Diamond Head Summit Trail

Diamond Head Summit Trail is a short, steep crater hike climbs through switchbacks, tunnels, stairs, and early twentieth-century military structures to a sweeping view over Waikīkī, Oʻahu’s south shore, and the Pacific. The route begins on the crater floor, crosses exposed tuff slopes, and finishes with a stair-heavy final push, making the compact distance feel more strenuous than a casual city walk.

Allow 1.5 to two hours for the 1.6-mile round trip and roughly 560 feet of gain. Nonresidents need a timed entry reservation and, if driving, a separate parking reservation; arrive within the booked window and leave before the gates close. Crater-floor facilities are accessible, but the summit trail is steep, uneven, and not wheelchair accessible, with little shade and significant midday heat.