The Crouching Lion hike is a short but epic trail in Oahu, Hawaii that ends with a panoramic view of the mountains and jungle of Kahana Bay.
We have done this hike a few times and it is one of our absolute favorites. The landscape is absolutely breathtaking and there are great viewpoints on the hike.
This guide will tell you how to get there and what you need to know before you go!
Squatting Lion walk Oahu
This is a 20- to 30-minute hike on a dirt road that will take you to the side of a steep hill. You will be exhausted and panting as you go uphill, but the path to the first viewpoint is not peril at all.
The elevation difference is only about 300 feet, but it feels like it’s more because the distance is so short. Do not forget to bring water.
Pay attention to the weather, because the dirt road is steep, and after a heavy rain it becomes very slippery and boring.
The Crouching Lion’s point of view
After about 20 minutes of walking, you will reach a flat hill where you can stop and enjoy the incredible view. It is super quiet and peaceful. The only sound is the breeze in the trees.
There are steep slopes here that could be fatal, but this is not a problem if you lag behind from the ledge. There is plenty of space for a safe walk on the hill, even if you are in a group.
If you go east from here, there is a rock platform where you can climb to enjoy an even better view of the sea and the mountains. This group of boulders is the” crouching lion”, after which the hike is named.
You can stop on this hill or go higher into the mountain, and then the trail will eventually merge with puu Manamana, one of Hawaii’s scariest and most peril cliff paths (not recommended unless you know what you are doing).
As always, remember to keep the trail clean, watch out for other hikers and don’t leave any marks. Thank you and have a nice trip!
Is the Squatting lion walk Closed / unlawful?
At some point, the state of Hawaii put up signs indicating that the crouching lion trail is closed, but this hasn’t been enforced at all for years and doesn’t seem to be in effect in 2024 either.
I think they actually wanted to restrict access to puu Manamana, which is a much more peril hike and shares a path with a crouching lion.
However, the reality is that most people use this trailhead to make the short and easy hike to the squat summit of Lion Hill, which is one of Hawaii’s best hikes and is not very peril at all.
Crouching Lions-pill boxes
If you still want to see something interesting on the crouching lion walk, there are a few small US military bunkers hidden in the foliage on the northeast side of the trail.
These concrete bunkers, so-called casemates, were built as guard posts throughout the island of Oahu during the Second World debate and generally offer stunning views of the Hawaiian coast.
Nowadays, the casemates of the crouching lions are dilapidated and surrounded by foliage, but they are still an interesting feature of the trail. You can walk in them or climb to the top for a beautiful view of Kahana Bay!
Kahana Bay Beach Park
While you are on the crouching lion trail, don’t forget to visit the nearby beach around Kahana Bay.
It’s right across the street from where the crouching lion trail starts, and the views from this beach are absolutely epic. It’s usually empty too!
You can camp in this beach park with permission and it is a nice place to relax before or after a hike.
Location of the trailhead / Directions
The Crouching Lion hike is located on the north side of Oahu, Hawaii, just 4 miles down Kualoa ranch Road.
Here are the GPS coordinates: 21.557731051267226, -157.86653988890907
You can click on this link to open it in maps and go directly to the parking lot, which is 1 hour drive from Waikiki or Honolulu.
There is a small parking lot for cars, or you can also get there by bus. There are a couple of convenient bus stops near the starting point.
The trail starts on the other side of the road from where you park, so just cross the road and walk through the jungle and up the hill.
You will notice that there are actually 3 or 4 different unmarked hiking trails here, but they are all the same — you can take any of them, as they all lead to the viewpoint.
More travel tips for Hawaii
Thanks for watching! I hope you enjoyed this guide to the crouching lion hike in Oahu, Hawaii.
Be sure to check out my other Oahu hiking guides and my full list of the best things to do in Oahu Hawaii!
