Koko Head Crater Hiking Trail

The Koko Head Crater Hiking Trail is a trail on a historical railway consisting of over 1,000 stairs (1,048 to be exact). The railway was a former military railway used to transport ammunition and supplies to the pillboxes at the top of the crater. The stairs climb over 1,200 feet to the top of Koko Head Crater. Don’t take the total distance of this hike for granted, these stairs are no joke! They REALLY get the lungs pumping. Once at the top, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of this part of Oahu and much more.

Also, since Waikiki is in close proximity to this hiking trail, expect a crowd. Almost anytime of the day, week, month, or year, Koko Head Crater is almost always crowded!

Trail Difficulty – Moderate/Hard
Length – 1.8 miles (round trip)
Duration – 2 hours
Condition – Old railway tracks, no shade, loose rocks, steps can vary in height

Important Information

Hours – Open for daily use only
Free parking – gates for Koko Head District Park opens at 6:30AM and close at 11:00PM

Getting to the Koko Head Crater Hiking Trail

The Koko Head Crater Hiking Trail itself is pretty straightforward in general. Once you’ve found parking in the parking lot, you will follow a path that will ultimately lead you to the stairs. If you can’t find the trail, just follow everybody else because there will be lots of people!

The railway stairs all vary in height, and since they are old, many of the stairs are deteriorating, so just watch your step. Don’t forget you have 1,048 to climb up to reach the top…

One section that can scare some people is the “bridge”, it’s not really a bridge but there is a significant drop below the stairs. There is an option to go around, but if you take your time, you’ll have nothing to worry about getting past this section.

Once at the top of the Koko Head Crater Hiking Trail, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views! The hike up is definitely worth the view. You can continue to walk around the top of the hike and see some of the old pillboxes and a few other lookout points.

Sit down, relax, have a drink/snack, because going back down can be just as tiring as coming up!