Koko Crater Railway Trail, Hawaii, United States

5Randall W 5:00 PM Dec 1, 2022

Rustic, Challenging, yet doable hike
The railroad ties of the old railway serve as steps up the mountain. We attempted it last summer when we were there, but started too late in the morning. So, it was hot, my son and I were both out of shape, and we didn't make it to the top. However, this fall we planned for it and worked out leading up to the trip. The park does not officially open until 6:30 which is right about sunrise that time of year. We arrived at 4:45, parked on a residential street, and hiked into the park along with some locals. I HIGHLY recommend the headband flashlights if arriving before sunrise. We used the flashlights on our phones. We took some amazing pics. Absolutely spectacular. I lost my footing on the way down and took a spill that resulted in some cuts, scrapes, and bruises, and it was still worth it. Initially I resigned myself to the fact that I had simply chosen the wrong shoes for the trek (running shoes). However, on the way down, I was passed by a local literally running up the mountain wearing flip flops and then another who was bare foot. I don't recommend either of those options for tourists. What I personally didn't think through was the fact that the climb is just as steep on the way down as it was on the way up. Reserve some energy for the trek down and do a LOT of stairs or the StairMaster as part of your workout before making this trek. HOWEVER, I DO recommend taking this trek... just start by 8am and you should be up and back down before the heat of the day.

4lagunabridge 5:00 PM Jul 16, 2022

Koko Head workout
My 11yo daughter and I did Koko Head in June ‘22. This is a nice “hike” to start out a day full of activities in Hawaii. It is a workout more than a hike as it is nothing more than a steep step-climb up an abandoned Army rail line up a mountain. Due to limited parking and working out in cooler temps, I recommend going by 7:30am…we arrived at 6:30am and the parking lot was almost half full on a Monday morning. The walk from the parking area to the first rail step at the foot of the mountain is approx 0.5mi. From there, the actual climb is approx another 0.5mi to the top. The first 0.30mi is reasonably steep and will fatigue you as most people likely pace poorly here…this is important because the last 0.20mi becomes even steeper just when your legs, butt and lungs are “feeling” it. Many people simply sit on a rail or stand along the side to rest - be careful not to block access though. The top is a small area where you can take in the views and catch your breath. It’s a short climb, but not an easy one, so take your time and pace well.