Introduction
Waterfall hikes on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island can make for two very different days, with options ranging from traditional hikes to more adventurous ways of reaching the falls.
On Maui, explore waterfalls on foot or combine the experience with rappelling. On Hawaiʻi Island, you can also reach a waterfall swim by zipline, ATV, kayak or horseback.
Some tours let you swim in a pool beneath a waterfall, while others focus on the hike and waterfall views.
Hiking distance, transportation, age requirements and participation restrictions also vary by tour.
Blue Hawaiian Activities offers waterfall experiences on both islands, and our island concierges can help you find the right fit for your group.
Key Takeaways
- Waterfall experiences on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island range from traditional hikes to rappelling, ziplining, ATV, kayak and horseback adventures
- Maui’s Waterfall & Rainforest Hike covers 2.5 miles and has a minimum age of 6
- Kohala Waterfalls Adventure Tour runs approximately 7 to 8 hours with a one-mile trail
- Age, weight, swimming ability and other participation requirements vary by activity
- Some waterfall tours include swimming, while others offer waterfall views without entering the water
Waterfall Hikes and Swims on Maui
Maui’s waterfall days start on the Hana Highway.
Waterfall & Rainforest Hike
The Waterfall & Rainforest Hike can be booked as a self-drive experience or with transportation from West or South Maui.
The hike covers 2.5 miles (4 km) through the rainforest, beginning with one waterfall before continuing to four more falls when conditions allow. The waterfalls range from approximately 10 to 40 feet (3 to 12 m).
Swimming beneath the falls is optional, as is a cliff jump into one of the pools.
A picnic-style lunch is included near one of the pools, with several sandwich options available. Gluten-free meals can be requested in advance.
The minimum age is 6, difficulty is described as easy to moderate, and participants must be able to walk the 2.5-mile trail.
Prefer a pickup? Book it with West Maui transport from West Maui locations, or with South Maui transport from South Maui locations. Both include transportation to and from your check-in location and hotel.
lue Hawaiian Activities recommends the Waterfall & Rainforest Hike for guests looking for a traditional Maui waterfall hike with opportunities to swim. For the same coastline without the trail, see our Road to Hana by guided tour guide.
Rappel Waterfalls Adventure
Read the restrictions first.
Participants must weigh between 70 and 250 pounds, with a waist measurement between 22 and 48 inches, and the minimum age is 10.
The activity page requires participants to be in good general health with no neck or back issues. It also states that the experience is not appropriate for pregnant guests or those using certain medical devices or assistive equipment, and participants must be able to speak and understand spoken English without an interpreter.
The Rappel Waterfalls Adventure runs approximately 3 hours on private land along the Hana Highway, with check-in at the Garden of Eden Arboretum.
Gear is provided, including footwear, a harness, flotation jacket and helmet.
The experience begins with a 60-foot dry rappel down a jungle wall, followed by a 50-foot waterfall rappel into a natural pool and then a 30-foot waterfall rappel. When water levels are high, guides may substitute dry cliffside rappels ranging from 40 to 115 feet.
The hike back is approximately half a mile with about 300 feet of elevation gain. The tour operates rain or shine.
Honolua Ridgeline Hike
Want the rainforest walk without a swim? The Honolua Ridgeline Hike follows the Puʻu Kukui watershed preserve ridgeline and finishes at Honolua Bay.
The approximately 2-mile hike is rated moderate, with the potential for slippery conditions, and the activity page states that all ages are welcome. The experience runs approximately 3 hours.
Transportation, food and hiking shoes are not included, and the tour is not wheelchair accessible.
Waterfall Hikes and Swims on Hawai’i Island
Hawaiʻi Island offers several full-day options that combine waterfall hikes and swimming with sightseeing across the island.
Kohala Waterfalls Adventure Tour
The Kohala Waterfalls Adventure Tour runs approximately 7 to 8 hours, making it a full-day experience.
The journey travels through Hawi and Kapaʻau before heading off-road in a 4-wheel-drive vehicle to a private stream. From there, guests follow an exclusive one-mile trail through the Kohala countryside, with the opportunity to swim beneath one of seven waterfalls.
A deli-style picnic lunch is included at a secluded overlook.
The tour is rated easy and welcomes all ages, though guests should be comfortable walking over uneven or rocky terrain and prepared for cool, wet or muddy conditions.
Round-trip travel can take approximately 3.5 hours from the Waikoloa resort area and 4 hours from Kona, so a significant portion of the day is spent traveling to and from Kohala.
Bring a bathing suit and walking shoes or reef walkers.
Blue Hawaiian Activities recommends the Kohala Waterfalls Adventure Tour for guests looking for a full-day Hawaiʻi Island waterfall hike with swimming.
Big Island Waterfall Adventure
The Big Island Waterfall Adventure is a longer full-day experience, running approximately 10 to 11 hours, with pickup available from Kona and Kohala resort areas.
The tour visits Waipiʻo Valley Lookout, ʻAkaka Falls along the Hāmākua Coast, and the Hawaiʻi Tropical Botanical Garden. Later in the day, guests can swim beneath the 120-foot Kulaniapia private waterfall when river conditions permit.
Participants should be able to walk steadily for up to 2 miles throughout the day. Wheelchairs, walkers and scooters cannot be accommodated, children must be at least 5 years old, and covered walking shoes are required.
Hidden Craters Hike
For guests interested in hiking without a waterfall swim, the Hidden Craters Hike offers a different Hawaiʻi Island experience.
