Emerald Canyon
verified
ACA 3C
Extreme flood risk
Hana, HI
One of the best canyons in the state. Ten rappels, ten jumps, three slides through clear water and dense rainforest on Maui's wet north shore.
Bring grippy canyoning shoes; the basalt is mossy and slick. Polarized glasses help read pool depth before jumps. Knee-deep wading through brush on the approach guarantees scratches. Conceal gear when visible from the road; van break-ins are routine.
Logistics
| Manager | HI DLNR (state forest reserve, 100% public land) |
|---|---|
| Permit | No permit required and the descent is legal, but local opposition to canyoneers exists. Parking break-ins reported; consider drop-off or park at the highway wayside ~1 mile away. |
| Distance | ~2 RT estimated (no canonical distance published) |
| Time | Approach 1-2 hr; descent time not stated |
| Technical | Grade 3C III (v3a4 III). 10 rappels max 80 ft on a 200 ft rope. Up to 10 jumps; tallest mandatory jump ~15 ft. Three slides. Multiple mandatory swims after rappels. Clear pools and waterfalls. Approach is a 45 minute bushwhack through dense, overgrown brush with spiderwebs; long sleeves and pants advised. |
| Season | Year round, avoid Dec (heavy winter rain) |
| Flood risk | Extreme. Heavy rain can fall in the upper drainage despite sunny conditions at the coast. Dangerously strong flows during and after upper-watershed storms. |
| Vehicle access | 2WD |
| Crowd | Local opposition; some private community pushback but legally accessible. |
| Coordinates | 20.7988, -156.1193 |
Sources
- ropewiki: https://ropewiki.com/Emerald_Canyon