ALOHA!
So if you have a half day to spare and you’re not sure what to do in Maui…
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!
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!
You’ll be hiking UP on this 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.
The people of Maui would also like you to know…
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, and this would mean that you can’t get to Waihee Ridge Trail by bus.
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.
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Here are some ideas for your time on Maui!
Among the most popular things to do on Maui are Haleakala National Park, the Road to Hana, and Waianapanapa State Park!
For Haleakala National Park, the most famous spot is the Haleakala summit at high altitude of 10,000+ feet! For an epic hike, you will want to be sure to do the Sliding Sands Trail to hike into a crater with a volcanic desert landscape.
Most people do the Road to Hana as a day trip. There are so many Road to Hana stops that it can turn into a really long day. You can make it into a more relaxing 2-day trip by staying overnight in Hana at the Waianapanapa State Park cabins (bring your own everything) or the Hyatt Hana!
Waianapanapa State Park is home to the best black sand beach on Maui. (Reservations required.) You may also want to hike the Waianapanapa Coastal Trail so you can see lava fields with ocean views!
Some more of the best Maui hikes with views you need to see are the Pipiwai Trail (bamboo forest!), Waihee Ridge Trail, and Kapalua Coastal Trail.
Also head to West Maui to see the famous blowhole of Maui, the Nakalele Blowhole.
Read more for your Hawaii trip prep:
Save the Maui video playlist to watch on youtube later!
IMPORTANT!!! If you wanted to see the famous Iao Valley in the West Maui Mountains, unfortunately it will be closed through April 2023. Check the Hawaii State Parks website to confirm.
Now…
More of 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!
And that’s a bit about a ridge hike in the West Maui mountains with amazing views!
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!
See the list:
- Things to do on Maui (for VIEWS!)
- Things to do in Haleakala National Park
- Road to Hana stops (for views!)
- Things to do on Lanai
- Maui to Lanai ferry
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