Easy Waimea Falls Hike on Oahu’s North Shore
I have been to Oahu island of Hawaii twice. On my most recent visit, we spent a day exploring the North Shore of Oahu. At the top of my North Shore bucket list was the Waimea Valley hike and seeing the Waimea Falls.
We had senior parents and teens in our group, and we were looking for an easy hike with a big reward in the end. Teens can be worse than toddlers sometimes :)! Mine can be too lazy to walk, especially on a hot day!
Waimea Falls was the perfect morning outing, with a relaxed walk on a wide paved path admiring the botanical gardens, historical sites, and a spectacular waterfall and swimming hole at the end!
If you’re looking for an easy, scenic waterfall hike for your Oahu itinerary that is family-friendly (and senior-friendly!), the Waimea Falls hike will not disappoint.
Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your visit to Waimea Falls.
Getting There
We were staying in Waikiki and had a rental car for this trip, so we drove ourselves to Waimea Valley. A day trip to Waimea Valley and Falls is one of the best things to do in Waikiki.
By Car
It took us around 50 minutes in the morning to reach the Waimea Valley entrance area. During peak traffic times, this can be longer.
We headed west on the H-1 freeway, then took the H-2 and exited onto the HI-99 and then HI-83, following signs to Waimea Valley Road. Or better yet, just follow Google Maps for the fastest route during your time of departure. Plan for 1 to 1.5 hours to reach there.
➡️I downloaded the Guidealong audio tour for Oahu on my phone, and that really made the drive fun. The app prompts you about upcoming stops as you drive and also talks about the local history and culture. Nowadays, we always look for audio guides during our road trips.
By Bus
For those preferring public transport, the bus ride is an option, though it takes around 3 hours. Catch bus #52 from Waikiki to Haleiwa Town, then transfer to bus #60. Get off at Waimea Falls Park and walk to the entrance.
By Tour
If you are not renting a car on this trip to Oahu (we didn’t during our first trip either!), you can book a North Shore tour that includes a visit to Waimea Falls.
➡️Tour of North Shore & Waimea Waterfall: This small group, highly rated tour included a visit to Waimea Valley and Falls.
Parking
There is ample parking available at Waimea Valley, which is included in the entry fee. It’s a good idea to arrive early, especially on weekends and holidays, to secure a spot near the entrance.
They have several overflow lots as well. When we visited, they were also selling paid parking for Waimea Bay Beach across the Highway.
Entrance Fee
There is an entrance fee of $25 per person which you can pay at the entrance booth. The shuttle tickets are $10 per person each way. We got the shuttle tickets for our parents.
Waimea Falls Trail
The Waimea Falls hike is more like a leisurely walk over a paved flat road with a lot of beautiful and unique plants and trees on both sides of the road.
- Trail length – around 2 miles round trip (1 mile each way)
- Elevation gain – around 290 feet
- Time needed for the hike – 30 minutes one way (or more if you explore the side trails)
- Time needed at the Falls – This is totally up to you! We were there for around an hour at the Falls.
- Go early in the day – During the summer months, the heat can make the hike less pleasant. Going early in the day is better.
Side Trails
The Waimea Valley is a beautiful botanical garden home to over 5,000 species of tropical and subtropical plants. The valley features over 50 themed gardens, including native Hawaiian flora and endangered species, making it a paradise for nature lovers.
There are various side trails along the main paved road that you can take to explore the various gardens. We saw many interesting and unique plants and flowers.
There was a stream flowing on one side, and it was really peaceful to walk in the gardens. Note that the side trails are not paved, and some have stairs. There were also some muddy areas occasionally. Well, it is a rainforest, after all!
We explored a few of the side gardens, but not all of them. You can easily spend a whole day here if you are interested in botanical gardens.
Historical and Cultural Sites
Along the trail, there were several cultural sites and exhibits to explore, offering insights into the island’s rich heritage.
Kauhale is a replica of a traditional Hawaiian living site for a high-ranking chief. There were many tools on display here that were used at these sites.
Hale Papaa is a storage site.
Hawaiian games site has various games, like checkers, bowling, and dart sliding, that you can try out.
Shuttle to the falls
For seniors and folks with disability or families with young children, there is a paid shuttle from the entrance to the falls and back for $10 each way.
We paid for the shuttle for our parents, although my 13-year-old wanted to ride it too and not walk!
Waimea Waterfall
The star of the show, the Waimea Falls, is a 45-foot-high waterfall that falls in a swimming pool around 30 feet deep. The trail ends at the waterfall, where you can enjoy the serene beauty of the cascading water.
At the falls, there are restrooms, a lifeguard station, storage bins that you can rent to store your stuff in, and a snack shop.
If you plan to swim in the waterfall, you have to first check in with the lifeguards there and get a life jacket. Wearing a life jacket is mandatory, and it is included in the entrance fee.
The water quality is tested daily, and you can call at 9 AM to find out if the falls are open for swimming. For more details about where to call check the Waimea Valley official website here.
After the hike, we first got some shave ice from the snack shop before proceeding to the waterfall.
Where to Eat
At the Entrance – There is a kitchen with food to order, a cafe, and a bar. We didn’t eat here as vegetarian options were lacking.
At the Falls – There is a small snack bar here with fruit juices and shave ice. We purchased shave ice here which was welcoming after the hike to the falls in the sun.
What to Bring
- Drinking Water for the hike.
- Hiking sandals or even flip-flops should be fine as the trail is a paved road.
- Cap or hat for sun protection.
- Reef safe sunscreen.
- Towel, swimwear, and change of clothes.
- Bug Spray if you tend to attract bugs on tropical hikes. My kids do, so I always carry it.
Toa Luau
Waimea Valley is home to Toa luau which is one of the best luaus in Oahu. They have an afternoon show and an evening one on select days (Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays).
This luau offers traditional Hawaiian cuisine, music, and Polynesian shows, including a fire show.
➡️ Check rates and availability for Toa Luau at Waimea Valley
Your luau ticket includes entry to the valley, so you can enjoy the hike and the luau on the same day.
Allow around 2-3 hours before the luau to walk to the falls and enjoy swimming in the waterfall.
Waimea Bay Beach
Across the highway from the entrance of Waimea Valley is Waimea Bay Beach, one of the best beaches on the North Shore. It is wide and sandy and has a lifeguard station.
Waimea Bay is famous for cliff jumping, and as soon as we went, we could quickly spot the cliff and the line of people on it waiting for their turn to jump. It was fun to watch.
More things to do on the North Shore
Waimea Valley and waterfall was our first stop on our day trip to North Shore from Waikiki, but we explored a lot more during our time on the North Shore.
Some of my favorites were:
- Exploring the cute town of Haleiwa and trying the Matsumoto Shave Ice.
- Eating a lot of acai bowls.
- We loved our lunch at Farm to Barn Cafe
- Haleiwa Beach Park is a nice, family-friendly beach.
- Dole Plantation is popular, but if short on time you can skip this as its crowded and touristy.
Wrap-Up: Hiking the Waimea Valley and Waimea Falls
If you’re looking for an easy, scenic waterfall hike on Oahu’s North Shore, the Waimea Falls hike is a fantastic choice.
This family-friendly trail offers a perfect blend of natural gardens, historical and cultural sites, and the chance to enjoy a refreshing swim at the waterfall at the end.
We loved our visit, and it is now one of our favorite waterfall hikes in Hawaii!
More about Oahu
Check out my other blog posts about my visit to Oahu here!
