Hiking the Kamehame Ridge Trail (Dead Man’s Catwalk) on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 2.6 miles / 4.2 km
The Kamehame Ridge Trail, better known as Dead Man’s Catwalk, in the southernmost Koʻolau Mountains on Oʻahu, was once a popular trail—due entirely to a concrete slab that social media made famous during the early days of Instagram.
That said, this once-famous landmark was removed from Kamehame Ridge in 2016, effectively ending the social media-driven traffic that had been drawn to the area to try and get a picturesque photo on the cliffs above Waimānalo Beach.
Today, the trail/ road still see daily visitors—much of which, I believe, is local foot traffic—but the number of hikers pales in comparison to those who frequented the Kamehame Ridge Trail in years past, which, in my opinion, makes the hike much more enjoyable now than it was previously!
Kamehame Ridge Trailhead Parking
Parking for Kamehame Ridge is located at the very top of Kamehame Drive in Hawaiʻi Kai.
That being said, please be quiet and respectful in this residential neighborhood, as too many trails in Hawaiʻi draw too much negative attention because people just don’t understand this.
Google Maps Directions: Kamehame Ridge Trailhead
My Hawaiʻi Hiking Checklist
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Kamehame Ridge Trail
The Kamehame Ridge Trail begins at this gated trailhead at very top of Kamehame Drive.
Directionally speaking, there isn’t too much to know prior to hiking Kamehame Ridge.
Second Fence
There’s a fairly easy trail to climb up and around this fence on the right-hand side.
When the road splits, go straight (left) to continue up toward the summit.
Third Fence
At the next fence, there’s a viewpoint off to the right, or the once-popular Dead Man’s Catwalk can be found further up the road.
Here, it is easiest to continue around the left side of this fence.
This is where Kamehame Ridge continues around the fence.
At the end of the road, the former Dead Man’s Catwalk viewpoint can be found on the far side of the fences around the towers.
Be careful, and know that this fence may be rusty!
Dead Man’s Catwalk
This is Dead Man’s Catwalk, or at least, this is where the infamous Dead Man’s Catwalk used to be.
This is because the Catwalk was removed in 2016, as previously mentioned, which, to my surprise, almost immediately stopped most of the hiking traffic up Kamehame Ridge.
Regardless, the views are still incredible, and it’s amazing, now more than ever, that there aren’t as many hikers as there once were!
If you are interested in continuing either north or south on the Koʻolau Summit, know that the next major trail to the north is Kamiloʻiki Ridge, and the next best trail down to the south is simply the Makapuʻu Tom Tom Trail along the Koʻolau Summit.
Read My Separate Post: Koʻolau Summit Trail (KST)
Allison’s Hidden Stairs
I can’t talk about Kamehame Ridge or Dead Man’s Catwalk without including the Allison Stairs.
That being said, Allison’s Hidden Stairs are located on a short side trail, but perhaps I’ll keep the directions to this little local secret, a secret!
Native Plants on Kamehame Ridge
Since Kamehame Ridge is such a low-elevation dry trail, most of the plants that you’ll find along the hike are non-native/ invasive species.
However, I hikers can expect to see ʻUhaloa, ʻAʻaliʻi, and I have noticed a rare Wiliwili tree growing here as well!
If you would like to learn more about these and many other native Hawaiian plants from across the islands, I encourage you to check out my separate post linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide
More Oʻahu Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing Oʻahu adventures, check out my separate posts below!
Best Hotels & Restaurants in Waikīkī
If you’re trying to decided where to stay on Oʻahu, check out my top 10 list for the best resorts and restaurants in Waikīkī.
I break down what makes one hotel a better choice over another, so that you can find the best fit for your stay on the island.
Read My Separate Post: Best Waikīkī Hotels & Restaurants
HNL Airport-Hotel Shuttle
Prices on ride-share apps like Uber/ Lyft cannot beat the price of booking your hotel shuttle prior to arrival. I say this because there are additional fees for ride-share airport pick-ups at Honolulu Airport (HNL), which is why I recommend booking your transportation in advance using the options below.
Additionally, the last option below will go as far as the Ko ʻOlina Resorts on the West Side and Turtle Bay on Oʻahu’s North Shore!
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Visiting Other Islands
If you are visiting Oʻahu or heading to another island, check out some of my personal recommendations for Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, Molokai, Lānaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island) in these separate posts.
If you’re trying to decide which island is right for your visit, check out my overview about each island in the post below.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Hawaiian Island to Visit?
What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
The weather in Hawaiʻi can often appear to be warm and beautiful throughout the year, but in my experience, there is a lot more to consider when planning what time of year to visit the islands, such as what island you are considering, what sides of each island do you plan to stay, what activities are you most interested in, the wildlife, and countless other nuanced variables that can all impact the type of trip you can expect to have.
For these reasons, I highly recommend reading through my separate article to not only understand my thoughts regarding the best time of year to come to Hawaiʻi but also what you need to consider based on the time of year that you plan to visit.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
10 Best Tours & Excursions on Oʻahu
There are a lot of different tour options to choose from on Oʻahu, but to make it easier to decide, I made a list of my favorite tours because some things simply are better with a local guide!
Read My Separate Post: Best Tours on Oʻahu
Safety
All hikes in Hawaiʻi should not be compared to trails outside of the islands, and hikers should exercise due caution on every adventure, given that many are extremely dangerous.
By this, I mean that Hawaiʻi is known for hot, humid weather, steep, dramatic, and unstable cliffs, and flash floods, which can occur without warning. Therefore, it is important that you check the local forecast, understand the physical condition of your entire group, and pack sufficient food and water before attempting any adventure.
Disclaimer
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