Waihe’e Ridge Trail Maui Hike Guide
The Waihe’e Ridge Trail is a popular out and back hike located on the North side of Maui, Hawaii. This hike starts in farmlands, works through lush forests and eventually to the dirt ridge that provides outstanding views of the surrounding island and ocean below. This hike is suitable for hikers of all levels but does get quite steep in sections and usually views from the summit are not great since you are in clouds. If you do want clear views from the top an early start (6AM or earlier) and some luck is required.
Waihe’e Ridge Trail Quick Facts
Virtual Trail Guide: Waihe’e Ridge Trail
Waihe’e Ridge Trail Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 Stars)
Distance: 4.25 Miles RT
Elevation Start: 1,076ft
Highest Point: 2,556ft
Total Elevation Gain: 1,533ft
Estimated Time to Complete: 3-4 Hours
Difficulty: Moderate What does this mean?
Class: Class 1 What does this mean?
Season: Year Round – You will want to avoid this after a big rain, it will be miserably muddy
Directions to Waihe’e Ridge Trail
Trailhead: Waihe’e Ridge Trail
Getting Here: From Paukukalo, take Kahekili Highway (HI-340) for just over 4 miles until you reach Maluhia Road on your left. Continue up for another mile to reach the upper trailhead and parking area. If this lot is full, you will have to drive back down to the parking area located just off the highway and walk up.
Fees: As of 2021, there is no fee to hike this trail.
Parking: There are two main lots for this hike, the upper and lower TH. The upper lot can fit about 30 cars and will fill up by 11AM on most days. If this lot is full, drive back down to HI340 and park in the larger lot there. Both parking areas for the Waihe’e Ridge Trail have porta potties but no plumbing restrooms.
Summary
Camping: There are no camping options for the Waihe’e Ridge Trail.
Dogs: This hike is dog friendly so long as you keep your dog on a leash. Expect for a muddy good boy/good girl after this one though.
X Factors: Clouds & Mud
If you have spent any amount of time on Maui, you will notice that usually its mountains are covered in clouds, even when the rest of the area is sunny. This is the case on the Waihe’e Ridge Trail. We started early and were greeted with grey views in all directions from the top. Your best bet is to have great luck or get a very early start and even then you may still have no summit views.
In addition to clouds, the mud on this hike could really make your trek unenjoyable. Almost the entire trail works on red dirt which turns into a muddy mess after a large rain. This would make the hike much less enjoyable but also more dangerous as you would need some very good traction to hike up the trail.
Hike Tip(s): When hiking the Waihe’e Ridge Trail, pace yourself. This hike is very steep almost from start to finish and can cause even fit hikers to get winded. Stop and enjoy the views along the way, especially if it’s sunny because the clouds in the area can change views in an instant.
Best Views: Usually when you are hiking up a mountain, the best views are from the top, that is not the case with the Waihe’e Ridge unless you get very lucky or start insanely early. My favorite views were not the viewing point about a mile into the hike either, but rather about ¾ of the way up, just past the large stairs. In fact, in general, my favorite views were on the way down when you get sweeping views of the surrounding valleys and ocean in front of you. Either way though, this hike is insanely beautiful from start to finish.
Waihe’e Ridge Trail Hike Route
Gear Needed
- Men’s Trail Runners
- Women’s Trail Runners
- La Sportiva Trango Hiking Boots (Men’s)
- La Sportiva Trango Hiking Booths (Women’s)
- Backpack
- Food & Water
- Optional: Garmin inReach
- Optional: Hiking Poles
- Optional: Garmin Fenix Watch
- Optional: Camera and Lens
- Optional: GoPro, Joby Tripod
- *Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you.
Our Trip to Waihe’e Ridge: March 2021
After a day of hiking around Hana, Jackie and I were ready to explore a new part of Maui. We stopped at a local bakery for some “extremely healthy” breakfast and arrived at the TH around 8AM. I had heard great things about the Waihe’e Ridge Trail and almost immediately we found out why. Sure, the lot was full of crowds and my anxiety about filming and flying around other people was through the roof, but the views of the ocean, at the very start of the hike, were amazing.
We worked our way up the steep trail and into the forest finding some trees that reminded us a lot of home. After a few viewpoints, we were up on the ridge itself and the views of the valleys around us were stunning. We hiked on the red dirt trail and slowly up the steep mountainside. As we hiked higher, it became very evident that our summit views were going to be non-existent. We were quite literally hiking in the clouds. Our time on the summit was short and the hike down equally beautiful. Overall, we loved the Waihe’e Ridge Trail and would revisit this one in a heartbeat.
Summit views