Koko Crater Railway Trailhead on Postcard

"Unlikely Art with a View Unlikely as it may be, if you climb the steps to 1208ft (or 368m) at Kokohead, there is quite a bit of street art...er, trail art. Usually spotting the tagging at the conclusion of an intense and beautiful hike is a disappointment, but the colorful giraffe graffiti on the old cement military outposts at the summit of the Koko Crater made me smile and added a bit of visual delight to an otherwise typical aqua-marine and tropical-green Hawaiian landscape."

Oahu Sunsets and Picturesque Views

test

@afar

"Unlikely Art with a View Unlikely as it may be, if you climb the steps to 1208ft (or 368m) at Kokohead, there is quite a bit of street art...er, trail art. Usually spotting the tagging at the conclusion of an intense and beautiful hike is a disappointment, but the colorful giraffe graffiti on the old cement military outposts at the summit of the Koko Crater made me smile and added a bit of visual delight to an otherwise typical aqua-marine and tropical-green Hawaiian landscape."

Off the Beaten Path: Hiking around Honolulu

test

@afar

"Unlikely Art with a View Unlikely as it may be, if you climb the steps to 1208ft (or 368m) at Kokohead, there is quite a bit of street art...er, trail art. Usually spotting the tagging at the conclusion of an intense and beautiful hike is a disappointment, but the colorful giraffe graffiti on the old cement military outposts at the summit of the Koko Crater made me smile and added a bit of visual delight to an otherwise typical aqua-marine and tropical-green Hawaiian landscape."

Oahu Sunsets and Picturesque Views

test

Serene Liew

Google

What an amazing experience! The hike was so much fun, but definitely challenging for those who aren't physically fit. My son and I made it to the top, and the view was absolutely breathtaking — totally worth the effort! The trail is steep, and there’s a level of risk involved, so just be aware and go at your own pace. The sense of accomplishment once you reach the top is unmatched. Highly recommend it if you're up for a good challenge and some stunning scenery. We took about 1 hour to finish the trail, making it a great workout with a rewarding view at the end. Best part? It's free! Definitely a memorable experience!

Shahbaz Salehi

Google

One of the most exhilarating and unique hikes I’ve ever done! You can see the tram up the mountain from miles away, and there's a free parking lot with bathrooms located at the base. I recommend starting early in the morning to avoid the direct sunlight. The ascent requires physical stamina, so pace yourself and make sure to bring plenty of water and snacks to keep your energy up. It's not an easy hike—take breaks every few minutes and go at your own pace. It can take about 30-45 minutes to reach the top. The view from the top is absolutely stunning, though there are no restrooms up there. The descent is more of a mental challenge. I go to the gym 3-4 times a week, and even for me, this hike was tough. It’s definitely one of a kind, and I highly recommend it if you’re physically prepared for the challenge.

Alyn Clausen

Google

It was amazing! The hike to the top takes a good deal of physical endurance to make. Testing your skills and physical abilities. A volunteer walked woith me part of the way, sharing information and the best spots for the sunrise. Definitely wasn't expecting that, pretty awesome! The views are absolutely worth every bit of the hike! Trail is very well maintained free of trash and debris. As I hiked back down, i saw another volunteer carrying up railroad ties to replace old boards. I'm super excited to climb Koko Head again!

Dark Apollo

Google

As a local, I would say it was a very challenging but fun hiking trail. I love coming here many times to burn calories and to have fun. I even took my grad pictures on the hike, which was cool. The summit of Koko Head has beautiful landscape views and lots of opportunities to take nice pictures. I would say it is worth the time of going up the railway stairs. If it's your first time, expect to have sore legs the day after the hike. It is literally an uphill battle. I suggest bringing some water or any beverage with you to stay hydrated during the hike. Would recommend multiple beverages if needed. I also suggest bringing a small towel as you will get sweaty up there. Bring some sunscreen too since there is little to no shade from the hot sun, especially in the afternoon. A warning for newcomers is a section of the hike where the railway is not touching any ground. If you are not careful, you could slip and fall off. If you feel you can't make it through or have children with you, I strongly suggest taking the indicated alternate path on the rocks to bypass the potential danger. If you feel the need to use the restroom, use the one near the parking lot before going on the hike as it would be very inconvenient to go up the trail but feel the need to go. Overall, I recommend this trail for a good challenge and a great way to do cardio.

