Ho'opi'i Falls

This is a nice hike through the forest to two nice waterfalls with a swimming hole at the end. The waterfall was only one cascade flowing as it hadn’t rained loads in a while.

This was a beautiful hike with the fun falls and River. We loved seeing the Jurassic Park Amber mine. So iconic!! Would highly recommend this hike.

Trespassing here? Expect tickets, towing, and unhappy locals. Private Property and No Public Access” This is not a legal trail. The second falls is on private land, and parking on Kapahi Road is illegal. Respect residents — hike elsewhere

Stop Parking Here — This is NOT a Public Trail” Kapahi Road is a residential street, not a trailhead. There is NO legal parking and NO public access to Hoʻopiʻi Falls from here. Cars block emergency vehicles, endanger children, and trespass across private property. Guidebooks and AllTrails are wrong…this route is outdated, illegal, and damaging to the community. If you park here, expect to be ticketed or towed. Go somewhere else.

Great falls. At the fork take the right to go down to the falls. Jungle environment, lots of vines and amazing plants. I imagine after rain this hike is very muddy and slippery. We witnessed quite a few falls including some of my own children falling on their bums when they were going downhill. Children ages 3,5,7,9 were all able to hike or fine. 3 year old girl did get a lift by daddy for a short period of the hike. I saw photos of the falls full, the were not as prominent on our trip but still worth the hike in my opinion.

This was a beautiful hike but apparently it has an opening time. We were accosted by a local saying we were there too early. Really soured the whole hike. LOTS of mosquitos. Beautiful scenery and the falls were great. Very slippery and muddy when we went.

It was nice. Very peaceful. Parking was hard. Lots of signs from locals not wanting you there. Jumping in the waterfall was sketchy. Small/rocks. Locals there were not friendly.

Parking to the trailhead is at the neighborhood so please keep it quiet for the residents living around there. Fun fact the second waterfall of this trail was on the scene of Jurassic park. It was a fun hike to the waterfall. Could say this trail is easy/moderate wise since the trail is mostly muddy and can be slippery for everyone even though it’s a less elevation gain kind of trail. I enjoyed the waterfall for the most part and the vegetation throughout the trail wise. Bring bug repellent since the mosquitoes can be annoying there 👍

Great easy hiking trail with two waterfall views. Beautiful scenery and mostly flat. Easy for families. Find the trailhead in the local neighborhood.

Beautiful foliage and waterfalls. We went when it was wet and very slippery and muddy, but if you take your time and watch your steps you won't have to worry.

We did a few different hikes while we were on Kauai and this one was definitely my favorite. It's not so high on the difficulty scale, so if you are looking for a big challenge, don't expect it here. But if you are looking for something moderate with insane greenery and multiple waterfalls...this is your spot. It comes up in a lot of trail reviews, but unlike some others, this hike starts in a residential neighborhood. Don't be alarmed, but definitely be on the quieter side, for the sake of the people that live right here. We were in and back in less than 2 hours (we took most trail detours too to see where they went) and everything we saw was amazing. It is really shaded so it's not blazing hot but it will for sure be humid, so don't forget your water. If you are planning multiple hikes on Kauai, definitely put this one on your list.

Easy hike for intermediate hikers. There were plenty of people going with just sandals. Unsure if that felt comfortable as we went in hiking shoes, but up to you. The hike to the falls is about 2 miles. You can hike to the top of the falls and when you hike further, you can hike to the bottom of the falls. Do keep in mind at this point, you are "rock climbing" down and you will be "rock climbing" back up when you exit the bottom of the falls. At the bottom, other than the falls there is a swing you can use to cannon ball into the base of the falls so bring your swimsuits if you wanna swim here/get good photos on the falls/swing cannonball into the water. Do note, there are also points in the hike where you can enjoy the river.

