Alakai Wilderness Area
| Alakaʻi Wilderness Preserve | |
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IUCN category Ib (wilderness area)
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| Location | Kauai, Hawaii, USA |
| Nearest city | Waimea, Hawaii |
| Coordinates | 22°06′30″N 159°33′30″W / 22.10833°N 159.55833°WCoordinates: 22°06′30″N 159°33′30″W / 22.10833°N 159.55833°W |
| Area | 9,000 acres (36 km2) |
| Established | 1981 |
| Governing body | Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife |
The Alakaʻi Wilderness Preserve, popularly known as Alakaʻi Swamp, is a montane wet forest on the Hawaiian island of Kauaʻi. Although the preserve is home to alpine bogs, it is not a true swamp. It is located on a plateau near Mount Waiʻaleʻale, one of the wettest spots on Earth.
The 3.5-mile (5.6 km) Alakaʻi Swamp trail is often shrouded in mist. This trail can be reached via the Pihea Vista trail, which is connected to the Puʻu o Kila lookout on Waimea Canyon road. This road is located behind a gate that is directly next to the Kalalau Valley lookout. Due to the rainfall experienced here, potholes are formed and the road is often closed. The end of this trail overlooks Hanalei Bay off in the distance and it is possible to see several waterfalls from the lookout. This area is often shrouded in clouds and is one of the few places on Kauaʻi where one may walk through them.
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Wikipedia