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Ka'au Crater is a 5 mile loop trail located near Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii that features a 3 waterfalls and is advanced.


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3.0

Miles

4.8

KM

Point to Point

1,632' 497 m

High

518' 158 m

Low

1,138' 347 m

Up

1,009' 308 m

Down

14%

Avg Grade (8°)

53%

Max Grade (28°)

Dogs Off-leash

Features River/Creek · Waterfall

This trail is on privately owned land but is open to the public

Need to Know

This is not for the faint of heart. You can always do the trail to the 1st waterfall and return.

Description

This trail is a beast and if you love a challenge you'll love it. It is extremely muddy and slippery. Highly recommend boots or water shoes. In the beginning you cross the river/stream several times and follow the path, then FOLLOW THE PIPE! It will lead the way for most of this loop. When you reach the first waterfall look around until you find some ropes to use to start the climbing.

The remaining two waterfalls will require quite a bit of vertical climbing using ropes (which are usually there). This is so much fun! When you get to the top of the third waterfall the trail flattens out and you have sweeping views of the crater and a steady hike downhill. Many of these sections we called 'butt sliders' ...

It was a rainy day when we completed this hike, it is assumed that on a drier day it may be safer, less slippery, and less muddy.

Shared By:

Jennifer Fehr

Trail Ratings

  4.8 from 5 votes

#2059

Overall
  4.8 from 5 votes
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Trail Rankings

#24

in Hawaii

#2,059

Overall
23 Views Last Month
1,025 Since Nov 3, 2020
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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 58 days ago
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Check-Ins

Feb 22, 2025
Anonymous
There is a way to get to the top of the waterfall. Look for the ropes. — 2h 00m
Jun 24, 2024
Marc Daniel
With Mila - in 4 hours we discovered Strawberry Guava along the way — 2h 45m
Sep 1, 2023
Heather Hooton
Sep 30, 2022
Ranjit Annamalai
Trail was relatively dry and so perhaps it was easier to climb the waterfalls and do the trail quickly — 3h 07m
Jul 10, 2021
Gerald Murphy
hiked with Bret, also did crater loop at top.
Dec 22, 2020
Matt Carp
Nov 12, 2020
Shane Williams
My favorite hike on the island. Beautiful waterfalls and amazing views! 4.9mi — 3h 20m
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