Waimea Valley- Botanical Garden and Waterfall Hike Accessibility
- Annie Kroll
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
While on vacation on Oahu, we traveled up to North Shore to see the Waimea Valley waterfall and botanical garden. As this hike is paved and has a fee to enter, I want to rate it for accessibility. This blog will differ slightly from my museum accessibility ratings, as everything is entirely outside.
Pavement:
The hike had a main paved path that was accessible to wheelchairs and side paths made of dirt. The dirt paths were not wide enough to fit a wheelchair, and many of the side paths had stairs. You can see a lot of the plants from the paved path. However, there are a lot of non-native plants that require a bit of a hike. Most of the cool animals I found were not on the main path and required veering off.
Wheelchair Rentals:
Motorized wheelchair rentals were available and positioned right at the beginning of the hike after you enter. I was happy you could actually see the wheelchairs this time, as many museums I have reviewed seem to hide them out of view. The wheelchairs could be used along the paved path to the waterfall. A shuttle ride can also be purchased to take you to or from the waterfall if you do not want to hike for $10 a ride.
Seating:
There are many booths along the way that offer cultural experiences similar to the Polynesian Cultural Arts Center. There are also many places to sit along the way, including grassy spots and benches. You can also purchase snacks and souvenirs, and find bathrooms along this hike. The bathrooms are on a raised platform with multiple single "room" options. They are cleaner than a beach bathroom, but it might feel gross touching more than you absolutely have to. This is important for those who need the handrails in restrooms.
Prices:
Entry was $25 a ticket, with cheaper prices for students and seniors. Separate pricing is available to Hawaii residents and military members starting at $10, and season passes can be purchased. If you are a non-resident student, your ticket with a student ID is $20. The hike is said to take about 30 minutes, and your entry fee includes the option to swim in the waterfall if the conditions for the day are safe. Swimmers must use life jackets to enter. I did not see any accessible options to enter the waterfall pool for those who cannot use stairs.
Overall:
Overall, I give the accessibility a 4/5. There is no warning about loud noises or access to social stories, even though I understand nature is a bit unpredictable. I appreciate the accessibility of the wheelchairs and the options to stay on the path or veer off the path if you want a bit of a challenge. Lastly, I like that this hike seems to have a bit of something for everyone, whether that be learning about culture from one of the many signs and booths, hiking, swimming, or stopping to take pictures of plants like I did.
Thank you for reading about the accessibility of the Waimea Valley botanical garden and waterfall hike. If you have any questions or comments, please comment on the blog, reach out at @Anniekrollblog on Instagram or Facebook, or email me at Anniekrollblog@gmail.com. I hope to see you next week!
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