ALOHA!
So if you have a half day to spare, the Waihee Ridge Trail can be a perfect hike to do!
This hike is considered to be one of the best hikes in the West Maui mountains, as well as one of the best hikes on all of Maui.
It comes with amazing views!
It does require a little bit of work for those views, but you’ll likely think it’s worth it!
👆 Spot the person on the Waihee Ridge Trail!
Tips for hiking the Waihee Ridge Trail
- Maui ridge trail with views!
- Waihee Ridge Trail difficulty
- Waihee Ridge Trail safety
- Can you get to Waihee Ridge Trail by bus?
- Can you take an uber to Waihee Ridge Trail?
- My experience hiking the Waihee Ridge Trail
- More hikes in the West Maui mountains
This is what’s below! I hiked the Waihee Ridge Trail on Maui and this is my experience!
Maui ridge trail
So this is a ridge trail, and that means for part of the trail you’ll the hiking along the “ridge” or basically along the top of a mountain range!
Ridge trails in Hawaii are some of the best hikes in Hawaii for the views! You can do the Waihee Ridge Trail on Maui, the Kaiwa Ridge Trail on Oahu, and the Koloiki Ridge Trail on Lanai! 😄
Is the Waihee Ridge Trail a difficult hike?
You’ll be hiking UP on the Waihee Ridge Trail, so it wouldn’t really be called an easy hike either.
It’s been rated as a difficult hike.
It might be a little strenuous but it’s also not ridiculously strenuous.
Going up means that you’ll also be hiking down.
Using hiking poles could help to take the stress off your knees as you’re going down.
You can get some pretty nice views even if you don’t make it all the way to the top.
The Waihee Ridge Trail, as described by the State of Hawaii:
Beginning at 1,000 ft elevation, the Waihee Ridge Trail climbs the windward slope of west Maui through a brushy guava thicket, a young stand of planted trees, and wet native scrub forest.
Views of Waihee Gorge and Makamakaole Gulch can be seen along the way.
On the peak, at 2,563 ft are panoramic views of Wailuku and central Maui, the Kahakuloa slopes, and Mount Eke.
This trail is a part of the Hawaii Na Ala Hele Trail and Access Program.
The Waihee Ridge Trail is listed as a 5 mile round trip hike, with 1563 ft elevation change.
I was walking at a leisurely pace, and I was on the trail for a little over 2 hours.
Safety
The people of Maui would also like you to know…
Side note!
Things to buy on Amazon for your adventures!
I am an Amazon Associate. I may earn a commission.
- Lightweight quick-dry hiking shorts (comfortable shorts that are good for movement!)
- for women: hiking shorts | for men: hiking shorts
- Lightweight quick-dry hiking pants
- for women: hiking pants | for men: hiking pants
- capris for women
- Some of the best outdoor travel brands:
- When you fly: If you have an iphone, you can put an airtag tracker in your luggage so you can better keep track of it! Buy just one, or buy a pack of 4. (Read the reviews!) This also makes a good travel gift!
Hazardous cliff warning: This trail or area contains this hazard. The ground may break off without warning and you could be seriously injured or killed.
Please brush off you shoes before and after your hike.
Diseases and invasive plant seeds can stick on shoes and gear.
Can you get to Waihee Ridge Trail by bus?
The nearest bus stop to the Waihee Ridge Trail is around 4 miles from the start of the trail.
So for most people, this probably isn’t walking distance.
This would mean that you can’t get to Waihee Ridge Trail by bus.
Can you take Uber to Waihee Ridge Trail?
I met someone who took an Uber to the Waihee Ridge Trail from around Lahaina (just south of Kaanapali in West Maui), and she said it cost around $40 one way.
You don’t need to be on Maui to check Uber prices, so you can have a look at the Uber app for more specific costs from where you’re staying.
🌴
Top Maui tours
Read the reviews at partner website Viator!*
- Turtle town snorkeling tour (with photo and video)
- Lahaina ATV adventure tour
- Horseback riding tour with Hawaiian cowboys
Things you might want to pack for your Maui vacation
Read the reviews on Amazon! I'm an Amazon Associate.*
- For women: Search for a rash guard for swimming and you won't have to worry as much about putting on sunscreen!
- Search for a rash guard for men
- Water shoes for snorkeling if you won't be wearing fins, or just generally for the beach!
- Cheapo waterproof phone case so you can capture pictures of colorful fishies swimming underwater!
- I always have a camera float attached to my phone case that I put around my wrist
- Snorkeling set: mask and fins
- Fins allow you to propel further faster (aka see more in less time and energy!)
- Go cheap if you accept that you need to come up for air frequently: regular swimming googles. They are not as fashionable but if you get swimming goggles, make them the clear kind so you won't be seeing dimmed colors of the colorful fishies!
- If you are able, I recommend trying out the mask at your local lake (in summer) or pool so you will be good to go in Hawaii when there's actually stuff to see!
- Travel-friendly turkish towel for the beach (lightweight compared to regular beach towels)
- For women: Teva walking sandals (one of the best sandal brands for the outdoors, perfect for lots of walking around outside - that's not a lava field!)
- For men: Teva sandals
- For women: Merrell hiking shoes (one of the best outdoor shoe brands, perfect for walking over rugged terrain like lava fields!)
- For men: Merrell hiking shoes
- Moisture-wicking tech t-shirt for women perfect for hiking and hot days when you'll be outside a lot sweating
- tech-t-shirt for men
- For more ideas, do a search for hiking clothes or swimming clothes!
*As a Viator partner and Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission.
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My experience hiking the Waihee Ridge Trail in the West Maui mountains!
The beautiful views you’ll get from the drive to the trailhead and from parking lot are just the beginning of what you get to see with a hike on the Waihee Ridge Trail!
It’s generally said that it’s best to start this hike in the early morning, as there’s a chance that cloud cover will come through later in the day.
Clouds can mean obstructed views, which can mean you may not get to see as much of the amazing views.
I ended up starting this hike late morning.
As I was driving over and getting closer, close to 11am, I saw some clouds in the mountains which made me a little nervous about if I’d get those views from the top of the trail.
Well, as it turns out, the mountain side was pretty cloudy…
But ocean side was almost perfectly clear for most of the hike!
Although, towards the top the clouds became more noticeable ocean side!
So, if you also see clouds in the direction you’re headed towards as you’re driving to the trail, there’s still a chance that you’re not too late!
More hikes in the West Maui mountains
Make it a hiking day!
The day I did the Waihee Ridge Trail went like this:
- Waihee Ridge Trail
- 13 Crossings Trail (waterfall hike with small bamboo forest)
- Iao Valley (to see the famous Iao needle – no strenuous hiking)
The Waihee Ridge Trail is a short drive from the 13 Crossings Trail. So if you’re looking for a multi-hike day, it can be reasonable to pair these hikes together. Waterfalls in the West Maui mountains you can kind of easily access are a rarity! See pictures from waterfall hike.
Some people may think that doing both of these trails in one day is a bit much. So it will be best to consider your ability before deciding to do both in one day. Just doing one of these hikes can be plenty for some people.
Also see another one of the best hikes on Maui: the national park bamboo forest hike that leads to waterfalls!
And see more great hikes on Maui!
If you’re staying in Lahaina, Kaanapali, or Kapalua, also see great things to do in West Maui.
If you’re staying in Wailea, see great things to do in South Maui.
HAPPY HIKING IN THE WEST MAUI MOUNTAINS!
