Ka'au Crater

Breathtaking views and beautiful waterfallsThis hike is only for people that are experienced hikers. It has a pretty high elevation gain close to 2000 feet which requires using ropes to climb up.Don't attempt this climb if it has recently rained. The trail isn't safe it is muddy. It was dry when I went and I never felt unsafe but at times I did basically crawl or scoot on my butt when it was steep and certain parts are always a little muddy.The first waterfall is slightly off trail but you will see concrete box and several ribbons ( see photo) that mark it.You don't have to climb up the third waterfall, there is trail to the left that is a little longer but a safer option

If u are not an intermediate hiker do NOT attempt this trail. Took about 1 1/4 hr to go 1 way with steady climb of wooden slats unevenly spaced uphill. I am an intermediate hiker who is 61 and my hubby 71 yrs of age accomplished it but if u have any knee issues do not attempt this hike. It's a beautiful view but there are much easier hikes with better views, it a hike of accomplishment for most on trail.

It's a cool hike, probably in my top 5 for long hikes on Oahu, after Mau'umae Ridge right next to it, Moanalua Ridge, and Mount Ka'ala. good views south to Diamond Head, and glimpses north to Kaneohe and Kailua, but the views didn't match the other hikes I mentioned. As others say, you follow the pipe up and that means you're going counterclockwise after the first half-mile or so, before you get on the loop. I was concerned i wasn't on the right side, but when i came back to the joined trail it was hard to see where the clockwise path even was. either way is fine, but theres one spot, a steep hill climb on fairly loose dirt between the second waterfall and the first glimpse of the crater, that o wouldn't have wanted to come down--there were no ropes and it was pretty nearly vertical. going counterclockwise makes for a nice, quick, easy trail after you leave the crater--quickly downhill but lots of roots. going around the crater is muddy, and thats where one might want micro-spikes and gloves for the mud and ropes, but i made do without. It hadn't rained for about 4 days in town, and the forecast didn't call for rain, but there were a few minutes of rain on the trail and plenty of mud, so its raining up there even when you think you've picked a dry time. It took me about 5 hours total, and I moseyed, although I didn't take any long breaks anywhere. the trail was easy to follow. Parking is very limited at the TH, so i ended up down the road a bit.

I just wanted to share how incredible my Saturday afternoon hike was. Being surrounded by the beauty of nature and the sight of waterfalls filled my heart with joy. It's amazing how connecting with the outdoors can be such a healing experience for the soul and spirit. Let's cherish these moments of serenity and connection with the natural world.Challenging slippery hike with some ropes on the way... if you do a loop. Waterfalls are incredible especially the last loooong one. We finished in 3.5 hours.

I've hiked over 20 trails & this one's still my favorite! :) I'd rate it as an intermediate to advanced hike depending on your level of fitness.This one has it all. It's challenging, a good distance (takes about 4-5 hours to complete), you'll pass 3 waterfalls, enjoy stunning views of both sides of the island, & there's quite a bit of rope climbing (bring gloves!)... If you don't have 4-5 hours to hike all the way around the crater, you could hike to the top of the 3rd waterfall then turn left to go back to the start. The shorter route is around 2 to 2-1/2 hours roundtrip.Tips for this trail:- don't hike this one if it's raining a lot- hike with at least one other person- hydrate beforehand- start early- use sunscreen- eat something for breakfast that won't upset your stomach- bring BioFreeze & ibuprofen in case you have muscle pain during the hike- bring a speaker to play music for the group - bring gloves!- be sure your phone is fully charged- stretch good once your muscles have warmed up, around 30 mins into the hike- bring at least 3 bottles of water & something to eat (sandwich, fruit, trail mix and/or energy bar)- wear pants, a hat or visor, & shoes with tractionThat's it! Hope you have a good experience on this one! :) This trail holds a special place in my heart.

Amazing waterfall hike with Jurassic Park-like views at the top. Be prepared to bring tons of water with you, a backpack, snacks, good shoes with traction, and download the All trails map!The trail is unmaintained with pink ties to mark the trail and the water pipeline, but I would definitely recommend downloading the offline map. We accidentally went up the left side rather than the right side of the crater and the right side has arguably better views. Each waterfall involved scaling up the side (almost vertical) rocks with the help with ropes installed on the side. This hike took us four hours and we are pretty experienced hikers.