10/20/22 For people that are somewhat fit or young & adventurous this is an easy hike---if compare it to the Kalalau trail (10/10 rated). If you google it how to get here, it's pretty straightforward. We parked nearest to the trailhead. Got there about 12:25 & there were about 10 cars parked. It had rained the past couple of days so it was fairly slick, muddy, slippery, Wear shoes with traction. Bring water & bug spray or apply before you leave. Expect to get dirty. I was hoping not to slide but I ate it (luckily just once & once is enough) I felt so bad, hubby ate it more than 4 times (I lost count). Luckily just a few scratches, nothing broken. I guess we weren't paying attention & totally missed the 1st waterfall. It took us a good 45 minutes, I think (coz we're NOT fit) until we reached the 2nd waterfall. The walking stick I found helped a great deal. The more adventurous people we saw actually climbed down some steep embankment to get to the 2nd waterfall. It looked like a lot of fun but we weren't going down that route. Should've done this 10 years ago, esp. not after my knee surgery. We kept going for another hour past that 2nd waterfall--big mistake. That's where hubby fell more than once & it took us a long time to get back. It was a real jungle adventure for us, green everywhere & we felt we almost got lost. So we turned back. Hubby thought (using GPS) we were gonna find another shorter & easier way. Nope. I swear I was thinking worse case scenario of being lost in the jungle. We pushed on and barely made it out by 4:30, my knees were shaking & hubby said he almost felt like passing out. Overall, if we just went for the 1st waterfall & called it a day-we would've been golden. But it was an adventure we're never gonna forget anytime soon.

Hike the jungle to visit the 'Amber Mines' as depicted in the original Jurassic Park movie. This is a medium hike that can be difficult if conditions are wet. Meaning, if you are elderly or have children under age 9 you are going to struggle to make it to the final waterfall. You will be tempted to swim at the waterhole and tourists will be doing so, but if you did your research you will know that should be avoided. Why? Because the septic tanks from the local resisters is old and leaking and water tests have proven that this has toxic sewage showing up in the PH. That aside, it is still incredible and an accomplished feeling of you have the knees to make it. We went while it was wet and we're muddy and happy after.

Made the mistake of coming here after a storm. It was super muddy and slippery but I feel like if it was dry the hike would've been a lot more manageable! Otherwise, the trail head was a bit difficult to spot. The trail featured two falls, one about a 15 min walk in and another around another half hour walk in. The falls weren't massive but were aggressively spectacular. Honestly the pics don't do them justice at all. I would recommend on a less rainy day.

This is a beautiful hiking trail and waterfall. I highly recommend that you wear water shoes, Crocs, or some type of footwear that has some traction. On certain sections of the trail we walked in the water and the rocks were very slippery. It was so beautiful, quiet and serene. There was a lot of tree cover which kept the temperature nice and cool. The kids in our group (two 6 year old's and a 9 year old) really enjoyed hiking and exploring. There is no parking lot so you just park on the side of the road near the entrance.

The entrance wasn't well marked. We had to go under barbed wire. It was extremely slippery as it had rained. A lady on the trail thought she had broken her ankle and they had the medics come. It was fun to learn later that these falls were in Jurassic Park, where they find the mosquito in the amber. BEWARE the mud! It is super clay-like and hard to clean off. Wear shoes you don't ever need clean again or hiking sandals. (Though my brother did the trail in flip-flops.) My daughter still can't get the mud stain off her jeans after she sat on a log to keep from falling. At the end of the trail was a yard where the guy offers hikers to use his hose and make a donation. SUPER helpful! Though, maybe bring trash bags to protect your car afterward anyway. We had a rental and hadn't thought about how we'd protect the seats til we had finished. Thankfully we had large bags from car seats.

Road side parking in a residential area. No signage to indicate trail head as there're apparently several routes, all leading to the same destination. It's a good thing we found tree branches for walking sticks(many left at starting point) for trail was muddy and slippery. We only made it half way, to the first waterfall. It's very calming and beautiful, well worth the hike. The cool, clear water felt good on sweaty faces. Round trip took an hour or so.

If you prepare, you'll be fine. It's muddy after the rain, wear shoes with good traction but also shoes you don't care about because they will get dirty. It's VERY slippery in the mud (I fell) so just be careful. The most important advice I will give you is BRING BUG SPRAY. I thought I had packed ours but I didn't, we both probably ended up with 20+ bug bites on us, I am not exaggerating. This hike is definitely worth it. There are two sets of falls, we actually missed both of them and ended up turning around. A part of Jurassic Park was filmed here, didn't see the movie, didn't know that when I chose this hike. But lots of people were wearing their Jurassic park attire.

