Climb up 1,048 railroad ties along Koko Crater Railway Trail to reach the summit of this Hawaiian crater, famous for its views and a large botanical garden. The rail ties were installed over 60 years ago to help carry military supplies to bunkers at the top. Today, it's a popular hiking and running spot. From the summit, you can see three islands on a clear day. Be careful because certain parts of the railroad path are crumbling, and some are quite steep. Bad weather can make the hike dangerous. Take plenty of water and supplies, use good shoes, and bring sunscreen. Take a look at our Honolulu online trip itinerary maker to schedule your visit to Koko Crater Railway Trail and learn about what else to see and do during your holiday.
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Tours to Koko Crater Railway Trail
Koko Crater Railway Trail reviews
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Best View after a great Cardio!! The views were amazing! Water is a must. The way up is challenging depending on your athletic level. Don't recommend it for small children. Make sure its sunny. We... more »
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My 7 year old son and I did this just after sunrise. It took about an hour up, we spent a half hour or so at the top, and took less than an hour coming down. You do want to go slow coming down, it’s..... more »
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This is a hard hike, but definitely worth it at the top. Do not recommend if you're in bad shape. Wear the right hiking shoes, and bring a lot of water and a hat. I saw a lot of people walking in... more »
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What a great start to our day! A wonderful stair climber/step ups workout. If they are working on the trail, help them out and carry some buckets of gravel up. It is worth being short of breath at the top! It was a bit slippery so good shoes could help you out. The weather was misty/rain on and off but very humid and 80's ( great change for this wisconsin girl in January). My husband and I are fit and in our 30's. We saw plenty of people on this trail on a Thursday and great chatting with them. Yes, I did crawl up on one section that has about a 5 to 10 foot drop under the railway and crab walked on the way down. (Slippery) Enjoy and take your time! Everyone has their own pace and keep it enjoyable for everyone. :) 1000 ft in 1 mile good luck! The local lady said she could usually do it in 15 minutes if not slippery. (She was very fit)
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This hike was no joke but I'm glad I did it. This hike is the definition of the stair master 9000. A total of a little over 1,000 steps from the bottom to the top. Hiking early in the morning is best to avoid the heat as you go up. The hike takes about 30 min to 1 hour. There are no rails to hold on to. Take a small and light backpack to hold your things. The steps look like train tracks. Be careful because these are no fancy steps, they're old and sometimes pretty rocky. There is one part where you can see straight through so don't fall. However, there is also a safe pass if you do not want to go on those steps. When you get to the top, it's quite a view. It is also a sign of relief and you can finally take a rest. Spend some time just admiring the view because going down is even worse. Apparently some people need to get a helicopter. I was really tempted. Your insurance might be able to cover it, but I'm not too sure about that so I just went down on my own. Although I'm glad I did it, this is something you just want to do once.
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This trail was no joke! Longer legs make it easier. Great crew of volunteers working to replace rotted out wood. They were hand carrying 4*6 boards up to the work area.
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This doesn’t seem that tough at first but it does get you sweating and breathing heavy. Take sunscreen and water. All up hill and then the downhill is even trickier. It was fun and the top view is great. It was a bit crowded but I did go on a weekend too. Overall it was one of the best parts of our Oahu trip.
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For sure a signature hike of the island. I would say a must do at least once although there are many people that do it for regular training. It is very exposed and I could see you losing your footing here so I would say bring some protection and hiking poles most importantly for the way back down as it is steep. It’s a super short hike but steep and strenuous. Keep going to the top pillboxes. the panoramic view is amazing
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