Oahu is filled with incredible hiking trails from waterfall hikes to coastal hikes and jungle trails. Keep reading to discover 8 of the best hikes on Oahu!
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8 of the Best Hikes on Oahu
Table of Contents
- 1. Olomana Trail (Three Peaks)
- 2. Lulumahu Falls Trail
- 3. Judd Trail
- 4. Crouching Lion Trail
- 5. Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail
- 6. Diamond Head Crater Summit Trail
- 7. Ehukai Pillbox Trail
- 8. Maunawili Falls
1. Olomana Trail (Three Peaks)
- Distance: 4.5 miles total or 3.8 miles to the first peak and back
- Rated: Difficult
The Olomana Trail is one of the best hikes on Oahu, but it can also be quite dangerous. A sign at the beginning of the trail states that six people have fallen to their death since 2011 while hiking on this trail.
With this in mind, it is recommended to only hike to the top of the first peak. All of the deaths have occurred while hiking past the first peak.
The trail can be found near the town of Kailua on the windward side of the island. Parking is very limited with only a few spots along the side Auloa Road.
This area is regularly patrolled and cars that are parked illegally are ticketed or towed. Plan to arrive early to snag one of the few coveted spots.
The trailhead is actually located on the grounds of the Royal Hawaiian golf course. Although this is private property, they do allow access to the trail.
You’ll just need to park along Auloa Road and walk about 0.8 miles up the road and past the guardhouse to reach the trailhead.
The trail starts out with a steady incline as you gain about 1,170 feet of elevation in the first mile. You’ll be huffing and puffing in no time at all!
The trail is fairly easy to follow, but there are a few spots where it forks, so I would highly recommend upgrading to AllTrails Pro so that you can download the trail map to use offline.
The trail can often be muddy and slippery, so use caution and wear sturdy hiking shoes with good traction.
As you near the summit of the first peak, you’ll find a series of ropes to assist you as you climb up the rocks.
Once you reach the top of the first peak, you will be rewarded with sweeping coastal views, as well as views of the other two peaks and the Koolau Mountain Range.
The trail does continue down the other side of the peak and up and over the last two peaks.
However, I would strongly recommend just turning around at this point.
For more details and information about the trail, see our guide Hiking the Olomana Trail.
2. Lulumahu Falls Trail
- Distance: 1.6 miles out and back
- Rated: Easy to moderate
The Lulumahu Falls trail is a fairly short trail. It leads through a dense bamboo forest and alongside the Lulumahu Stream before ending at a 70-foot waterfall.
The trail is located on private government property and a permit is required in order to hike the trail.
The permit is easy to obtain, just make a reservation online then print out your permit and leave it on the dashboard of your car.
The cost is only $2.50 and the permit is good for up to 5 people.
You’ll find a decent sized dirt parking lot at the beginning of the trail just off the Pali Highway on Nuuanu Pali Drive.
Just don’t ever leave valuables in your car as vehicles often get broken into.
The trail is beautiful as it weaves through the bamboo forest, but it is also ALWAYS muddy and slippery.
Wear hiking shoes that have good traction. I would also recommend bringing a plastic bag for your muddy shoes and an extra pair of shoes to change into for the ride home.
We have found that Keen sandals are great for hikes like this where you’ll be hiking in muddy and wet conditions.
The trail soon enters the Nu’uanu Reservoir and follows along the stream.
It seems like the trail would be easy to follow along the river, but there are actually quite a few off-shoot trails and it can be easy to get lost.
The trail is not maintained and there are no signs marking the trail, so I would definitely recommend using AllTrails Pro.
We relied on it multiple times throughout the hike since we could download the map beforehand to use offline even without cell service.
There are multiple river crossings, but there are usually enough rocks in the water that you can hop across without getting too wet.
Just use caution as this area is prone to flash flooding. Keep an eye on the weather and don’t attempt this hike if the river is too high or fast.
Once you reach the waterfall, there is a shallow pool if you want to take a dip and cool off, or just relax on the surrounding rocks.
3. Judd Trail
- Distance: 1 mile loop
- Rating: Easy to moderate
The Judd Trail is located just down the road from the Lulumahu Trail, so it’s easy to do both hikes during the same visit.
The trail leads through a beautiful forest of guava trees, Norfolk pines, and bamboo shoots. This forest was even used as a filming location for scenes from Jumangi.
If you follow the trail to the right, after about a quarter mile you’ll come to the Jackass Ginger Pool and falls.
The waterfall isn’t that impressive, but what makes it so fun is that this swimming hole has a natural waterslide.
There are also big rocks that you can climb up and jump from. A rope swing can sometimes be found here, depending on if it has been cut down or put back up.
The water in the pool is ice cold, but it’s a fun place to cool off on a hot and humid summer day.
After spending time at the pool, you can continue on through the forest to complete the loop.
Alternatively, you can head to the left at the beginning of the loop trail and then stop at the swimming hole at the end of the trail.
4. Crouching Lion Trail
- Distance: 0.4-1.2 miles out and back (depending on which route you take)
- Rated: Moderate to Difficult
The Crouching Lion Trail is actually closed and no longer open to the public. With that being said, it is still a popular hike.
The trail is not monitored and there is no fine associated with trespassing, but the trail is also not maintained and can be dangerous. If you choose to attempt this hike, you are doing so at your own risk.
The trail can be a little tricky to find. It is located on the south side of Kahana Bay on the windward side of the island.