We really enjoyed the hike to the falls, except for the mud - it's everywhere (both here, and at most of the Kauai hiking trails). Tip: Choose your footgear well before visiting. If you're wearing new running shoes, they'll never look the same again afterwards ;-) Whatever foodgear you choose, choose your footing with care, as the mud makes the terrain VERY slippery! The most challenging aspect of this hike is the Cliff - you need to both climb down and then back up. While it is challenging, it's also a heck of a lot of fun, as is playing inside the falls on the rope swing :-) Tip: Be careful dropping off the rope - there's a HUGE rock underneath. We decided to play it safe and had one of our group stand near the rock to ensure that nowhere hit it by accident.

Quaint little area and nice swimming spot! We had trouble finding where to enter. We saw a bunch of cars but no trailhead. We just went through the bushes and found one of the trails. We went here when it hadn't rained in a few days so it wasn't muddy or slippery and the hike was easy, maybe a few branches to climb over and one slope. I wouldn't recommend if you're shaky on your feet, but it's definitely one of the easier hikes. There were many people jumping off the rocks and swimming but I didn't bring a swimsuit. Will definitely have to go again another time!

It was is a very amazing experience! The hike there is so beautiful! You have to be careful over some rocks and tree roots, but it was a fun challenge. There is a very steep downhill on the way to the falls, but you can use the roots to go down like a ladder. I had one of those "peak experiences" (Abraham Maslow) while sitting in the waterfall. Yes, you can sit, or recline on the rocks as the water is gushing over you. As we were enjoying the falls, a huge downpour rained down on us like buckets of water! It was really amazing. There is also a natural swimming pool right at the bottom of the falls. It was so refreshing. A couple of kids were swinging off a rope swing into the water. Of course, I wanted to get in on the action. Pure bliss! I swung 3 times until my husband insisted we get on our way. I wished I have stayed there for several hours. I highly recommend going for this adventure.

Very short hike to the first falls. You can jump off the side into the deep pool at the base of the falls. Swim down the river a short way after jumping in to climb out. Parking can be a bit tight. It's a residential neighborhood. Trailhead is a small opening through the weeds, but then trail is very easy to follow.

This is an easy-moderate out-and-back 2.4 miles hike to two waterfalls. The only reason I say it is somewhat moderate is because parts of the trail can get quite muddy and slippery, i.e. do not wear white tennis shoes. Otherwise, there is minimal elevation and you hike next to the stream the entire time. The scenery is beautiful...and itchy. There are a ton of mosquitoes, so apply a ton of mosquito repellant before you go!

Easy to medium difficulty hike. Parking is on the streets of a neighborhood. We arrived round 10am and it took us about an hr round trip with a few pauses to see the beautiful surrounding. keep right while you're on the hike and you will saw both waterfalls. Muddy at the beginning part of the hike and you can fall so be aware of it. Mosquitos loved my leg so also be aware of that. We didn't go to the bottom area of the waterfall but got a gorgeous view of the waterfall anyways. Enjoyed the hike with my little family.

Scenic hike with variety of gorgeous vegetation, birds, butterflies, dragonflies you name it . The sound of water as you hike along the riverbank, it's nature best playlist . The hike is very healing . Please wear shoes with traction , bring water , and your nature loving spirit because nature is ready to bedazzled you with its magic . Have fun, be safe, and please keep it clean for everyone to enjoy.

Don't come here it's a very private residential road, That deals with so much traffic and people being inconsiderate and rude by turning around in residents driveways, Being loud by shouting, slapping there shoes to clean them off from dirt ETC. "people always ask where's the trail head" or end up going on private property thinking it's the trail. Read the god-daynm signs!!!!! The locals are sick of it. Sick of the ignorant people. Some people have no respect or consideration of being quite , driving slow, and leaving the place better then they found it. Also if u plan on going don't stand in the middle of the road when local residents are driving. Also don't turn around in there driveways! , don't parks in front of peoples house!

This hike was so worth it. It is relatively flat until you have to actually get down to the base of the falls. Because the area gets so much rainfall, expect the trail to be very muddy with Kauai's beautiful red mud that will ruin any pair of shoes you hike in. So plan on bringing a pair you don't care to ruin and spare to change into after the hike because you will not want those shoes in your rental.

