Hiking the Pali Notches Trail on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance (Roundtrip): 0.8 miles / 1.3 km
The Pali Notches Trail is one of the most sought-after hikes on Oʻahu, largely due to the idea that the Pali Notches is regarded as one of the best all-around sunrise and sunset hikes on the island!
That being said, the Pali Notches Trail is easily one of the more dangerous hikes on Oʻahu, meaning the trail is absolutely beyond some people’s hiking ability.
To this point, it’s important to be aware that the Pali Notches hike is NOT an established or maintained trail, and you accept all potential consequences should you choose to hike a closed trail.
Pali Notches Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Pali Notches Trail is located in the same parking lot as the Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout.
However, for those trying to visit the trail at sunrise and sunset specifically, parking is not recommended in the normal parking lot shown below, as fines have been known to be issued to parked cars outside of the normal Hawaiʻi State Park hours.
Therefore, if you plan on visiting outside of the posted hours, be sure to park elsewhere off the Pali Highway to avoid receiving a fine.
Google Maps Directions: Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout
Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout Parking Fee
Hawaiʻi Residents/ Military - This is your home, and you are free to park and enjoy the lookout by simply showing your Hawaiʻi State or Military ID to the attendant working when you park.
Visitors/ Non-Hawaiʻi Residents - All non-residents wishing to park at the lookout are required to pay the small fee at the kiosk, located in the parking lot.
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 Pali Notches Trail
By hiking this trail, you accept all the risks and potential legal consequences for entering a closed area.
Regardless of the short distance, the Pali Notches Trail is NOT a beginner hike.
To add to this, if the Kailua-Nuʻuanu area has rained recently, the trail will likely be extremely muddy and slippery, which will last all the way until the first lookout.
After the initial hill, the trail will cross the drainage shown in the photo below.
Then, the Pali Notches Trail will begin climbing up the steep ridge for the remainder of the hike to the first notch.
Know that on this stretch, there is essentially no great places to take a break, with the exception of the Middle Lookout shown below.
Middle Lookout (Kailua)
It’s important to know that the beginning of the trail, shown above, is generally regarded as the 'easier' and less-exposed section of the hike. However, once the trail emerges from the trees at the Middle Lookout, you will be exposed to steep and dramatic cliffs for the remainder of the Pali Notches Trail.
Most of these sections are areas where a fall would almost certainly result in serious injury or worse.
Just like the beginning, expect a constant incline until the first notch.
Overall, this section before the first notch isn’t anything more than a mainland class 3 scramble, but the real danger lies in a potentially slippery, wet trail next to dramatic drops on either side of the ridge.
Pali Notches
Warning
If you don’t feel comfortable with exposure and vertical climbing, I recommend that you stop at the top of the first notch.
To further this point, the down-climb off of the first notch is the easiest of all, and the trail only gets more and more difficult, with the Chimney at the end being the crux of the route.
Second Notch
To add to the warning above, the down-climb off the second notch is much longer and trickier, meaning a fall off the second would have much higher consequences than the first.
Therefore, if you had any difficulty with the first notch, don’t down-climb the second.
Third Notch
Compared to the first two notches, the third Pali Notch is the most exposed on either side of the ridge.
But then, if you make it past the third, the ridge abruptly meets the bottom of the Chimney, which is by far the most difficult obstacle of all. This is especially true if you have to factor in a climb back down.
The Chimney
If you don’t know what you’re doing, DON’T climb the Chimney.
However, if you reach the base of the chimney and decide to move forward, I can tell you that the first five feet of the climb are the hardest, as there is maybe one solid place to put your foot.
Once you are higher, you’ll have more options to keep moving up, but remember that climbing up is always easier than going back down.
The top of the Chimney is what most people consider to be the end of the Pali Notches hike, and it’s where most hikers turn around (had you chosen to hike this far).
Koʻolau Summit Trail (KST)
If you are going to hike higher than the Chimney, I’d say that you are probably familiar with other parts of the Koʻolau Summit and have more Hawaiʻi hiking experience than just the Pali Notches.
However, if you’d like to learn more about the entire summit trail from Pūpūkea to Makapuʻu, I encourage you to check out my separate post below.
Read My Separate Post: Koʻolau Summit Trail (KST)
Native Plants on the Pali Notches Trail
For being such a short, low-elevation trail, there are still a number of native plants that you can find along the Pali Notches Trail, such as Māmaki, Hau, and ʻŌhiʻa lehua, to name a few.
If you are curious about trying the native Hawaiian Māmaki tea, I kindly ask that you don’t harvest Māmaki from our native forests but, instead, buy from one of the local reputable vendors, such as those listed below.
Moreover, if you would like to learn more about these and other native Hawaiian plants from across the islands, I encourage you to scroll through my separate post.
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
Waikīkī
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
Oʻahu
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
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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