10 Best Hikes on Oahu
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The island of Oahu is an outdoor recreational paradise. If you are looking for things to do while staying in Honolulu, or wanting to explore the island of Oahu better, we definitely recommend getting in a few of the amazing hikes that the island has to offer in order to fully experience Hawaii! Hiking these Hawaiian trails will take you over a wide variety of terrain, including through dense, towering jungles, along precarious mountain ridge lines with steep drop offs, to stunning waterfalls, to mile-high summits that grant you incredible views of the island and the ocean.
The hikes range in difficulty, length, and distance, but hikers of all experience levels will be able to find a suitable trail. We have broken down Oahu’s best and most loved hikes for you below!
Best Hikes on Oahu for Beginners
Diamond Head Crater Hike
Distance: 1.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 560 ft
Average Time to Complete: 1 1/2 hours
Why we recommend it: Diamond Head Crater towers over Waikiki and is a very close, accessible, and user-friendly hike that offers incredible views of Waikiki, the city beyond, and the stunning turquoise waters below, dotted with surfers. It is a great beginner hike, as the trail is paved the entire way, but there is a good incline and high sun exposure during the summer. FYI, it is $10 to park your vehicle inside the park, or $5 per person if you walk/bike to the entrance.
Lulumahu Falls
Distance: 2 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,040 ft
Average Time to Complete: 1 1/2 hours
Why we recommend it: Lulumahu Falls is a picture-perfect, impressively tall waterfall cascading in a densely green forest. The trail is a fun and tricky challenge to follow, requiring you to scamper over rocks, weave through a bamboo forest, and cross a river multiple times, but it is still family-friendly. You can also swim in the pool below the falls! Technically speaking, it is an illegal hike as it runs over private government property, but that does not prevent the parking lot from overflowing everyday with eager hikers.
Waimano Falls
Distance: 2.9 miles
Elevation Gain: 810 ft
Average Time to Complete: 2 hours
Why we recommend it: This pristine, three-tiered waterfall is not only gorgeous to look at, but also offers swimming and cliff-jumping! There are three pools, two of which are large enough to swim in, and one offers a rope to swing off. This Oahu waterfall slows to a trickle during the hottest, driest months, so we recommend going in the winter and spring. The trail can get slippery when wet, and definitely packs a punch with tricky turns (use the All Trails map!) and a calf-burning incline on the way out.
Photo credit: The World Travel Guy
Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail
Distance: 2.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 505 ft
Average Time to Complete: 2 hours
Why we recommend it: A very popular, heavily trafficked trail that is paved and great for families, the Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail is a short and relaxed, but awesome walk along the eastern coast. You gain incredible views of the southeastern coastline, and the lighthouse is a popular spot to whale watch from December to April.
Lanikai Pillbox
Distance: 1.8 miles
Elevation Gain: 649 ft
Average Time to Complete: 1 hour
Why we recommend it: There are several pillbox hikes on the island, but the Lanikai is popular for its convenient location, unbeatable lookout points, and relatively easy and short climb. The trail takes you up a ridge along the coast, supporting views of the sea, the perfect waters, green mountains as a backdrop, and the beach town of Kailua. The pillbox is a World War II remnant, where military were stationed as a lookout point. If you are feeling adventurous, the Lanikai Pillbox is an ideal spot for a sunrise hike, as you have unobstructed views over the sea of the rising sun.
Kaena Point Trail (from South)
Distance: 5.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 442 ft
Average Time to Complete: 3 hours
Why we recommend it: Kaena Point Trail is a relatively flat and beautiful walk that hugs the immediate western coastline. You will have the ocean directly to your left and a dry mountain range on your right the entire way! Great for beginners, families, those looking for a pleasant (if long) stroll, and trail-runners.
Warning: This western-most point of the island is the hottest part of Oahu, with high sun exposure and very dry weather. Be prepared for the unrelenting sun and no shade by packing water, hats, and sunscreen.
Oahu Moderate Level Hikes
Kokohead Crater
Distance: 1.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 885 ft
Average Time to Complete: 30 minutes to 1 hour
Why we recommend it: Your legs will be screaming for mercy on this very short but intense hike (depending on how fast you are determined to make it to the top). It is .7 miles of steeply-inclined, widely-spaced steps leading up to an amazing panoramic viewpoint. Awesome sunset spot! Hikers come back time and time again to beat their personal record.
