Best Dog Friendly Trails in Hawaii
Explore the most popular dog friendly trails in Hawaii with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you.
Top trails (40)
- Kuliʻouʻou Ridge TrailThis trail rises almost 1,800 feet before peaking on the spine of the awe inspiring Kuli’ou’ou Ridge. At the top of the ridge you are rewarded with sweeping views of the dramatic landscape around you. The trail is steep and can be wet and slippery so best to be prepared for muddy conditions, as is common with many hikes on the island.
- Papakolea Green Sand BeachThis hike takes you to one of the only true Green Sand Beaches in the world, this is a must-see! Located in a bay cut by the ocean into a side of Puu Mahana, the green sand is created by a common silicate deposit of Big Island lava called Olivine. Walk the rough rocky terrain and enjoy the sights and sounds!
- Sleeping Giant (Nounou Mountain) West TrailHard•4.7(2488)#3 - Sleeping Giant (Nounou Mountain) West TrailLength: 1.7 miThe trail is a steep climb to a mountain summit. There is a nice place to rest with a bench about 2/5 of the way in. There are a few steep areas that will require careful foot placement. Keep in mind that the trail and rocks get slippery when wet. Use caution when navigating this trail. Trekking poles are recommended. The trail gets thin at the top and the rock platforms have steep drops. The views from the top are beautiful.
- Hauʻula LoopThe trail is great for hiking or trail running and normally takes around an hour. This trail is probably the lesser used Na Ala Hele trails, and with lots of shade. It's a good one to do any time, any season. One option is to park at the beach park. There is no real room to park at the entrance without trashing someone's lawn. Plus it gives you a place to rinse off afterwards. Bring bug spray. Hiking the loop clockwise is recommended.
- Makuala O'Oma TrailThis is a fairly shaded hike through the forest with a couple of steep and hilly sections. The trail can become wet and muddy after heavy rainfall. If traveling clockwise, the trail is downhill then mostly flat for the first two miles before climbing back up towards the start point. There are exposed rocks and roots, so good hiking footwear is encouraged.
- Twin Falls TrailWhen passing through private property easements and right-of-ways it is especially important to stay on the path and respect posted guidance. Local officials and private landowners work in partnership to provide public access to this area. Staying on the path while on private property ensures that agreements between local officials and the landowner are upheld and that this trail remains open to the public in the future.
- Lanikai Pillbox #2This trail continues on the Kaiwa Ridge from the Pill Boxes with Bellows Beach Park on one side and Keolu Hills neighborhood on the other, ending at the top of Hele Street in Enchanted Lake. It has been cleared and marked with orange trail markers and is a beautiful extension of the classic pill box hike.
- Keālia TrailThe trails are not marked well. Downloading offline maps is recommended. The trailhead is across from the parking lot and proceeds inland on a wide paved road. Go around the chain and go left at the fork (keep the concrete hanger on your right). At the base of the ridge follow the trail as it switchbacks up the face. At the top, there is a covered picnic bench. Continue inland and ascend fire road. When you reach a junction near an old fence line go right. You will pass a rusted water tank...
- Maunawili Falls via Pali HighwayHard•4.6(950)#10 - Maunawili Falls via Pali HighwayLength: 6.3 mi•Est. 4h 4m
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Helpful reviews of trails in Hawaii
Pretty great! I did this in about 3.5 hours with my 15 year old dog, it’s strenuous but definitely not difficult…..Definitely not difficult for O’ahu for sure. I would rate it 6/10 difficulty. Anyone able of walking 4.5 miles could do it if they took their time.
Trail is incredibly well maintained. It’s like the Goldilocks of Hawai’i hiking. It’s a nice distance to fully appreciate the view, you feel accomplished but don’t have to climb with your hands half the way, it’s busy but not a tourist spot.
The elevation on the map lulls you into a false sense of security. The second half is steeper. The stairs are steep but aren’t bad considering you’re walking to the top of the ko’olaus. Views are 12/10 of course. Had a very dusty picnic at the top, the wind covered my sandwich with dirt. Could’ve done that differently but oh well.
I'm not sure how going up the front way compares, but we went up the back to the second pillbox. I've heard the back side is a little bit steeper, and I can believe it. Great views of Lanikai Beach and the beautiful blue water. We took our dog and noticed lots of other dogs as well. Definitely hot in the sun, so take water. You have to go back the way you came versus doing a loop unless you want to walk three miles through town to get back to your car.
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Frequently asked questions about dog friendly trails in Hawaii
What is the longest dog-friendly trail in Hawaii?
According to AllTrails.com, the longest dog-friendly trail in Hawaii is Maunawili Falls from Waimanalo. This trail is estimated to be 14.9 mi long.
Which dog friendly trail has the most elevation gain in Hawaii?
Hawaii: With an ascent of 4,307 ft, Maunawili Falls from Waimanalo has the most elevation gain of all of the dog friendly trails in the area. The next highest ascent for dog-friendly trails is Bowman Trail with 3,254 ft of elevation gain.
What is the most popular and difficult dog-friendly trail in Hawaii?
The most popular and difficult dog-friendly trail in Hawaii is Kuliʻouʻou Ridge Trail with a 4.8-star rating from 7,811 reviews.