Koko Head Crater Trail

Koko Head Trailhead Parking Lot, HI
4.5
16 Reviews
Koko Head Crater Trail
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Details

Distance
1.6 miles
Elevation Gain
961 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back

Features

Scenic
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Directions
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Track

About this place

Added by Tyler Drake

A great workout on the south shore of the island with incredible views as a reward for your hard work.

While hiking up the Koko Head trail, don't get too intimidated, there are grandparents and young kids hiking up these tracks. Take a sip of water, muster your mental toughness, and put one foot in front of the other along the rail trail. Once you're moving, there's no way you'll turn back! When you get to the top, soak it in for a minute, and think about what you accomplished! You'll see amazing views of the Pacific Ocean over Hawaii Kai all the way down to Diamond Head. 

It's best to show up early in the morning before the crowd gets on the trail. Also, there's no shade, so it's ideal to hit this trail while it's not too hot. There is a parking lot and restroom available next to the softball diamond.

Once you're spent, if you're heading back into town, be sure to make a quick stop at Diamond Head Market & Grill and really reward yourself! There are also great spots to check out and cool off at Makapu'u (the beach just past the lighthouse) and China Walls

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Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and be sure to follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly.
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Reviews
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Check-ins
Cara Holmes
7/3/2025
What a leg workout! I went early in the morning and it was overcast so didnt have to worry about the sun, but there ...
Amazing Views
Well Marked
Easy To Park
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Stephanie Lopez
11/19/2024
If you’re looking for a great workout not too far from Waikiki, this is it. Careful on some of the rails, the gaps can ...
Well Maintained
Amazing Views
Easy To Park
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R Cherry
10/25/2022
Not Easy but Worth It
This is a steep up hill, one shoulf take their time going up. It's so close to the Honolulu it's an easy after work ...
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Mallory Mijares
5/22/2019
Take your time! Arrive early!
It’s a cool view at the top, but it is absolutely necessary to bring patience and to pace yourself. Bring a backpack. Bring 2 ...
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Joseph Gulizia
12/10/2018
Hell of a Workout
Take an old rail track straight up a mountain for some epic views of Diamond Head and the South shores. I don't recommend this ...
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Garrett Hughes
4/4/2018
Great hike, no direction
The hike is good but took us just as long to find a good entry point as it did hike up. We didn’t climb ...
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Seth Selvidge
9/7/2016
One Step At A Time
This is a very straight forward hike but by no means easy. Your tank will be absolutely empty and you'll look up and ...
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Daniel young
4/17/2016
The train that could
It's a cool train track hike with a portion that's slightly mid air, so be aware you may have to go slowly if someone ...
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char brock
1/13/2016
amazing!
on our trip to hawaii we went on this hike and took us about thirty minutes to walk up. it was fantastic---it was the ...
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Samantha Drake
Club
10/13/2015
A great quick and high-intensity climb. The top of the stairs is fairly overgrown, but the views on the way down more than make ...
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Nick Pisciotto
6/24/2015
Going up isn't too bad. Coming down is killer on your knees! If you have bad knees I wouldn't recommend it!
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Drake Logan
5/20/2015
Your going to regret this all the way up but the view at the top is amazing
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Pablo Lopez
10/25/2014
Jello legs.
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Brittany Takushi
8/26/2014
The sunrise is amazing from up here.
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Karen Heifferon
12/29/2013
Loved this!! Water and pacing myself helped : ) The view is incredible and worth every step!!
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Tyler Drake
10/16/2013
After about 5 minutes on the "stairs" you may be regretting your decision, but trust me, it gets better (once your'e at the top)! ...
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