Extremely muddy and slippery hike, but well worth seeing the waterfall from the base. We didn't really have proper hiking gear, but after we made it safely I was glad I wore crocs because my wife's shoes were ruined.

had so much fun here today. You park on the street walk about a mile through an enchanted forest. Then you make it to the waterfall. Lots of fun spots to jump off of. saw about a dozen or so people come and go over the course of a few hours. I wore water shoes. if your fro. the city like me i suggest sturdy shoes that are good in and out of the water

Short hike (less than 2 miles) that brings you to see 2 waterfalls. Unfortunately, parts of the trail are pretty steep to get you to these waterfalls. Be careful of the rope swing in the upper falls; There was a big rock near where you would let go of the rope. We got lucky, the trail was dry on the day we went. Please don't wear flip flop/thong sandals to hike this trail. If the trail is muddy, I would strongly recommend NOT going. Even with bug spray, I got bitten 8 times. People did bring picnic lunch/waters to eat near the waterfalls.

Challenging path to attractive falls. Passed the handwritten signs "B Quiet", "This area is kapu (taboo)", and "Fatalities Occurred". I respect Hawaiian culture, but if this area is truly taboo, then there should be a sign from the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Scrambled over / through / under the young trees blocking the path. Kept myself upright on the Kauai red mud that was still slick after several dry days. Down muddy rock to the bottom of the falls. Great views and several people were enjoying the swimming hole. Considering the path condition, you must really want to go to the falls! Take shoes with a great grip. I would not recommend hiking poles because you will sometimes need both hands free to keep your balance. No mosquitoes in January.

Hoopii Falls was a wonderful little spot. Now the only issue is that the trailhead is really hidden away nearly covered by bushes. The access point is deep within a suburban neighborhood. Apple directions takes you down the correct road (Kapahi Road) but takes you past the only access point. Look at the satellite picture. (22.10306° N, 159.34320° W) Please do not disturb the residents. I can only imagine how many tourists have knocked on their doors looking for the entry point. We only walked to the first waterfall which was an easy walk in downhill. Luckily the trail was dry for us but we could see how slippery the mud can get when wet. The waterfall is wonderful. The stream that feeds into the waterfall is shallow but would not recommend wading in too far. The rocks are very slippery! The climb back to the trail from the first waterfall can be steep and if slippery could be hard for elderly people.

From being a couch potatoe with little to no exercise, to doing this hike... it is not a regular walk in the park. I mean it was beautiful and fun because I was hiking with my family, but wear proper shoes. (Hiking shoes) it took about 1 hour to get to the falls where you could swim. There were a lot of steep areas where someone could easily lose their balance. It was beautiful but this will be my first and last time.

Fun hike! Amazing view! Was hard to find the trail head. It's closer to the power pole and directly across from a home. We went after it rained and let me tell you it was SO SLIPPERY and SO muddy. Bring bug spray and shoes you don't mind getting red clay on. First fall was pretty, but the second was amazing! The trek down was hard after it had rained and super steep. The pool at the bottom was a great spot to swim and jump off the rope swing! Don't go far past the second fall there's nothing to see.

Most useful info: when you get here using Waze (or any other GPS device) you'll probably see a row of cars parked along the street shoulder (dirt) on the left. If you start to see signs that says "Resident Parking", you've gone too far. Trailhead is right next to the last house just before the ton of parked cars. It's not really obvious but you can identify it by the path. The hike will take about 30-45minutes (I walk slow). Hiking stick/pole definitely helps. You'll get muddy shoes for sure but it's not too bad. The trail is mostly shaded, so you can get by without a hat. We loaded up on bug spray, so we escaped without a single bite. The waterfall is great, you can get right next to it. To get to the pool below the fall will take a bit more hiking. Looked a little murky down there and we were tired, so we didn't even try. Overall, it's definitely worth it. I like this more than the Wailua or Opaekaa Falls.

Great hike. Super easy. It's about 10-15 min to get to the first waterfall and another 10 min to the second big one! Very beautiful! Yelp take you s little bit farther then it is. Park on the side of the road.

This was my favorite hike in Kauai! The trail entrance is not marked and easy to miss--see the photo for a reference to look for! The first fall is a short, easy walk, and if you're brave you can jump in the water from the rocks. The second fall is the larger of the two, and the location of the opening scene from the first Jurassic Park. It's beautiful and well worth the hike out there! You can climb down to swim in the calmer part of the river at the bottom of the falls. The climb down is a little challenging but roots and fallen trees will give you something to hold on to.

