About
Length (round trip)5 mi
ShapeOut-and-Back
DifficultyHard
Elevation gain1,300 ft up
Typical time4 hr
TrailheadKahuku Unit, Highway 11
SurfaceSteep ranch road and forest
Best seasonYear round. The summit area is cool and wet; the coastal and Kau Desert sections are hot and exposed.
DogsNot allowed
AccessibilityTrail is on uneven grassy terrain, with significant elevation gain.
What you'll see 🌄 Big views🌲 Old growth

This part of Kahuku was once a vast wilderness, thick with vines and towering trees. At the beginning of the ranching era, forests were cleared and replaced with grass for herds of cattle. This hike takes you through scenic pastureland and culminates on the edge of a huge pit crater that provides a glimpse into the past. The crater shelters a pristine Hawaiian rainforest protected by its sheer walls. Trailhead : ROD Quarantine Gate. Hikers need to account for the 1.2-mile (1.9 km) one-way walk from the ROD Quarantine Gate to the Glover trailhead. Distance : 3.2-mile (5 km) loop with a 320-foot (98 m) elevation change. Add in the 2.4 miles (3.8 km) to and from the trail head for a total of 5.6 miles (8.8 km) round trip. Difficulty : Strenuous Duration: 3 - 5 hours Bring : Water, snacks, sturdy footwear, and be prepared for sun, rain, heat or cold. You must spray the soles of your shoes with rubbing alcohol (provided) at the ROD (Rapid hia Death) decontamination station.

Tips
Steep and sustained. The pit crater at the top has escaped grazing and holds plants that are rare everywhere else on the island.
Location

Kahuku Unit, Highway 11

Other Hikers
No one has logged this trail yet.
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Trail data: USGS National Map / PAD-US, the National Park Service, state agencies, and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Access and conditions change — check with the managing agency before you go.