Living in Arizona, I could not believe the tour magazine when I read, "Waimea Canyon is Mark Twain’s Grand Canyon of the Pacific." But once we got there and looked out onto the red rocks, my husband said, "The Grand Canyon on Miracle Grow with a view of the Pacific, wow!"

Lush, green vegetation contrasting with the red rocks make for a spectacular site. If you enjoy hiking there are many trails into the canyon with great views; check the ranger station for detailed maps. Some of these trails are very slippery due to the red mud and hiking boots are suggested. Bring your own food and water plus be sure you have plenty of gas since I do not recall any convenience stores on the 40-mile Waimea Canyon Road. Don’t forget your camera because this day will definitely be one photo opportunity after another. I see no need to pay for a travel guide here; enjoy the day on your own at your own pace. Bring some extra bread to feed the beautiful moa roosters at every stop.

The Waimea Canyon, which is also called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, is an awe-inspiring gorge on Kauai's West shore. There are two roads leading to Waimea and they intersect higher atop the mountain. They steer you toward Route 552(Koke'e Road), but I took Route 550 (Waimea Canyon Drive), which had hardly any traffic and was an absolutely beautiful ascent up to the canyon.

On Route 550, you will see a lot of the famous Red Dirt, which has small winding streams running through. There were plenty of spots to pull over and look at the beautiful scenery on the way up. One of the views is the island of Ni’ihau, which is clearly visible as you drive up the winding road. As you drive higher you will begin to see a lot of wild chickens -- be careful because some are fearless.

When you reach 3400 feet you will be at the Waimea Canyon Lookout. From here you will be amazed at the breathtaking scenery. There was a restroom at this stop for your information.

After mile marker 13, you will reach the Pu'u Hinahina Lookout, which also has view of the canyon. At this same stop you can see view of Ni'ihau on a clear day at the Ni'ihau Viewpoint.

Continuing on to mile marker 15 is the Koke'e Museum and the Koke'e Lodge. At the Koke'e Museum you will find maps, calendars, souvenirs, and information on facts of the Canyon. The lodge next door has a small restaurant if you are looking for something to snack on.

From here, we kept traveling northward to mile marker 18; if I recall correctly, some or all of this was a dirt or gravel road. Here you will see Kalalau Lookout (4000 feet). To the right, there was a road that was closed off so we parked here to get to Pu'u o Kila Lookout(5148 feet). This is an ascent that you have to hike. It was about a 25- to 35-minute hike, but you will not be disappointed. When you reach the top you will see a sign proclaiming, "The Wettest Spot on Earth, Average Annual Rainfall 451 inches"!! Plus the view is jaw dropping.

I hope I have navigated you to the top of Waimea Canyon with ease. A couple of tips: you should pack some snacks before you leave, bring a couple of bottles of water (especially for the hike), and at the top, it is a bit cooler, you might want to bring a sweatshirt. Enjoy.

I thought people were exaggerating when they compared Waimea Canyon to the Grand Canyon. They're not. It's spectacular!

Be sure to take the Waimea Canyon Drive (Hwy 550) turnoff from Hwy 50. Don't take the Koke'e Road (552). The signs will steer you towards Koke'e Road. The Waimea Canyon Drive is a much prettier drive (and safer too). You'll see fantastic views of the canyon that you won't see from Koke'e Road. Lots of photo ops.

We drove the entire length and ended at Kalalau lookout. The Pu'u o Kila lookout was closed. It was a short and easy one mile hike on a dirt road and we had an incredible view of the Napali mountains and coast. This is the wettest spot on earth.

We stopped for lunch at the Koke'e Lodge. It was very reasonably priced and very good. I had the Meditteranean salad. It was a delicious salad and came with pita chips and hummus (very filling). My husband had a pork sandwich and my daughter had their specialty, a bean soup (can't remember the name). With drinks and a side of cornbread, the total came out to about $22.00 for the three of us.

We took the Koke'e road turnoff on our way back. We had great views of the ocean while heading down the mountain.

We ended our trip with a stop at Jo-Jo's for shaved ice. They have about 50 different (some very exotic) flavorings. It was a good thing the line was so long, because it takes a long time to figure out which flavors you want (you can choose up to 3). A great way to end the day.

The Waimea Canyon is called the "Grand Canyon" of Hawaii. A beautiful deep river gorge that lasts approximately 10 miles. There is a winding twisty road that will take you to the top of the canyon. Be sure to take something if you are prone to motion sickness.

I would also recommned taking your own picnic lunch, snacks, and drinks. There is a restaurant at the top of canyon, but it looks pricey and its the only one. There are also hiking trails and rental cabins at the Kokee Lodge.

Waiamea Canyon is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. The road up to the canyon was two lane and very steep. We took Rt. 540 up and Rt. 550 down. Driving to the canyon you will drive through a lot of sugar cane filds and also many coffee bean fields. There are lots of places to stop and take pictures. Try to take lots because the views are worth it!