This is a great trail if you are looking for all shade. We went on a sunny day so the mud conditions others mentioned were somewhat minimal. The biggest challenge was a 60 yard jungle gym of downed tree limbs that you have to navigate. The off trail path that leads directly to the waterfall is unmarked, pretty steep and slippery. It can be navigated, just go really slow and use the tree limbs as handrails.

It was a great family hike. Mud and slippery in spots but trees around for support. Top of the waterfall beautiful. Amazing going through extra time to the water whole below waterfall. Watch the big rock when using the rope swing.

Great hike to 2 amazing water falls. As you drive down Kapahi Rd the trail and parking are on the left. The trail starts at a gate just in front of the parking and just after the last house before the parking. The trail is pretty easy, can be slippery. The first falls has a steep trail leading down to them, use caution. I was told you can jump off them but there was no way to judge the depth of the water for a safe landing spot. Was hoping there would be a local there but no luck. Looks like you'd have to do some rock climbing to get back up. The second falls is ahead on the original trail. It's a much further walk to the next falls. The trail can again be slippery and muddy, but manageable. There is a nice look out at the top of the falls, no jumping in this one. There is a nice pool and rope swing further down stream. To access it, back track from the top of the falls about 30 yds. On the left is a steep trail up, take it. About 50yds past the falls there is another VERY steep path down that will lead to the base, cation is needed here. Fun place to swim and good picture ops.

It was a fun hike although it was much harder and took longer to hike as some reviews said. Probably due to rain (lots of muddy clay puddles on walkways). Kheen style sandals worked well for us. Lots of large limbs you needed to walk over or go under to get past. I would say not good for young kids during this time of year. It was worth the effort to see both falls. Use the trees to hold on to on way down steep trails to falls. Hiking poles/sticks suggested. Bonus: In March, no bugs!

Super easy and enjoyable hike as long as you douse in bug spray before and during your hike! Yelp does take you too far so once you make the final turn, look for the house pic posted in this review and plan on entering through the opening there. You can park in the gravel. Once you get on the dirt trail, you"re transported into what looks like a jungle movie set. The trail is mostly clear but there are trees, vines, plants, ferns and more flora all around you. BUGS TOO. You get to the first waterfall in about a 10 minute walk, but keep going further, about 10 - 15 minutes longer and you get to another larger waterfall, complete with a rope swing (if you can figure out how to access that side. To the second waterfall and back is aboit 2 miles, mostly flat and shaded. THIS IS A MUST HIKE FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY BUT DON'T DO IT WITHOUT BUG SPRAY!!!

Nice little hike with tricky entrance through the barbed wire entrance and no signage. Travel down the hill to the nice trail and follow it down to the creek. Take a right at the creek and follow it down and you cannot miss the falls. Be careful in the wet clay going down he hill it gets super slick! Nice area and no other people while we were there. NOTE: Yelp takes you to the wrong spot a half mile further down he road. You want to stop in the gravel area on the left after the houses. It is across from the green house with white trim.

The trail isn't marked, but just look for the line of parked cars. It's about 5-7 minutes to the first falls and a pretty tricky steep climb down to the cliff jump. We didn't jump, but saw many who did. Keep going down the trail another 10-15 minutes down to main falls. So worth it! Rope swing, swimming hole and terrific photo op! Tennis shoes recommended, bathing suit recommended, bug spray recommended.

The entrance was hard to find. I had to ask the locals walking around. From all the pictures I see from yelp, it looks like there are a lot of entrances. The entrance I found was a dirt road that has dirt as a transition slip from the pavement and dirt road. This hiking trail has 2 waterfalls. The last waterfall was the biggest and you can swim in that area. There's a rope tied to a tree where you can jump off of. The trail is clearly marked, which is what I liked about it. This trail is for moderate hikers.

Perfect hike for those who are looking for something not to strenuous or long. The trail was not muddy, but dry or dusty and was really the perfect day (August). No noted mosquitoes, but we did spray ourselves. Go earlier in the day, beat the crowds and not to warm. As others have said, entrance can be difficult to find, but following the previous comments makes finding it quite easy. We didn't have to pass through any fences, etc and the hike was shaded the entire hike. Enjoy!

