From easy family walks to epic multi-day adventures β the best hiking trails on Maui, Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island with maps, difficulty ratings and expert tips.
The crown jewel of Maui hiking. Trek to the summit of a dormant volcano at 10,023 feet for breathtaking sunrise views above the clouds. One of the most spiritual and awe-inspiring hikes in all of Hawaii.
One of Hawaii's most magical trails. Walk through a bamboo forest so dense it blocks out the sun, then emerge at the stunning 400-foot Waimoku Falls. Absolutely unforgettable.
A stunning ridge hike with sweeping views of both coastlines of Maui. On clear days you can see Molokai and Lanai. The trail winds through native Hawaiian cloud forest.
A beautiful easy coastal walk connecting four of Mauis most gorgeous beaches. Perfect for families. Watch for sea turtles, spinner dolphins and humpback whales in season.
The perfect introduction to Road to Hana hiking. Two gorgeous waterfalls with swimming holes await at the end. Lush tropical jungle, rope swings and crystal clear pools.
An ancient Hawaiian footpath with incredible panoramic views of Maui and the neighbor islands. In winter (DecβApr) this is one of the best spots on earth to watch humpback whales from high above.
The ultimate Maui hiking experience. Descend into the otherworldly crater from the summit, walk through a lunar landscape of cinder cones and silversword plants, then climb back out the other side.
Short but spectacular. The Iao Needle β a 1,200 foot green spire β towers above you as you walk through one of Hawaii's most sacred valleys. Site of a famous 1790 battle.
Oahu's most iconic hike. Climb inside an extinct volcanic crater to a spectacular lookout with sweeping views over Waikiki and the Pacific Ocean. A must-do for every visitor.
The most brutal workout hike on Oahu. Climb 1,048 steps up an old WWII military railway track straight up the side of Koko Crater. Incredible 360-degree views at the top are the reward.
A lush jungle walk through misty Hawaiian rainforest leading to a stunning 150-foot waterfall. One of Oahu's most accessible and beautiful hikes, right in Honolulu.
Hike to WWII military pillboxes perched on a ridge above Lanikai Beach β consistently rated one of the world's most beautiful beaches. Sunrise views here are absolutely magical.
A paved lighthouse trail with some of the most dramatic coastal scenery on Oahu. In winter (Jan-Mar) this is one of the best spots to watch humpback whales from land.
The ultimate secret Oahu hike. A challenging off-trail adventure through jungle to three stunning hidden waterfalls and a dramatic crater. One of the most rewarding hikes on the island.
A beautiful loop through Oahu's lush interior forest with views of Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head and the Ko'olau Mountains. WWII history too β you'll pass a crashed C-47 aircraft wreck.
Walk through a stunning botanical garden reserve to a beautiful 45-foot waterfall with a swimming hole. Home to over 5,000 tropical plants and ancient Hawaiian archaeological sites.
One of the most famous and dramatic hikes on Earth. The full trail traverses 11 miles of Na Pali's impossibly beautiful coastline to the remote Kalalau Valley. A life-changing adventure.
The first 2 miles of the famous Kalalau Trail leading to a stunning remote beach. You get the full Na Pali experience without needing a camping permit. Jaw-dropping views the entire way.
Hike into the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. The canyon walls drop 3,000 feet in brilliant shades of red, brown and green. One of the most spectacular geological wonders in all of Hawaii.
Hike to the head of the famous Sleeping Giant ridge β a mountain that looks like a giant lying on his back. Panoramic views of the east side of Kauai, Kapaa and the ocean.
Extend the Hanakapiai Beach Trail another 2 miles into a lush valley to reach one of Hawaii's most spectacular waterfalls β a 300-foot cascade plunging into a beautiful pool.
Descend through native Hawaiian forest to a knife-edge ridge jutting into the Na Pali cliffs. The views from the end are among the most vertiginous and dramatic in all of Hawaii β absolutely breathtaking.
A stunning coastal walk along Kauai's dramatic south shore. Ancient sand dunes, sea caves, blowholes, monk seal resting spots and incredible sunset views. One of the most beautiful easy walks in Hawaii.
Walk along the rim of Kauai with spectacular views into the Kalalau Valley on one side and the Alaka'i Swamp wilderness on the other. A truly unique and remote landscape.
Walk across the hardened lava lake of Kilauea Iki β a crater that was a roiling lake of molten lava in 1959. One of the most surreal and geological wonders you'll ever walk through.
Hike to the summit of the world's tallest mountain (from ocean floor) at 13,796 feet. Home to some of the world's greatest observatories and the best stargazing on Earth. Sacred Hawaiian mountain.
A short loop through stunning tropical rainforest to one of Hawaii's most beautiful waterfalls β Akaka Falls drops 442 feet in a single unbroken plunge into a lush gorge. Absolutely magical.
Walk the rim of Waipio β the sacred Valley of the Kings. Dramatic views of a 2,000-foot-deep valley with a black sand beach, ancient taro fields and towering waterfalls. Deeply spiritual Hawaiian land.
Walk through a 500-year-old lava tube formed when the outer shell of a lava flow hardened while the molten interior drained away. Surrounded by pristine rainforest. One of the most unique walks in the world.
Short but spectacular hike down to a remote black sand beach at the end of the road in North Kohala. Lush valley, sea cliffs, wild surf and a real sense of being at the edge of the world.
A paved boardwalk through a ghostly landscape of dead trees killed by the 1959 Kilauea Iki eruption. Hauntingly beautiful β ash-covered ground with skeletal trees slowly being reclaimed by nature.
Hike to one of only four green sand beaches in the world. Papakolea Beach gets its unique color from olivine crystals eroded from the surrounding volcanic cone. One of the most extraordinary natural wonders in Hawaii.