Ka'au Crater Trail
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About Ka'au Crater Trail
Get the inside scoop on Ka'au Crater Trail from local experts, travel creators, and tastemakers. Browse genuine trip notes, Ka'au Crater Trail reviews, photos, travel guides, and itineraries from real travelers and plan your trip with confidence.
What people say
Alexandria Ugarte
"4.5 mile loop with an elevation gain of 1,939 feet.
Now Ka'au Crater is a doozy of a hike for many reasons and the only reason I have not ranked it as the most difficult hike on my list is because there are a couple of routes to the top and it is possible to avoid some of its greatest hazards. You can either hike the trail as a loop or as an out and back. Ka'au Crater is possibly most memorable not for its view at the top, which is similar to other hikes such as Wiliwilinui and Kuliou'ou, but for its multiple waterfalls. The first waterfall on the trail has a good little swimming hole to enjoy, but the falls after pose a real challenge. This trail requires some climbing with ropes that have been installed along side the falls and can be quite dangerous. These ropes are only maintained by local hikers and it is up to your best judgement if they should be relied upon. After making it up all the falls you will ascend to the ridge of the crater where the trail can be very narrow with steep drops on either side. There is also some more spots with ropes to be used to climb up steep inclines, once again use your best judgement. The West side of the crater is especially treacherous so coming back on the East side is recommended. Then coming back down the ridge is a breeze compared to scaling waterfalls and risking the craters edge. To get to the top with less risk you can hike up the ridge and avoid the trail along the stream, just make sure you don't miss the turn off at about half a mile. Shoe spikes are recommended for this hike. "
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Britney Largent
"Arguably one of my favorite hikes on the island. You get a mix of everything— ridge line, insane views, 3 waterfalls, and a look down into a crater. HARD and will take you roughly 5 hours but worth it if you have the day. "
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Celine Becker
Available for hire
"extremely challenging but worth it"
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