This was a beautiful waterfall to hike to. The first part that you see is breathtaking. The hike is definitely not nearly has hard as others I've done (sleeping giant, Waimea canyon for reference). Some people were jumping off the edge into the first waterfall however I was a bit too scared to do that. The hike to the first fall could definitely be done with children however the hike the second one would be more of a challenge. Super shady, and there is a rope swing at the end of the 2nd fall. Be careful because there is a large rock that you'll find in the area that you would jump into off the rope swing.

While this is probably an easy-medium hike, it was a little harder on our day since it was raining. But we had to do this hike as Hoopii is my mother-in-law's maiden name! The yelp reviews were our guide to finding the place. And yes, please adhere to the suggestions to be respectful of the neighborhood. We didn't get to hike to the end as the path got too slippery, but what we did see was beautiful.

One of the absolute highlights of our time in Kauai. Enough hiking and swimming and climbing to feel really adventurous but not too long to feel arduous. Highly recommended for families with teens and tweens.

Awesome hike that is really easy to do. The only difficult part is there is a lot of mud and it can get quite slippery. At the bottom the falls are beautiful and you have a lot of opportunities to get nice pictures. To enter, use google maps to find the road that leads into it. Park on the side of the street. The trailhead is right next to a house and there are always going to be people going directly to the trailhead. Really worth a stop!

Difficult hike on a rainy day for person 60+ with arthritic back. Partner couldn't do the last steep bit to the first falls. The trail continued from there through a cut in a recently repaired barbed wire fence, and I spotted a mangled No Trespassing sign along the trail. We turned back, rather than ignore the landowner's clear intent.

Ho'opi'i Falls is an extraordinary place to visit in Kauai. This is an once in a life time to experience what makes nature so beautiful. It's about 2 miles, not a bad hike. The trial gets steep at some point and with some tree obstacle course style. Don't be afraid to bend down, jump over, and dodge. Please bring bug repellent, don't like the bugs bite. Also I would have to say don't miss out seeing this place. You wouldn't regret it when you make it to the end. There's two waterfalls, that were super legit! The sound, smell, and look of the place will make you stay and appreciate life. Safe travels and enjoy life!

The trail is difficult to find. We followed the directions and Yelp and it brought us to the wrong spot. We had to ask some locals where the trailhead was located. When you find the trail then it's an easy hike to get to. But there were lots of mosquitos out! Find the barbed wire and you go under it and there is the trail.

The hike was fun. Muddy, but very doable. The water falls were not spectacular but it was nice hike through the jungle. It's a little confusing to find the trail head since you aren't positive where to start after parking where you assume all the other hikers parked. The trail head is right after the last house before where everyone has parked. If you go to the end of the road, you've gone to far.

Great hike for the family. Amazing jungle feel to the hike, with reaping rewards of a beautiful waterfall at the end. As well as stream leading up to it and the noise of the falls ahead. They suggest no swimming in it due to bacteria but we saw many swimming or ready in swimsuits which is highly not advised. There is leakage from sewage upstream due to old septics not being taken care of so be sure to research or don't swim. Otherwise great for the family or a couples hike, a little slick in some spots but mostly flat ground hiking. Be respect of the neighborhood and park at designated lot not at the park to walk through , they ask you use proper parking and not to come before 8am due to noise and barking dogs if spooked which causes disturbances to their peaceful homes, so be sure to respect that as well. We ta lovely home owner and he had all good reviews of the trail as well.

***READ THIS REVIEW FIRST*** 1) Do *NOT* trust many of the map apps to locate the trailhead. Most of them do not have the trailhead marked properly. If you enter the property at the end of the street, you will be chased off by a very unpleasant homeowner and his pitbull. 2) Don't attempt this hike if (a) you do not have the proper footwear (b) it has been raining recently or (c) you have any physical limitations. Contrary to other reviews, this is *NOT* an easy hike, and especially if it has been or is raining. 3) If you injure yourself on this hike, you are in big trouble. It is going to be very difficult for someone to get to you to rescue you. This is not a groomed trail with easy access. There were several downed trees and obstacles on the path. My wife and I are both in very good physical condition. I slipped several times and my wife fell once. Fortunately, we did not injure ourselves. We were coated with mud at the end. 4) Bug spray. Obviously. The mosquitos are vicious. On a brighter note, the upper falls were beautiful. We struggled to get there, but it was worth it. It is - trust me when I say this - all about the shoes. Do not attempt this in flip-flops, canvas Sperry's, or anything other than respectable hiking shoes.