you will soon hear the roar of Akaka Falls. From the top of the incline, the path descends to the overlook—views begin to appear through the trees until finally, the impressive 442-foot high falls is seen plunging over a sheer cliff into a green grotto below—Kolekole Stream flows from the plunge pool among colorful stands of torch ginger. Linger at the overlook as long as you like, before heading back to the parking lot—you will not be sorry that you stopped for this short hike.

NBH Tip: Before you set out, keep in mind that the path simply leads to overlooks of the falls—neither waterfall is accessible from the park. In addition, the trail can be quite slippery when it is wet, so watch your step.

 

Coba, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Coba: [December 2002] Spread across 80 square miles lays the site of an ancient Mayan city where shallow lakes intertwine with ancient limestone roads called sacbe, and rising from the rainforest are some of the most impressive ruins in the Yucatan. Nearly 20,000 structures are spread out across this city, most are still engulfed by jungle, but a few have been excavated. Nearly a dozen major trails lead to marked ruins at Coba so be prepared to walk about 5km to 7km through lush rainforest while visiting the structures. Bigger then Chichen Itza and older then Tulum, the ancient city of Coba is the ultimate Mayan archaeological site in the Mexican Caribbean. Among the highlights is Grupo de Coba, the first of the structures that the hiker will encounter, with its 78 foot tall pyramid called Iglesia. It rises out of a tropical forest so thick that you can barely see the buildings until you are practically climbing them. Farther along the main sacbe, you will come to Grupo de Pinturas, or group of paintings, named for the murals at the top of the four-tiered pyramid. A better view of the faded artwork can be seen under a thatched roof in front of the pyramid. Continuing down the main path, you soon come to the spectacular temple of Nohoch Mul—one of the tallest pyramids in the Yucatan at 140 steep feet. While standing at the base gazing up the steep steps, gather your stamina and your courage, and then set forth to climb to the top of the pyramid. Once on the top the view is breath-taking, and from the summit, you can see the pyramid Iglesia protruding from the thick green jungle that seems to go on forever.

NBH Tip: It is advisable to bring your own water for this hike, and be sure to wear insect repellant since mosquitoes make their home near the lakes. If you want to visit the ruins but you just don’t feel like hiking all that way, take heart—mountain bikes are available for rent for about $2.00 US at a stand just inside the ruins. It is also important to remember that at least one person a year loses his/her footing while climbing Nohoch Mul and dies somewhere along the way down, so wear appropriate shoes and take care while climbing. Admission to the ruins was 35 pesos, or $3.50 US, on December 10, 2002.

 

Road to Hana, Maui

The Four Falls of Na’ili’ili-haele: [June 2004] Hey, it doesn’t matter if you can pronounce the name or not, all that matters is that you hike this trail. Imagine hiking to four tropical waterfalls all on one adventure, with the only problem being that getting to each of the falls becomes progressively more and more difficult—just remember that the key to any hike is to enjoy the journey as much as the destination. Begin your hike just past the 6 mile marker on The Road to Hana, here you will find a dirt pull-off and a gate. After passing through the gate, you enter the bamboo forest and the fun begins, particularly if it has recently rained, as it had when we ventured out on this trail. Slipping and sliding down a steep muddy path isn’t exactly how we envisioned our first hike through a bamboo forest, but it certainly couldn’t have been more adventurous. The towering bamboo is an otherworldly sight, and the sound they make as they collide in the wind is almost musical. It is easy to get caught up in this mysterious forest but this kind of trail requires some focus, so onward we trekked, continuing down the slick embankment trying our best not to get a view of the treetops from our backside, until we soon encountered a trickling stream over which a muddy plank served as a makeshift bridge. Just a little further on you will come to a stream, which you must ford by either wading across or boulder hopping. Once across, continue hiking through the dense bamboo by following the narrow trail close to the stream, don’t follow the wider trail that leads up the hill. Across the stream you will see a waterfall, dry at the time of our hike, which we assumed was waterfall number one. After returning home we came to realize that this was just a tributary entering Kailua Stream—due to our mistake we crossed the stream and headed for what we thought was falls number two (actually falls number one). The going was quite rough and the trail was extremely narrow, making fitting through with a backpack a laughable task, but somehow we managed to battle through to an opening that lead down a precariously steep embankment back to the stream. Once we were down by the water we could see the waterfall, a small 15 foot plume cascading over a rocky precipice into a deep green pool with the whole scene surrounded by lush tropical vegetation—beautiful! Okay, now according to our favorite guidebook “Maui Revealed” most people turn around at falls number two, so this is where we ended our hike, because to see falls number three you must rock climb up the side of falls number two, and then swim across the stream. We weren’t up for getting quite that wet so we were happy to end our hike at the second falls. Of course hindsight is 20/20 and we now realize we were only at falls number one and it would have been relatively easy to continue—aye, there’s the rub! Regardless of our mistake, we had a blast exploring the bamboo forest and playing in the mud, even if Butchwacker was wearing white…go figure!

 

NBH Tip: Well, just in case you haven’t figured it out yet, it is a bad idea to cross the stream when you see the tributary—stay on the trail and you will be on track for falls number one and two. If you have the extra clothes and a sense of adventure try your hand at falls number three and four, otherwise, have a great time exploring the first two waterfalls.

 

 

Lower Puohokamoa Falls: [June 2004] In order to find Lower Puohokamoa Falls, make your way to the path that is just a short little wayside along The Road to Hana. You will find it just past the 10 mile marker—look for the turnout with a telephone pole and barbed wire fence. Once you find the wayside, follow the path along the fence that skirts the edge of a cliff, and as you hike keep glancing over your right shoulder until you catch a glimpse of the immense Lower Puohokamoa Falls—you should only have to hike a few minutes before you can see the falls. Puohokamoa Falls cascades 200 feet over a cliff into a deep pool, while automobiles driving the Road to Hana pass unknowingly over it along their journey.