Jonathan Kim

Google

It is a climb!! Bring water and take lots of breaks and take it step by step literally. The out and back hike is about 1.5 miles but you are ascending and defending a lot. Took me about 1.5 hours round trip. Depends on how many breaks you take. If you have health issues or knee or hip issues be extremely cautious and think twice about doing it. It's not just going up but going down also gets you especially on the knees and hip. Highly recommended hike though, the view is rewarding and it's a straight forward hike. Worth it for the view. Avoid going on Saturday if possible as it may be hard to find parking due to baseball games. You can find parking or park in grass but you may take time to find one. From the parking lot looking at the mountain go around to the right of the ballfield until you get to a paved maintenance road path. Take that towards the stairs which you can see and you'll be there. There are 25 yellow blocks to tell you how far you are from the top. Use that to your advantage by taking a break or to just measure how far you have left. Unless you are an advanced hiker or athletes don't forget water. You will need it. Do not recommend for younger kids unless you want to carry them some or most of the way. I've seen dogs on the trail just make sure to bring enough water for them too.

Everett S

Google

This is a really cool hike! Just wait for an overcast kind of day or do a sunrise/sunset hike. It was steep, there is a "bridge" about halfway up with a disclaimer not to use but many do anyway or you can go on the trail to the right of the bridge on the way up. Lots of pull over spots to take a break out of the way of others, and you'll have comfort knowing many, many people take breaks. It's less than a half a mile up, 960 feet elevation gain. It really just depends on your own physical capabilites, some would suggest doing this towards the end of your trip, just to not have sore legs your whole vacation.

P RANNA

Google

One of the most popular hikes on Oahu, this hike is recommended early morning before sunrise or early evening as there is no shade from the sun whatsoever and if you are doing it midday it is very hot so be forewarned🔥 Wear a good sunhat, bring adequate water and wear good shoes that grip. Seen way too many people slip and fall coming down the trail. The trail has been improved significantly since i visited 5 years ago with better stairs, foundation and rocks to fill the eroded sections on the steps. *mahalos kokonut koalition🤙🙏* The hike will test your endurance as the stairs will slowly get more steep in grade, especially near the top. But once you reach the top you are rewarded with 360 views of the summit top. 5 stars🤙🤙

Michael Slowik

Google

Not the easiest of hikes. Pace yourself and bring plenty of water and sunscreen. Took about 45 minutes to get to the top with many breaks along the way. Your legs will feel the burn but so worth it. The views once you get to the top are amazing. Highly recommend making the trip.

Serene Liew

Google

What an amazing experience! The hike was so much fun, but definitely challenging for those who aren't physically fit. My son and I made it to the top, and the view was absolutely breathtaking — totally worth the effort! The trail is steep, and there’s a level of risk involved, so just be aware and go at your own pace. The sense of accomplishment once you reach the top is unmatched. Highly recommend it if you're up for a good challenge and some stunning scenery. We took about 1 hour to finish the trail, making it a great workout with a rewarding view at the end. Best part? It's free! Definitely a memorable experience!

Shahbaz Salehi

Google

One of the most exhilarating and unique hikes I’ve ever done! You can see the tram up the mountain from miles away, and there's a free parking lot with bathrooms located at the base. I recommend starting early in the morning to avoid the direct sunlight. The ascent requires physical stamina, so pace yourself and make sure to bring plenty of water and snacks to keep your energy up. It's not an easy hike—take breaks every few minutes and go at your own pace. It can take about 30-45 minutes to reach the top. The view from the top is absolutely stunning, though there are no restrooms up there. The descent is more of a mental challenge. I go to the gym 3-4 times a week, and even for me, this hike was tough. It’s definitely one of a kind, and I highly recommend it if you’re physically prepared for the challenge.