Maunawili Falls
Distance: 2.8 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,0007 ft
Average Time to Complete: 3 hours
Why we recommend it: Maunawili Falls is a highly adventurous hike that takes you through lush wild lands, across rivers, and up and down beautiful little valleys, leading to the base of a wonderful waterfall and deep pool where you can swim and cliff jump off several ledges. If you go after a heavy rainfall, you will be less hiking and more skating through the mud, but hey, that’s half the adventure!
Wiliwilinui Ridge
Distance: 4.7 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,617
Average Time to Complete: 2-3 hours
Why we recommend it: Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail is a great, gratifying challenge, as it climbs the Koolau Mountain Range and is the highest peak of the range. Be prepared for a lot of elevation gain, steep stairs, at-times-skinny ridge lines, drop-offs, mud, and impeccable, panoramic views of the surrounding island. It is nearly a 360 degree view at the top!
Kuliouou Ridge
Distance: 4.3 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,650 ft
Average Time to Complete: 3-4 hours
Why we recommend it: A sister hike of Wiliwilinui Ridge, the Kuliouou Ridge takes hikers up a different spot of the same mountain range. This ridge is different in that the first half of the trail takes you up switchbacks, shaded and dry under pine trees that feel very un-Hawaii; then the second half turns muddier and steeper with more precarious footing and drop-offs. The final, dramatic look-out over the valley and ocean makes the climb very worthwhile!
Advanced Hikes on Oahu
Olomana Ridge (Three Peaks)
Distance: 4.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,856 ft
Average Time to Complete: 3-4 hours
Why we recommend it: For experienced hikers only, the Olomana Ridge Trail is a daredevil’s dream. The trail takes you up and down three, closely-situated peaks that offer superb and outstanding views of the wild beauty that is Hawaii. But be warned: Inclines are steep, footing is tricky and dangerous, amateur rock-climbing is involved, and you will frequently be staring down (and up) intimidating and adrenaline-inducing spots, where you think before you step. One false step could be a one-way ticket.
Tip: For less experienced hikers, we recommend going to the first peak and stopping, as the difficulty and danger increases with each peak. Because don’t forget— when you make it out to the tiptop of the third peak, you then face the reverse of the challenges you just underwent!
Ka’au Crater
Distance: 7.3 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,211 ft
Average Time to Complete: 5-7 hours
Why we recommend it: The Ka’au Crater Trail is an all-day adventure that will have hikers rope-climbing the sides of three separate waterfalls. The trail is a majestic and enveloping experience of towering trees, monumental falls, perilously steep ridges overlooking the Ka’au Crater, and finally, a challenging climb up to the peak. This trail should definitely be done with a group, and you should not underestimate the strength and endurance needed to be hoisting yourself up steep inclines for several hours. It is not for the faint of heart, but is a magnificent experience!
Stairway to Heaven (Haiku Stairs)
Distance: 3.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,637
Average Time to Complete: 3-6 hours
Why we recommend it: A quintessential hike of Oahu, this hike is to Hawaii what Angel’s Landing Trail in Zion National Park is to Utah. Although it is technically illegal and police do patrol the neighborhood, (and threaten hefty fines) that does not stop hikers taking on this challenge every day. 3,922 steps take hikers up a precarious and rickety stairway, which is at times in disrepair and, at times, a 90 degree angle up the side of a cliff, in order to summit an incredible vantage point over the island with sweeping views. High risk, high reward!
Tip: There is also a far longer route that presents different challenges, but remains legal.
Pali Notches
Distance: .7 miles
Elevation Gain: 472 ft
Average Time to Complete: 1-2 hours
Why we recommend it: Experienced hikers and adrenaline-junkies only! This short hike takes you over steep inclines and steep drop-offs as the wind howls around you to one of the coolest views of Oahu. Rock climbing experience will also come in VERY handy on this short but thrilling climb, because the last leg you free-climb up the Chimney. However, you can still enjoy the spectacular views without ascending this. Multiple people have died attempting this hike and it is known to be one of the most dangerous trails on the island, so attempt at your own risk.
Tips for all hikes on Oahu:
For any hike on the island, please bring enough water for each person, as the sun can be relentless during the summer, bug spray, and good hiking shoes (NO flip flops).
We recommend downloading the AllTrails Map and having the specific hiking trail downloaded onto your phone because many off these hikes take you out of cell range and do not have clearly marked directions on the trail itself. These trails are very accessible and conveniently-located, but quickly become difficult and require preparation, forethought, and self-awareness of your own abilities. Too often tourists underestimate the difficulty of the hiking they attempt. Do not go unprepared!
Another thing to note: After a heavy rainfall, particularly in the winter and spring months, Oahu trails will be VERY muddy. Wear shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty and wet! Mud is the name of the game out here.