NBH Tip: Even though this is really not much of a hike, we wanted to mention its whereabouts in order to make hikers aware of the beauty that is just a few feet from the road—don’t miss an opportunity to get a view of this spectacular waterfall!

 

Upper Waikani Falls: [June 2004] Located just off the Road to Hana, between mile markers 19 and 20, is a beautiful waterfall. At first glance it appears as though your only view will be from the roadside, but further investigation yields a short trail to the falls. In order to find the trail, park at the bridge and head for the Hana side of the bridge until you see a way to climb under the structure, some books say to climb under on the mauka (mountain) side, but we  found it easier on the makai (ocean) side—just be careful crossing the road. After climbing under the bridge, just follow the path towards the falls, and the first highlight that you will encounter is a stroll through towering torch ginger. These huge red flowers sit atop a thick cane-like stem and stand from five to twenty feet tall, adding a definitive tropical feel to the hike. After passing through the torch ginger, just around the corner is Upper Waikani, also known as Three Bears Falls, three because it has three separate cascades of water most of the time. There are huge boulders around the falls perfect for portraits or a nice picnic lunch—take your time here and soak in the Hawaiian sun and tropical mist.

NBH Tip: The parking at this Road to Hana wayside is very limited, so be sure to arrive at the falls early, especially if you plan to hike the trail to the falls.

 

Diamond Botanical Complex, St Lucia

Diamond Falls: [January 2006] A walk through dense foliage and dozens of tropical flowers leads to 30 foot Diamond Falls. The main path through the gardens follows the ash gray Diamond River to the base of the waterfall—splashing over rocks and shimmering with different colors caused by the mineral content of the water, which is fed by a mix of natural and thermal sulphur streams from the Soufriere volcano, the falls are a beautiful sight. Tropical flowers with unlimited blossoms scent the air, attracting a variety of colorful birds. A walk through the garden unveils a fascinating world where hummingbirds perch on ginger, and bananaquits feed from colorful blooms of the glory lily. The garden is truly a delight for photographers and nature lovers alike.

NBH Tip: The best time to visit the Diamond Botanical Gardens is in the morning, birds are more active and the light on the waterfall is better for photography. You might also want to bring some rain gear, as it often rains in the rainforest—go figure!

 

Nature Trail: [January 2006] Just steps from the manicured gardens of the Diamond Complex there exists a short trail, approximately 1.0 mile roundtrip, which winds its way through lush forest. Although the trail lacks the vibrant colors of the garden, it makes up for it in the variety of trees that line the path, most notable are the giant bamboo, the cocoa tree, papaya, and Honduras Mahogany. The dirt path is wide and gentle, allowing just about anyone to enjoy the walk.

NBH Tip: If it has recently rained this trail is likely to be muddy, so be prepared with appropriate footwear.

 

Central Forest Reserve, St Lucia

Barre de L’isle / Morne La Combe: [January 2006] The Barre de L’isle Trail, which means “island ridge”, is an extraordinary way to acquaint yourself with the interior rainforests of St. Lucia. This out and back trail ends with a steep climb up 1,446 ft (438m) Mount La Combe, where from the lofty summit of the mountain you are privy to panoramic views of the Roseau and Mabouya valleys. The signposted trailhead strikes into the Central Forest Reserve directly from the central Castries-Dennery highway, it will be on the right side of the road as you drive towards the town of Dennery. Across the road from the trailhead you will see a small building where a ranger will collect a required hiking fee of EC$25($9.25 USD) per person, they also have beverages available for purchase. After paying your fee, which helps to maintain and protect the trails, you are ready to begin your hike. Upon entering the forest you will be amazed by the lush green foliage and the thick jungle canopy. The trail is crowded by huge elephant ferns and other tropical flora in every shade of green possible. Along the way you will be pleased with the many signs that identify the different species of trees, and with the strategically placed steps that help make the steeper sections easier to tackle.  The trail itself, which is about two miles roundtrip, now leads directly to the summit of Morne La Combe. We had read in guidebooks that the Barre de L’isle trail and the trail to the summit of the mountain were separate hikes, but as far as we could tell they are now one in the same. As we made our way up the mountain we stopped to admire the tropical flora and fauna, in particular we enjoyed the Julia butterflies, the purple-throated Caribs, and an odd placed land crab. We noticed the crab when we stopped to rest along the trail. I heard a rustling in the leaves off to my right, and my first thought was that it might be a snake, but to my surprise it was a huge land crab with his claws outstretched—apparently he was just as surprised to see me. Closer to the summit of Morne La Combe we were excited to hear the squawks of the rare and endangered St. Lucian parrot. Unfortunately, we never caught a glimpse of the colorful bird, but we were still happy to have at least heard one. It took us an hour and twenty minutes to reach the summit, where we enjoyed the expansive views of the valley. After a brief rest at the top, we retraced our footsteps back down the mountain, arriving at the car in forty minutes, for a roundtrip hiking time of two hours. The Barre de L’isle trail is an easy and accessible way to enjoy some of St. Lucia’s incredible and unsurpassed beauty.

NBH Tip: It is likely you will encounter mosquitoes while hiking this rainforest trail, so be prepared with insect repellant. Heat and humidity are also a formidable aspect of rainforest hiking. Therefore, you are likely to be soaked in sweat after completing this trek; dress accordingly.