The Kalalau Trail

The Kalalau Trail is repeatedly cited as one of the most beautiful, and most dangerous, coastal hikes in the world. Clinging to the sheer, fluted, emerald-green cliffs of Kauai's Nā Pali Coast, the trail is the only land access into this rugged, roadless paradise. Over 11 grueling miles (one way), hikers traverse deeply cut, incredibly steep valleys, crossing flash-flood prone streams and pushing through dense, humid jungle. The trail occasionally breaks out onto demanding, crumbling rock ledges known as 'Crawler's Ledge,' where a slip means falling directly into the crashing Pacific surf hundreds of feet below. The significant reward is arriving at pristine Kalalau Beach, a massive, isolated white sand crescent backed by soaring 4,000-foot green spires, complete with wild goat herds and hidden waterfalls.

Following the historic path used by the Army of the Andes in 1817, this 6-day trans-Andean expedition traverses the central cordillera from Mendoza, Argentina, to the Cajón del Maipo in Chile. The route crosses two significant high-altitude barriers—Portillo Argentino (4,330m) and Paso Piuquenes (4,030m). Hikers move through a high desert landscape of volcanic rock, vast glacial valleys, and the powerful Tunuyán River. The terrain consists primarily of rocky mountain paths, loose scree on the steeper pass approaches, and high-altitude plateaus where exposure to wind and sun is constant.