There is a small dirt patch along the side of the Kamehameha Hwy where you can park your car. Just don’t leave any valuables in the car.
Walk up the road a short distance until you see a break in the trees and a dirt path leading into the woods.
The trail immediately forks, if you go to the left it is a shorter and steeper route.
The trail to the right is a little bit longer, but it’s not quite as steep and it’s a little more scenic.
Both trails lead to the Crouching Lion Lookout Point which offers breathtaking views of the ocean and coastline.
I would recommend taking the longer route up and the shorter route down. Just use extreme caution as the trail is very slippery, whether it is wet and muddy or dry with loose soil.
For more details and directions, see our guide Hiking the Crouching Lion Trail.
5. Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail
- Distance: 2 miles out and back
- Difficulty: Easy
The Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail is one of the best hikes on Oahu with kids.
The trail has a steady incline, but it is paved the entire way so it’s stroller friendly.
There is a decent-sized designated parking lot and there is no fee to park or hike the trail. The trail is open from 7 am to 6:45 pm daily.
The trail is exposed without any shade, so I would recommend hiking in the early morning or evening.
Our favorite time to do this hike is at golden hour when the landscape glows in the hazy light.
The entire trail is scenic with coastal views of the Kaiwa Shoreline all along the way. You may even see whales during migration season from November through April.
About halfway up, you’ll see a steep rugged trail leading down to the Makapu’u Tide Pools. The tide pools can be dangerous to swim in, especially at high tide, so use extreme caution.
Once you reach the top, there is a viewing deck with incredible views of the ocean and coastal cliffs.
You can also spot the Makapu’u Lighthouse perched on a 600-foot sea cliff. The lighthouse was built in 1909 and still shines today.
For more details and information about this hike, see our guide Hiking the Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail.
6. Diamond Head Crater Summit Trail
- Distance: 1.9 miles out and back
- Rated: Moderate
The Diamond Head Crater is more than 3,500 feet in diameter and is believed to have formed between 300,000-500,000 years ago during a violent eruption.
The official name of the crater is Lē’ahi, but it was nicknamed Diamond Head by British sailors over 200 years ago when they believed diamonds could be found in the side of the crater.
Today, visitors can hike to the summit of the crater to see one of the best views over Waikiki and the North Pacific Ocean.
The trail starts out along a paved path with a steady incline. After about a quarter-mile, the trail turns to a series of steep switchbacks.
The last stretch to the summit consists of a steep staircase with 176 steps before passing through a 200-foot-long tunnel and finishing off with one last set of stairs.
The hike is challenging, but it is worth it for the views from the top.
You will even be able to see bunkers at the top of the rim that were built in 1908 as part of the Oahu coastal defense system.
There isn’t much shade on the trail, so plan to do this hike earlier in the morning or in the evening.
The surrounding landscape is also much drier and more brown than your typical Hawaii hikes, giving it a unique beauty.
Parking is $10 per vehicle. The gates close at 6 pm and the last entrance is at 4:30 pm.
For more details and recommendations, see our guide 10 Things to do on Oahu With Kids.
7. Ehukai Pillbox Trail
- Distance: 2.3 miles out and back
- Rated: Moderate
There are several WWII concrete military bunkers, known as pillboxes, that dot the coastal cliffs on Oahu.
The most popular pillbox hiking trails include the Lanikai Pillbox Trail, the Pink Pillbox (Puu o Hulu) Trail, and the Ehukai Pillbox Trail.
The Euhkai Pillbox Trail is the only pillbox hiking trail on the North Shore and it is easy to access right off the Kamehameha Highway near Sunset Beach.
Parking is available in the back left corner of the Sunrise Elementary School parking lot.
The trail starts off with a decent incline and continues uphill along a muddy and slippery trail through the trees.
Once you reach the top of the hill, the trail flattens out until you reach the first pillbox.
You can go inside of the bunker or climb on top for the best aerial views of the world-famous Banzai Pipeline.
A second pillbox can be found a little further up the trail, but supposedly you need to cross through private property to reach it, so this is a good turning around point.
For more details and recommendations, see our guide The Perfect Three Day North Shore Itinerary.
8. Maunawili Falls
- Distance: 6.3 miles out and back (2.8 miles once the trail reopens)
- Rated: Difficult
The most popular trail to Maunawili Falls is currently undergoing a trail improvement project and is scheduled to reopen sometime in 2024.
Check the Hawaii Government website for updates.
However, the Maunawili Falls can still be accessed via the trailhead at Pali Highway. We have not hiked to the falls from this trail, so you’ll need to do your research before attempting this hike.
Once you reach the falls, it will be worth the effort to get there. Although the waterfall isn’t very tall, only about 20 feet, it is a beautiful little tropical oasis.
The falls are surrounded by a thick jungle of trees and oversized ferns.
The swimming hole is deep enough that you can cliff jump from the surrounding rocks. Just be sure to check the depth and look for submerged rocks, and never dive head first.
If you do choose to swim in the waterfall, just be aware that since this is a mountain swimming hole there is a possibility that the water could be contaminated with leptospirosis. Swim at your own risk.
The water was particularly muddy when we visited after a rainstorm, but it is usually more clear and makes for the perfect spot to spend a summer afternoon.
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I hope this guide will help you discover the best hikes on Oahu! As always, be sure to practice Leave No Trace and do your part to take care of the trails and this beautiful land.
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