If seeing the amazingly beautiful Rainbow Eucalyptus trees is on your checklist for Kauai, you will find a whole grove of them at the Keahu Arboretum. You can also see them at the spectacular Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens, but there is a fee, and the arboretum is free.
Keahu Arboretum
The Arboretum is located 1/2 mile past the Kuilau Ridge Trailhead in the Lihue-Kola Forest Preserve. If you want to hike the trail and there are no parking spots available, you can park here and walk on the street to the trail. Just be careful, the roads are very narrow and curvy.
Keahu Arboretum
There are picnic tables and bathrooms here, plenty of room to meander and a short hiking trail. Swimming in the river is allowed, we waded in to get the mud off our legs and shoes from hiking the very muddy Kuilau Ridge Trail.
Keahu Arboretum
Directly across from the parking lot, you will find the grove of Rainbow Eucalyptus trees, with a path leading through it. We only stayed long enough to walk the short trail and wash off in the river.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The drive to the arboretum is not for the faint of heart.
- Mosquito spray would be a good idea.
- Swimming is allowed here, the water did not seem to be very deep. I am sure that changes based on rainfall and where you are on the river. By the bridge and parking lot, it was not deep. In fact, there were toddlers playing in the water.
- The trail is a dirt path, so it will get muddy after it rains.
If you’ve never seen the trees before and will not be going to the botanic gardens, it is worth a quick visit. However, if you’ve already seen them and are not planning on hiking the Kuilau Ridge Trail, I wouldn’t make a special trip, especially if you are short on time. The three places I would make time for are The McBryde, The Allerton, and The Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens. In fact, we spent the majority of the next day on tours of the McBryde and the Allerton Gardens. As always, wishing you happy travels and fantastic adventures in this thing called life.
(Pictures are available for purchase as Fine Art Prints or Digital Downloads at full resolution through Alamy. If you see something you like, click on the link. If you are unable to find it, use the Contact Me page and I will make sure the image is available.)
More Kauai Adventures
Visiting Opaeka’a Falls and the Wailua River Overlook in Kauai
The Best Helicopter Tour on Kauai
The Lookout Points at Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Park
Sailing and Snorkeling Along the Napili Coast
Pin for later!
The Keahu Arboretum
