Perched on the western side of Oahu, Mount Kaʻala stands proudly as the island's highest peak—and the only summit to break the 4,000-foot mark. Reaching the top, however, is no small feat. This hike demands significant elevation gain and a fair share of scrambling up steep, challenging inclines. But for those who conquer it, the reward is more than just the view—it's the ultimate bragging rights of standing atop Oahu's highest point
Trail Info
Know before you go
The trailhead is notorious for car break-ins, a common issue on Oahu. While there's no foolproof solution, your best bet is to leave nothing visible in your car—or even consider leaving your doors unlocked to avoid broken windows.
The trail features steep scrambles that rely on pre-fastened ropes. While there’s minimal exposure, these sections can still be hazardous, especially when the trail is muddy, making the climbs significantly more challenging.
The true summit doesn’t offer great views, as it's largely obstructed. The best vistas are found partway up the ridge ascent. You can discover some additional views near the summit by skirting around the radar tower installation, but it takes a bit of effort.
Other trails nearby
Bolohead Ridge offers a much more challenging and gnarly route to summit Mount Kaʻala. This trail features multiple Class 4 climbs with loose rock throughout, making it extremely dangerous and suitable only for highly experienced hikers.
The Trail
After parking your car (completely empty of valuables, of course), head just past the trailhead sign to begin your adventure.
The trail starts along a paved path.
Soon you will hit this open picnic area. Follow that path to the right to continue.
The path is clear and well-marked throughout. This section might feel a bit odd, as you take a sharp right and descend briefly before starting the climb, but rest assured—the signs are guiding you in the right direction.
Soon, you’ll encounter your first bit of climbing. While this section is relatively tame compared to what’s ahead, it’s enough to get your heart pumping.
After some huffing and puffing, you’ll emerge from the trees onto a ridge with a fence. Mount Kaʻala lies in the opposite direction of the view pictured here, but this spot is perfect for a break.
In fact, it’s arguably the best view on the entire hike. I took some time here to relax and even flew my drone around for a bit.
But onward we go. This is where the hike truly gets challenging. The trail becomes extremely steep, and it’s almost impossible not to rely on the ropes to help you climb.
Here’s a different perspective to show just how steep this section is. While it’s certainly challenging, it’s nothing compared to Bolohead Ridge—the narrow, razor-thin ridge visible at the very top of this shot.
With some grit, you'll finally reach the top of the ascent, and the trail begins to flatten out. This is where things get a bit unusual, as it’s not a traditional summit. You’re now in the Wai'anae Kai Nature Preserve, and to continue, you’ll need to follow this series of planks through the preserve.
Eventually, you’ll reach another clearing with a road and a military radar tower, surrounded by a fenced-off area. See why I said this hike feels a bit strange? If you decide to stop here, claim you've bagged the summit, and head back down, that’s perfectly fine.
But if you're determined to snag a few more views, you can continue and bypass the radar facility fence. I found this detour offered some really cool perspectives of the island. Here, we’re looking out toward Oahu’s North Shore.
And here's another perspective towards the Leeward side of the island. Not a bad view from the top of Oahu!
SS Reflections
I tackled Mount Kaʻala early on in my time living on Oahu, and since then, I’ve had the peak-bagging bug. There’s something deeply satisfying about reaching the highest point of anything. It’s probably what sparked an addiction that led me to complete the New Hampshire 48 and now pursue Colorado’s 14ers. Sometimes, I wonder if that goal-driven mentality is unhealthy, but then I remember it pushes me to get outside and take in views like this—and I realize there are probably worse addictions out there. For now, I’ll keep peak-bagging, chasing the next summit and the sense of accomplishment that comes with it.
Other helpful resources
100 peaks post about this trail