Waikamoi Nature Trail 🌴 Why you just might love the Waikamoi Ridge Trail 🌴 Road to Hana 🌴 Maui travel blog

ALOHA!

 

The Waikamoi Nature Trail doesn’t get as much attention as some of the other Road to Hana stops.

And that’s one of the reasons you just might love the Waikamoi Nature Trail!

The Waikamoi Nature Trail is also called the Waikamoi Ridge Trail.

There’s a good chance there will be less people on this trail, and it can be a nice quiet walk away from the crowds.

One of the other major reasons is to see plants and trees that you won’t see back home!

Assuming home is not Hawaii. 🤪

 

Highlights of the Waikamoi Nature Trail

 

1. Quiet nature walk surrounded by green

Well, it was a quiet walk for me so hopefully there will be few people when you are there too!

 

 

 

2. See bamboo trees

 

The popular bamboo forest hike to do on the Road to Hana is the bamboo forest in Haleakala National Park.

But you need to pay the national park entry fee for that!

Or, use the same Haleakala National Park pass you used for the Haleakala summit within 3 days, and then the Road to Hana side of the Haleakala National Park will be free.

The Waikamoi Nature Trail can be an alternative bamboo forest to see when you’re on Maui!

 

 

For more bamboo trees around Maui, you can also see bamboo trees on the 13 crossings trail in the West Maui mountains too.

 

 

3. See other types of trees

 

 

4. Quiet picnic spot

There are a few picnic tables along the Waikamoi Nature Trail.

Come prepared with picnic food and eat your lunch (or snacks!) in a quiet forest of Maui!

There is a picnic table near the start the trail, but there’s also one (or more) further along the trail too!

 

👆 Road to Hana picnic area along the Waikamoi Nature Trail next to a bamboo forest!

 

5. It’s FREE!

This is one of the free Road to Hana hikes and you get to see a lot of “very Hawaii” type nature!

 

Waikamoi Nature Trail map

 

The Waikamoi Nature Trail is located 27 miles from Hana and 28 miles from Kahului.

There are several lookouts along the way, and there’s a picnic area that is about a half mile walk from the parking area.

 

 

The Na Ala Hele Hawaii Trail and Access System lists the Waikamoi Ridge Trail (aka Waikamoi Nature Trail) as a 1.1 mile loop.

 

 

 

There is no bathroom at the Waikamoi Nature trailhead.

While there are public bathrooms on the Road to Hana, the Waikamoi Nature Trail is not a stop you make for the bathroom.

 

The Waikamoi Nature Trail is not a waterfall hike.

The Waikamoi Nature Trail is not something you do if you want to go to waterfalls on the Road to Hana.

 

 

More below about what you’ll see hiking the Waikamoi Nature Trail!

 

🌴

 

 

 

Waikamoi Nature Trail parking

The parking for the Waikamoi Nature Trail is directly along the side of Hana Highway.

 

 

You will see it as you are driving and know there’s something there!

 

 

Parking in front of the Waikamoi Nature Trail is limited, so that can limit the number of people on the trail too.

I see all these cars at the parking area in my pictures, but I didn’t really feel like I saw that many people on the trail at all.

 

 

Hiking the Waikamoi Nature Trail

The Waikamoi Ridge trailhead (aka Waikamoi Nature trailhead) starts right off the Hana Highway.

You will see is at the parking area.

Right after you get started on the trail, there will be an overlook area where you can see the ocean and the Hana Highway down right below you.

 

 

There is a picnic area near the start of the trail.

 

 

And then you can get started hiking on the Waikamoi Ridge Trail!

 

I started hiking at 12:24pm on a Friday in January.

 

 

You can see bamboo trees on the Road to Hana by hiking the Waikamoi Nature Trail!

The bamboo trees were around 10 minutes after starting the trail.

 

 

And more different types of trees and plants!

 

 

And more bamboo trees on the Waikamoi Ridge Trail!

This was around 20 minutes after starting the trail.

 

 

At the end of the trail, there is a bamboo forest.

There’s a picnic area too, so you can eat surrounded by bamboo trees!

It took me around 25 minutes to reach this “end” of the trail.

 

 

And then you will continue to complete the loop.

 

 

And then you are back at the beginning of the trail!

 

 

I was back at the overlook at the start of the trail at 1:08pm.

So the whole Waikamoi Nature Trail took me around 45 minutes round-trip.

You may take shorter and longer depending on how quickly you walk and how much time you spend taking in the views!

 

 

I hiked the Waikamoi Nature Trail in January 2020. Your experience may vary!

Be sure to see more Road to Hana hikes!

 

HAPPY HIKING THE WAIKAMOI RIDGE TRAIL!