The one photo from County Route 552, a steeper, narrower, and much twistier alternative to HI Route 550. It's also three miles farther west and drops straight off into nothingness, whereas HI Route 550 has gentler grades both straight ahead and to either side. Plus the scenery is much better on 550:


The southern shore of Kaua`i and the eastern side of the end of Waimea Canyon.


The natural red color of the iron in the lava allows this to be called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific with minimal effort by the Waimea River. Unlike most crevices in the islands, this canyon was actually formed at least in part by the river and not by lava flows, which was only possible because Kaua`i is older than all of the other major islands (Ni`ihau not included). The other act contributing to the canyon was the collapse of the central volcano millions of years ago that allowed two different lava flows (one older, one newer) to form side by side, and the river then ran its way down the middle.


Descending from Waimea Canyon on HI Route 550 and pointing in various directions.


Coming to an overlook with a short hike up a hillock, with views up and down the Waimea River as it exits the canyon. The little house is at the end of Menehune Rd. about two miles out of Waimea.


Waimea becomes visible and I come down the last 1,000 feet into it over three miles.

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