Pali Notches Trail
Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Scenery: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mileage: 1 mi
Region: Nu'uanu Pali State Wayside
Elev. Gain: 472 ft
When to Go: Year-Round
Avg. Time: 1 hr
Parking: Large paved lot
Type: Out + Back
Pass: $7 parking fee
Know Before You Go:
This hike is one of the deadliest in all of Oahu; please do not attempt this if you are not an experienced hiker.
This 1 mi hike is predominantly rock climbing over cliff drops with few to no areas to tie a rope onto. There are some areas where you may have a lucky rope already there!
Bring spikes and/or gloves if you are attempting this after a rainy day (not recommended).
The notches referred to in the name ‘Pali Notches’, were created by Oahu warriors in the 1700s for defending attacks from Nu’uanu Valley.
Extended Route — If you are looking to make this trail a more extreme and narrow ridge hiking experience (not recommended), you can lengthen this hike:
Point-to-point, 5 mi, 8-12 hr, 2,000 ft elevation.
This route will take you to Pali Notches "Chimney" to Konahuanui 1 (the highest peak in the Ko'olaus) and then to Ko'olau Summit Trail (KST) to Manoa Middle Ridge (an unofficial ridge).