Alyn Clausen

Google

It was amazing! The hike to the top takes a good deal of physical endurance to make. Testing your skills and physical abilities. A volunteer walked woith me part of the way, sharing information and the best spots for the sunrise. Definitely wasn't expecting that, pretty awesome! The views are absolutely worth every bit of the hike! Trail is very well maintained free of trash and debris. As I hiked back down, i saw another volunteer carrying up railroad ties to replace old boards. I'm super excited to climb Koko Head again!

Dark Apollo

Google

As a local, I would say it was a very challenging but fun hiking trail. I love coming here many times to burn calories and to have fun. I even took my grad pictures on the hike, which was cool. The summit of Koko Head has beautiful landscape views and lots of opportunities to take nice pictures. I would say it is worth the time of going up the railway stairs. If it's your first time, expect to have sore legs the day after the hike. It is literally an uphill battle. I suggest bringing some water or any beverage with you to stay hydrated during the hike. Would recommend multiple beverages if needed. I also suggest bringing a small towel as you will get sweaty up there. Bring some sunscreen too since there is little to no shade from the hot sun, especially in the afternoon. A warning for newcomers is a section of the hike where the railway is not touching any ground. If you are not careful, you could slip and fall off. If you feel you can't make it through or have children with you, I strongly suggest taking the indicated alternate path on the rocks to bypass the potential danger. If you feel the need to use the restroom, use the one near the parking lot before going on the hike as it would be very inconvenient to go up the trail but feel the need to go. Overall, I recommend this trail for a good challenge and a great way to do cardio.

Jonathan Kim

Google

It is a climb!! Bring water and take lots of breaks and take it step by step literally. The out and back hike is about 1.5 miles but you are ascending and defending a lot. Took me about 1.5 hours round trip. Depends on how many breaks you take. If you have health issues or knee or hip issues be extremely cautious and think twice about doing it. It's not just going up but going down also gets you especially on the knees and hip. Highly recommended hike though, the view is rewarding and it's a straight forward hike. Worth it for the view. Avoid going on Saturday if possible as it may be hard to find parking due to baseball games. You can find parking or park in grass but you may take time to find one. From the parking lot looking at the mountain go around to the right of the ballfield until you get to a paved maintenance road path. Take that towards the stairs which you can see and you'll be there. There are 25 yellow blocks to tell you how far you are from the top. Use that to your advantage by taking a break or to just measure how far you have left. Unless you are an advanced hiker or athletes don't forget water. You will need it. Do not recommend for younger kids unless you want to carry them some or most of the way. I've seen dogs on the trail just make sure to bring enough water for them too.

Everett S

Google

This is a really cool hike! Just wait for an overcast kind of day or do a sunrise/sunset hike. It was steep, there is a "bridge" about halfway up with a disclaimer not to use but many do anyway or you can go on the trail to the right of the bridge on the way up. Lots of pull over spots to take a break out of the way of others, and you'll have comfort knowing many, many people take breaks. It's less than a half a mile up, 960 feet elevation gain. It really just depends on your own physical capabilites, some would suggest doing this towards the end of your trip, just to not have sore legs your whole vacation.

P RANNA

Google

One of the most popular hikes on Oahu, this hike is recommended early morning before sunrise or early evening as there is no shade from the sun whatsoever and if you are doing it midday it is very hot so be forewarned🔥 Wear a good sunhat, bring adequate water and wear good shoes that grip. Seen way too many people slip and fall coming down the trail. The trail has been improved significantly since i visited 5 years ago with better stairs, foundation and rocks to fill the eroded sections on the steps. *mahalos kokonut koalition🤙🙏* The hike will test your endurance as the stairs will slowly get more steep in grade, especially near the top. But once you reach the top you are rewarded with 360 views of the summit top. 5 stars🤙🤙

Michael Slowik

Google

Not the easiest of hikes. Pace yourself and bring plenty of water and sunscreen. Took about 45 minutes to get to the top with many breaks along the way. Your legs will feel the burn but so worth it. The views once you get to the top are amazing. Highly recommend making the trip.

Koko Crater Railway Trailhead

Koko Crater Railway Trailhead

Photos

Highlights

You might also like