Hike to Waihe'e Ridge Trail near Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii

The Waihe’e Ridge Trail route is a cycle of flat and incline patches. This can be termed as high difficulty in terms of the inclination of the route. You can get a great cardio workout done on this trail. The trail has slight forest cover and thus the sun exposure is moderate. This trail offers beautiful visuals of a magnificently flowing river. This trail has wet and muddy weather conditions. If you want to witness the best weather conditions, visit this trail between April, May, September, and October.

Waihe’e Ridge Trail is a moderate-traffic trail. Therefore, try to start as early as possible to avoid congestion. There are no restrictions on maximum quotas on the number of people allowed. The trail is straight forward so you need not worry about losing the trail.Please note that this is a well maintained trail. However, hiking trails can be rough, broken, rocky, and uneven surface, as they can not maintained regularly as walking paths in cities. Always make sure you have proper sandals and shoes in order to avoid injuries and provide confort to your feet.

Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii is suitable to bring dogs along. However, please ensure that they are fit enough to embark on this hike. Your dogs cannot communicate this but when they are hiking alongside you, they require frequent hydration just like you do. Keep them hydrated and well-fed. Additionally, it’s always safer to keep them on the leash.

This is a kid-friendly hike which means it is easy/moderate grade, short, and comes with a lot of rewards. That said, always take into consideration you kid’s ability to walk and carry lots and lots of food and water.

If you want to do some trail running or nature walking, this can be a trail that’s suitable for you.

If you love watching birds then you’re going to love this place. You can find varieties of birds like Apapane, Hawaii Amakihi, and Iiwi.

The entrance to this park is open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. There is no entry fee for this park. Parking facilities are available for free. Camping is not permitted and it’s always good idea to talk to the park authorities before planning to camp. You can contact them here: 800-GOHAWAII

Hikers believe that the Waihe’e Ridge trail one of the most scenic hikes in Maui owing to the beautiful views of valleys, waterfalls, an occasional sea of clouds and the beautiful blend of the sky and sea.

The trail begins with a 200 ft ascend on a cement road where you gain altitude very fast and are left gasping for breath right in the beginning. Just when you start doubting your decision about why you took this trail, you will be greeted with the view of Makamakaole Falls or a beautiful sea of clouds depending upon what time do you start this hike.

Once you’ve taken your time appreciating the view, you will take a left turn and move into a forest in no time. As you navigate through this terrain, you will be greeted with magnificent views of the Makamakaole Falls as well as other smaller falls, the valley, and the clouds. The best view will come when you are the maximum altitude of 2293 feet where you will have the most extraordinary views of the valley, the falls, or maybe just the clouds. Either way, this view is something that you will cherish for a lifetime.

The trail ends into a beautiful view which you can sit and enjoy before you say good-bye to this beautiful hike.

Swimming, wading, & jumping in and around waterfalls is prohibited.

You can drive your car up until this point. Use GPS to get to this point. If you follow the directions correctly, you can get here easily.

There is no drinking water available on the trail so do carry atleast 2-3 litres of water with you.
You can find benches at beautiful spots along the trail where you can have your food or snacks.

Pay attention to road and trail closure signage. Sightings of snakes such as Brahminy Blind Snake (non-venomous), Brown Tree Snake have been done in this area so keep an eye out for these reptiles. Never try to intimidate the snakes. Wild animals found in this region are Wild Boar. Stay safe and have a word with the local authorities to take precautionary measures for dealing with the wild animals.

As long as you are aware about the route and are carrying either a physical map or a digital map, you can do this hike pretty much on your own without hiring any guide.

There are no specific technical requirements for this hike.

In addition to the usual hiking gear, we recommend you pack a rain jacket, mosquito repellent, sun protection, and trekking poles

Here is the list of typical hiking gear that you must carry for all the hikes:

1. 2-3 Liters of water
2. Sun hat or cap
3. Good Hiking boots
4. Light snacks to munch on during breaks, Trail Mix, Fresh fruits / Dried fruits such as dates, figs / Nuts mix, etc. for eating along on the trail
5. Personal medications and a first-aid kit
6. Sun goggles
7. Wet tissues
8. Cameras (optional)