Hiking the Judd Trail & Jackass Ginger Pool on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 1.2 miles / 1.9 km
The Judd Trail is one of the more popular hikes on Oʻahu because of the beautiful Jackass Ginger Pool only a short distance from the trailhead.
Judd Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Judd Trail is located on the side of Nuʻuanu Pali Drive, but out of caution, consider the Judd/ Nuʻuanu Trailhead to be a high-crime area for petty theft. Never leave bags or anything valuable in your car.
To add to this warning, never park at this trailhead with expired registration/ safety check. HPD and towing companies target this area for cars that they can legally tow if one of these is expired.
Google Maps Directions: Judd Trailhead
Hiking the Judd Trail
The Judd Trail/ Jackass Ginger Pool is a relatively flat hike, with one stream crossing that can be challenging if the water is running high.
At this first split, stay to the right.
The Nuʻuanu Stream crossing will be shortly ahead.
Nuʻuanu Stream
Unless the stream is running high, there is usually a way to cross on the rocks without getting your shoes wet.
Judd Loop Trail
On the far side of the stream, you can either go left around the upper side of the loop or right to get to the Jackass Ginger Pond only 0.2 miles (0.3 km) away.
However, if you’re planning on hiking the entire Judd Loop, I recommend going left on the upper trail first for a few reasons.
First, the upper half of the trail is slightly longer, so when you reach Jackass Ginger, it’s a great spot to stop and cool down before completing the hike. Second, the Judd Trail can be very muddy, which is why Jackass Ginger makes for a convenient place to clean off since most of the hike is already behind you.
Upper Judd Loop
In these photos, I went left on the upper half of the Judd Loop Trail first.
These Cook Pines are some of the most beautiful sections on the entire hike, and they make for a great place to take photos when the late afternoon light is just right!
Judd-Nuʻuanu Junction
After 0.5 miles (0.8 km), the Judd Loop Trail meets with the lower Nuʻuanu Trailhead.
That being said, the Nuʻuanu Trail is more or less a connector hike to the much larger network of trails up on Tantalus.
Personally, I think that the Nuʻuanu Trail makes for a great workout hike, with amazing views once you get to the upper sections of the trail. However, the Nuʻuanu Trail makes for an even better connector trail for longer day hikes, such as Lulumahu Ridge or the Pali Notches to Puʻu Kōnāhuanui Ridge Trail on the Koʻolau Summit Trail (KST).
Read My Separate Post: Nuʻuanu Trail
Lower Judd Loop
Toward the back of the loop, the Judd Trail will make a hard turn back to the beginning and the Jackass Ginger Pool shortly ahead.
Jackass Ginger Pool (Kahuailanawai)
The easiest way to find the Jackass Ginger Pool is to listen to the sound of the stream getting louder.
At the split in the photo below, the pool and waterfall are only a short walk away.
After the Jackass Ginger Pool, there is only 0.3 miles (0.5 km) to the Judd Trailhead.
Judd Loop Junction
This is where the Judd Trail completes loop adjacent to the Nuʻuanu Stream crossing.
Nuʻuanu Stream
I usually find the second crossing back over the Nuʻuanu Stream to be easier because of one tall rock that is easier to jump off of on the far side of the stream.
Native Plants on the Judd Trail
The Judd Trail is a very low-elevation trail for Hawaiʻi, meaning that the trail is predominately non-native/ invasive plants. I think the only native species that I noticed was a few Hau trees.
If you would like to learn more about native Hawaiian plants and better trails to see them, check out my separate post below.
Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide
