Distance is one measure of a hike. Elevation gain is the one that decides how your legs feel the next morning. We pulled every trail in Hawaii with a measurable elevation-gain tag — out of the 755 entries OutsideAtlas tracks here — and ranked them by total vertical. The result is a roster of climbs that punch above their mileage.
Hawai'i's six hikeable islands range from sea-level beach walks to the 13,800-ft alpine deserts of Mauna Kea and Haleakalā. Volcanic geology, rainforests, and knife-edge ridgelines define the experience. Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, and Haleakalā summit trails each gain over 7,000 ft from base — among the country's largest vertical gains. Flash floods in narrow valleys (especially Kaua'i and the Big Island), unstable volcanic rock, and exposed cliff-edge trails account for most rescues.
Our rankings here are data-driven — pulled from the 755 mapped entries OutsideAtlas tracks in Hawaii — but the data has limits worth being honest about. Elevation-gain figures depend on the surveyor and the digital-elevation model used. Some trails are missing this tag entirely and are excluded from the list. Treat numbers as approximate but directionally reliable.
The Ranking
Ranked from #1 to #10. Click through any entry for the full trail page — map, elevation profile, weather forecast, and direct OpenStreetMap source link.
#1. Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail
Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail ranks #1 for vertical gain, sitting near Kamuela in Hawaii County. Expect rock surface on a expert-only grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. Rocky tread punishes thin-soled shoes; bring stiff hikers and pace yourself on the descents to spare your knees. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#2. Captain Cook Monument Trail
Captain Cook Monument Trail ranks #2 for vertical gain, sitting near Ocean View in Hawaii County. Expect gravel surface on a genuinely demanding grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. A gravel-and-dirt tread holds up well after rain, though loose surface on descents calls for trekking poles or careful footing. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Captain Cook Monument Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#3. Koʻolau Summit Trail
Koʻolau Summit Trail ranks #3 for vertical gain, sitting near Waimanalo in Honolulu County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Koʻolau Summit Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#4. Koolau Summit Trail
Koolau Summit Trail ranks #4 for vertical gain, sitting near Laie in Honolulu County. Expect dirt surface on a genuinely demanding grade. Compared to similar trails in Hawaii, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Koolau Summit Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#5. Diamond Head Summit Trail
Diamond Head Summit Trail ranks #5 for vertical gain, sitting near Honolulu in Honolulu County. Tagged hard in OpenStreetMap. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Diamond Head Summit Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#6. Mauna Loa Summit Trail
Mauna Loa Summit Trail ranks #6 for vertical gain, sitting near Captain Cook in Hawaii County. Tagged hard in OpenStreetMap. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Mauna Loa Summit Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#7. Ko'olau Summit Trail
Ko'olau Summit Trail ranks #7 for vertical gain, sitting near Kaneohe in Honolulu County. Tagged hard in OpenStreetMap. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Ko'olau Summit Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#8. Waianae Summit Trail
Waianae Summit Trail ranks #8 for vertical gain, sitting near Kunia in Honolulu County. Tagged hard in OpenStreetMap. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Waianae Summit Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#9. Honouliuli Contour Trail
Honouliuli Contour Trail ranks #9 for vertical gain, sitting near Kunia in Honolulu County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. Compared to similar trails in Hawaii, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Honouliuli Contour Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#10. Pu'u Hapapa Summit Trail
Pu'u Hapapa Summit Trail ranks #10 for vertical gain, sitting near Kunia in Honolulu County. Expect mud surface on a genuinely demanding grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Pu'u Hapapa Summit Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.Planning your Hawaii trip
A few pieces of context are worth keeping in mind specifically for Hawaii. Year-round, but November-April brings wetter trails on windward sides; trade winds and rapid weather changes are constant. Flash floods in narrow valleys (especially Kaua'i and the Big Island), unstable volcanic rock, and exposed cliff-edge trails account for most rescues.
Always cross-reference the official land-manager page before driving out — closures, fire restrictions, and seasonal road access can change quickly. Our trail pages link directly back to the OpenStreetMap source so you can see the tags we're working from.
If you're new to hiking generally, our beginner's guide covers footwear, layering, and the day-pack basics. For safety planning on bigger objectives, the ten essentials guide is worth twenty minutes of reading.
More Hawaii hiking guides
If you found this useful, the rest of our Hawaii coverage continues below.
- Top 10 longest trails in Hawaii — Multi-day routes and through-hikes ranked by distance.
- Best beginner hikes in Hawaii — Easy, well-marked trails for first-time hikers.
- Most challenging hikes in Hawaii — Expert-rated routes for experienced hikers only.
- Best national parks in Hawaii — Federal parks and recreation areas ranked.
- Best waterfall hikes in Hawaii — Trails leading to named falls, ranked by accessibility.
- Best dog-friendly hikes in Hawaii — Where leashed dogs are explicitly welcome.
- Best family hikes in Hawaii — Short, easy trails sized for kids and grandparents.
Rankings like this are starting points, not verdicts. Trail conditions change, new routes get tagged, and what was the toughest trail in Hawaii last year might not be next year. We refresh these articles when the underlying data shifts meaningfully.
Got a correction, a route we missed, or a question? Drop us a note via the contact page. We read every email and we'd rather hear it from you than miss it.
