How to get to 13 crossings trail parking 🌴 Where to park on Kahekili Highway 🌴 Maui Hawaii travel blog

ALOHA!

The location that you park for the 13 crossings hike is along the side of the road on Kahekili Highway near the 13 crossings trailhead.

 

 

 

I was told about this waterfall hike by a local when I was doing the nearby Waihee Ridge Trail (aka one of the best hikes on Maui).

 

 

I decided to go to the waterfalls after I finished the Waihee Ridge Trail. So I went to it not knowing much about the waterfall hike or the area!

The 13 crossings trail is kind of near the Waihee Ridge Trail, in the direction of the Kahekili Highway that’s more of the “back road” that can be considered “scary” or “dangerous.” (More so than the back road to Hana.)

Since I didn’t know when the road became truly “scary” I decided to just park at one of the first areas I saw that had somewhat of a shoulder area, and then walk the rest of the way to the trail. It was about a 10 minute walk.

 

 

I am not sure if this is a legitimate spot that you can leave a car, so I can’t really completely recommend it.

But having walked the rest of the Kahekili Highway to get to the 13 crossings trailhead, the road up until that point didn’t seem like it was a truly scary part.

So you may consider driving to near the trailhead if you don’t mind the one-lane road part of the driving. 

Another option if you don’t want to drive the one-lane highway could be parking at the overflow parking lot of the Waihee Ridge Trail.

That would add about 20 minutes of walking each way.

 

 

More pictures below on what this part of the Kahekili Highway is like!

 

 

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How to find the 13 crossings trailhead at Makamakaole Stream

 

So this has been said to be a difficult trailhead to find.

But I’d say there are 2 ways that can make it seem easy, so now it won’t be difficult for you!

 

Google maps

When I checked, the 13 crossings trail is not marked on Google Maps.

But Makamakaole Stream is located on google maps. So you can just locate that stream, and then follow it to where it intersects with Kahekili Highway, and that’s your destination for driving.

 

 

Mapsme app

The way I figured out the trailhead was actually using the mapsme app with GPS locator. 

Since the trail is marked on the map, it made finding the start location of the trail super easy! You’ll just want to download the Hawaii map before you head out. 

The trail may not be named but you can find it by looking for the trail that’s in the general area.

 

 

 

The road to the trailhead on Kahekili Highway

 

So basically once you pass the turn-off for the road to the start location of the Waihee Ridge Trail, that is when you’ll start to see more signs for “no shoulder” and “narrow road.”

 

 

Then in a few minutes, you’ll come across an area that has a wide shoulder area. And this is the parking area for the 13 crossings trail!

 

 

Then, you’ll find the trail on the same side as the parking, just before the bridge when going in this direction, driving to the north. This means that the trailhead is to the left of the bridge when you are facing the mountains (not when you’re facing the ocean).

 

 

And then you can start taking the trail along the Makamakaole Stream crossing it many many times!

 

 

I was happy to be wearing my waterproof hiking shoes so I didn’t have to worry as much about getting my shoes wet! As always, be sure to pack water and snacks as part of your essentials for hiking in Hawaii!

 

 

And finally…

The boring safety message

Hiking in Hawaii can be dangerous!

Flash flooding along streams in Hawaii is a thing. Rising waters along the Makamakaole Stream is a thing. 

And one of the dangers of waterfall hiking and stream hiking is rising water and flash flooding.

There have been people who had to be rescued from Makamakaole Stream because the water level was too high to cross the stream.

Along rivers and streams in other parts of Maui, there are people who have died from flash flooding.

Do this hike, and all hikes, at your own risk! It can be best to ask locals about current conditions before you go. (Like the staff at the hotel you’re staying at when you get to Maui.) Local news sometimes puts out warnings about this kind of thing too.

 

And that’s a bit about parking to start the 13 crossings trail!

 

See more photos from the hike along the Makamakaole Stream – waterfalls and a bamboo forest!

See the northern end of Kahekili Highway. You can make it somewhat of a hike there too.

Also see more of the best hikes on Maui. 

 

And…

Have you been camping on the Road to Hana?!

• Have a look at the campgrounds on the Hana Highway (aka campgrounds with ocean views!) 
• Also take a look at this Road to Hana camping itinerary for some ideas of things to do!
• See the list of tons of things to do on the Road to Hana… or just look at the East Maui waterfalls list or the East Maui beaches list

You can go camping on Lanai too, and there are a few hikes on Lanai as well that you could do as part of a day trip or overnight trip.

 

HAPPY DRIVING THE KAHEKILI HIGHWAY TO THE 13 CROSSINGS TRAIL START!