The approximately 5-hour tour explores private land on Hualālai, with 3 to 4 miles of hiking through cloud forest and a lava tube. The hike is rated moderate, is available for ages 8 and older, and includes up to 1,000 feet of elevation gain and descent.
There is no waterfall on this tour, but it can be a good alternative for travelers more interested in hiking and volcanic terrain.
Reaching a Waterfall Swim Without the Hike
On Hawai’i Island a waterfall swim can sit at the end of a zipline, an ATV trail, a kayak paddle or a horseback ride.
Kohala Zipline and Swim combines a canopy zipline course with a Kohala waterfall walk and swim. The experience runs approximately 6 to 7 hours, is rated moderate and is available for ages 8 and older. Participants are weighed at check-in and must weigh between 70 and 270 pounds.
9 Line Zipline & Swim combines a nine-line zipline course with approximately one hour at the Umauma pond for swimming. The minimum age is 4, with a weight range of 35 to 275 pounds.
River Kayak & Swim skips the zipline and includes approximately 1.5 hours exploring a private section of Umauma Falls by kayak and swimming. The minimum age is 4.
Deluxe ATV Tour & Waterfall Swim runs approximately 1.5 hours on a 5.5-mile private course, including about 45 minutes at the waterfall and pond. ATV drivers must be at least 16, with parental permission and a guardian participating in the tour. Side-by-side drivers must be 18 or older, and all drivers must present a valid driver’s license at check-in.
Morning Horseback Adventure and Afternoon Horseback Adventure combine approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes of horseback riding with 45 minutes at the falls. Riders must weigh less than 225 pounds.
Blue Hawaiian Activities books all six of the no-hike routes above, and our zipline tours compared by island guide goes deeper on the two zipline options.
The Rules That Decide Your Shortlist
Participation requirements vary significantly between waterfall experiences, particularly for activities such as rappelling, ziplining, ATV tours and horseback riding.
Pregnancy restrictions apply to the Rappel Waterfalls Adventure and the zipline, ATV, kayak and horseback waterfall experiences listed above. For other tours, review the specific activity requirements before booking. Our low-impact tours for pregnant travelers guide covers other low-impact tour options.
Swimming ability is another consideration. The Rappel Waterfalls Adventure specifically notes that flotation devices are provided and that non-swimmers can participate. Swimming requirements vary by experience, so guests who are not confident swimmers should confirm the requirements before booking a tour that includes time in the water.
Neck, back and other physical restrictions also vary. The 9 Line Zipline & Swim, River Kayak & Swim and Deluxe ATV Tour & Waterfall Swim list restrictions related to neck or back conditions, while the horseback tours ask guests to be in good general health and disclose medical restrictions when booking.
Footwear and clothing requirements vary as well. Closed-toe shoes are required for 9 Line Zipline & Swim, Kohala Zipline and Swim, and the Deluxe ATV Tour, which also requires pants and a shirt.
Review the requirements for your specific activity before booking, particularly if anyone in your group has mobility, health or swimming concerns.
Conclusion
The best waterfall hikes and swims on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island come down to one question: earn the pool on foot, or arrive another way?
On Maui, the Waterfall & Rainforest Hike covers 2.5 miles with opportunities to visit up to five waterfalls when conditions allow, while the Rappel Waterfalls Adventure adds rappelling and swimming for guests who meet its age, weight and participation requirements.
On Hawaiʻi Island, the Kohala Waterfalls Adventure Tour offers a traditional waterfall hike and swim, while zipline, ATV, kayak and horseback experiences offer more adventurous ways to reach the water.
Check the age, distance and participation requirements against your group first. Then Book with Blue Hawaiian Activities and our concierge team can help with the details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which waterfall hikes on Maui let you swim under the falls?
The Waterfall & Rainforest Hike includes optional swimming and cliff jumping, with opportunities to visit up to five waterfalls when conditions allow. The Rappel Waterfalls Adventure combines waterfall rappelling with short swims in natural pools. Blue Hawaiian Activities offers both experiences, and our guide to guided waterfall hikes on Kaua’i covers options on that island.
How far do you hike on the Waterfall & Rainforest Hike on Maui?
The Waterfall & Rainforest Hike covers 2.5 miles (4 km) through the rainforest, and participants must be able to walk that distance. Difficulty is described as easy to moderate, and the minimum age is 6. The experience can be booked as self-drive or with transportation from West or South Maui.
Do you need to know how to swim for a Hawaii waterfall swim tour?
Swimming requirements vary by tour. The Rappel Waterfalls Adventure specifically states that flotation devices are provided and that non-swimmers can participate. If anyone in your group is not a confident swimmer, confirm the participation requirements for your specific waterfall experience before booking.
What is the best waterfall hike on the Big Island?
Blue Hawaiian Activities recommends the Kohala Waterfalls Adventure Tour for guests looking for a traditional waterfall hike and swim on Hawaiʻi Island. The approximately 7- to 8-hour experience includes an off-road journey to a private stream, a one-mile trail, opportunities to see several waterfalls and swim beneath one of the falls, plus a picnic lunch.
Can you do a waterfall hike in Hawaii while pregnant?
Pregnancy restrictions vary by activity. The Rappel Waterfalls Adventure and the zipline, ATV, kayak and horseback waterfall experiences listed in this guide do not allow pregnant guests. For traditional waterfall hikes, review the specific tour’s participation requirements before booking.
