Trail Map of Sleeping Giant, Nounou Mountain, Kauai
Climb face of the fabled sleeping giant, and prey you don't wake him!
Back to guide detail
Overview
Moderate:
4.0 miles, 1-3 hours
Overview:
Nounou Mountain rises from the leeward (Eastern) side of Kauai, known for some of the better island weather.
Local legend tells of a giant who feasted so much at a party in his honor that he laid down for a nap and never awoke, and when you see the mountain's resemblance to a sleeping giant from the nearby town of Kapa'a you can see why the legend persists.
This is a nice little hike if you're in the area, and a great way of sampling some of Kauai's exotic plantlife and bird population. Certainly it's not the greatest trail on the island (particularly when it's up against such stiff competition) but if you're planning to be spending some time around the leeward side soaking up some rays, then it's worth checking out.
Elevation gain:
• 1,100ft (from 200 - 1,300ft)
Tips:
• As with all Hawaii hikes we recommend footwear with good grip, since the terrain can get a little slippy & muddy.
Local legend tells of a giant who feasted so much at a party in his honor that he laid down for a nap and never awoke, and when you see the mountain's resemblance to a sleeping giant from the nearby town of Kapa'a you can see why the legend persists.
This is a nice little hike if you're in the area, and a great way of sampling some of Kauai's exotic plantlife and bird population. Certainly it's not the greatest trail on the island (particularly when it's up against such stiff competition) but if you're planning to be spending some time around the leeward side soaking up some rays, then it's worth checking out.
Elevation gain:
• 1,100ft (from 200 - 1,300ft)
Tips:
• As with all Hawaii hikes we recommend footwear with good grip, since the terrain can get a little slippy & muddy.
Haleilio Rd Trailhead
Plant Life Rooted in Isolation
Nounou Mountain Overlook
POIs: numbers | icons