A truly magnificent and unforgettable hike! One travels through a Jurassic-like rainforest to three waterfalls and up to a jaw-dropping crater! HOWEVER, that comes with a HUGE caution for the inexperienced. First of all, there is a chance that this unmaintained hike isn't even legal. After all, the description of "on private property, but open to the public" felt vague and unofficial. Some things to keep in mind:-You hike at your own risk! This in an unmaintained trail.-If you are not an advanced hiker/ adventurer don't even bother coming! None of that "for the gram" BS. Honestly, if you aren't even going to bother to bring a pack to hold water, food, and gear, you're an idiot.-The entire loop is ~7mi+ with 2500ft of gain. However, you will likely be trudging through mud, scraping by vegetation on a narrow trail (wear pants!), and traversing up steep climbs with ropes along some of it, so it will be a very SLOW 7mi. It took me 6 hours.-MICRO-SPIKES are the only things which will prevent you from slipping especially along the steeper and muddier parts. And no, micro-spikes are not the same as Yaktrax.-If it is raining, don't even bother scrambling to the "summit" as you will likely get fogged out. -Thankfully, you have options on this hike whether you want to aim for the first falls only, three water falls and crater, and/ or the whole loop to reach the "summit". I think the first waterfall is appropriate for beginners, so long as they bring the essentials and have the proper gear. After the first falls, you'll need to rely on some ropes so others might find it scary. To reach the summit, there are some harrowing climbs which will absolutely require the use of ropes. The ropes are installed by passerby's so use at your own risk. I would test them out before trying them.-You'll need to have some basic trail finding abilities. There are also some pink ribbons tied onto trees to guide your way plus a pipe that the trail runs parallel along. I can see how some would get lost on their way down as they are making their way back around the other side of the Crater, after all, it's a huge picturesque distraction. I'm not sure how people get lost along the first segment of the hike before the first falls. Again, this was the hike of a lifetime purely for the diversity of scenery. It was steep and strenuous along some sections, sure; but so long as you're not afraid of heights, possess a decent grip strength, and are a seasoned hiker it'll actually feel like an intermediate ascent for ya. Happy hiking!

My daughter picked this hike and my husband and I went not knowing what we were getting ourselves into. No water or food but it was well worth it. Strenuous fun lives the rope climbing and the waterfalls were gorgeous! We

Definitely the longest and most difficult O'ahu hike I have ever done in my life, and it took about 5-1/2 to 6 hours roundtrip. Parked at the small gravel lot near where signs point to the Ka'au Crater Trailhead, but do keep in mind that you should get there as early as possible to find a good spot, otherwise you might have to park further down Waiomao Road, and traffic and parking is very tight in those residential areas!It can be confusing and easy to get lost on the trail, as it is not maintained by the state or Na Ala Hele system. There are a number of those pink ribbons to help guide you, but the trail can get very narrow at times before you get to the first of three sets of waterfalls. Mostly need to follow the stream and the large pipe that runs throughout and next to the trail.And did I mention there is a lot of climbing!? Yes, that's right, if you are not athletic and flexible like I am and don't have a lot of hiking experience (I have actually done Koko Head numerous times!), you would likely have a very difficult time on the trail! There are lots of ropes to grab onto, especially when you get to the third set of waterfalls that lead and take you directly to the summit. Also, make sure to bring lots of water and snacks and take breaks here and there, because this is really intense!Eventually, after stops at all three sets of waterfalls, I made it to the summit and point where you can see Ka'au Crater itself. There was still the ridge and loop, but my body was so sore and hurting that I didn't want to go much further, plus the weather at the time was cloudy and obscuring views of the Windward Side (Kailua, Kane'ohe, and Waimanalo), so it wouldn't have been worth the extra time and effort to do that particular portion. Though you can still see Mount Olympus nearby (which I actually did one week prior to doing the Ka'au Crater Trail), and I was able to get some really spectacular views around the island when the clouds cleared up periodically on that other hike.

The longest hike I ever did in my life. We started in the morning around 7:30am and ended about 3pm. It was a Sunday and the weather looked decent. There was a few droplets in the middle of the hike but wasn't too bad. The cloud covered the sun quite a bit that day so not much of a bad tan for me. Parking is in a residential area. But it seems there are a few spots near the entrance of the hike. There is a sign showing where the hike starts. Definitely read reviews before heading there. There's a possibility of getting lost. In the beginning, we are going through the forest and following the pipes, big pipes. It was muddy and slippery when we went. We pass by three waterfalls before we got to the crater. There is a lot of climbing up and down. When heading back down around the crater, we were so tired. It was a silent hike with no energy. Bring food and lots of water. It's an intense and long hike. My legs hurt for days. Good to wear cushion and gripped shoes. View and waterfalls were nice! Check out my pictures.