Maui Waihee Ridge Trail
Difficulty Level: 4 stars
This trail is very popular and located near the West Maui Natural Area Reserve (Kahakuloa Sec.). We encountered many hikers who were on their second, third, or even fourth attempt! They said the main reason they couldn't reach the top after several tries was the weather. If it has rained here, the entire trail becomes muddy and slippery, with narrow and unsafe paths. The mountain area is often overcast or it suddenly rains. We were lucky as we had clear weather from start to finish, without rain throughout the week!
Parking :
The closest parking lot to the entrance is with a sign saying Waihee Ridge Trail, but there are only 36 spaces! When we arrived at 8:40 in the morning, there were only 14 spots left. If this parking lot is full, you'll have to sadly turn back and drive 0.8 miles downhill to the Overflow Parking Lot, which takes at least 25 minutes to walk back up--this consumes energy before you even start hiking.
This trail is a steep uphill hike the entire way, 1.9 miles long and height of 1453ft. Wearing hiking shoes are recommended and necessary (we were wearing too casual this time; next time, we should be more seriously bring proper shoes).
Starting from the entrance, there is a steep uphill slope (feels like a 45-degree incline) that takes about 10 minutes to walk. There were already some people gathering there, catching their breath and resting around the bench.
I found it a bit challenging, especially since the weather was so hot (there's not much shade along the way, only few spots shaded). I had to rest several times. My husband and I also met a couple who were on their third attempt and we ended up reaching the summit together. There were visitors from different countries chatting with each other. The view with mountains and sea from the top was truly breathtaking. And Of course, we took tons of photos:)
Pre-trip Tips:
1 No matter which direction you're driving from, avoid driving from the northwest to the south to get here because the road is very narrow and winding (there's a long stretch that's so narrow like a one-lane road; you'll question your life choices).
When we navigated from Honokōwai Beach Park, we also found it strange that it took us from the south route. Thankfully, we trusted the navigation. On our way back, we wanted to drive north to see a different view, but after a short distance, we couldn't stand the narrow and winding road, with a speed limit of 5 miles and that means it would take hours to get back, so we decisively turned around and returned the way we came, heading south.
2 As mentioned earlier, parking spaces are truly limited, and you can't just park anywhere along the roadside. You'll have to drive downhill to park again, so it's better to come early to avoid too much exposure to the sun.
3 If it has rained in the last 5 days or rain is forecasted on the day of your hike, it's really not worth forcing yourself to hike. We stayed for a week and had sunny weather every day, but there were still several parts of this trail that were muddy, getting our shoes and pants dirty.
4 Be sure to bring enough water. We carried a 2L water bottle (drank more than half) and a 600ml bottle (completely drank it ). Along the way down, we saw a group of people running out of water, so we gave them the remaining water and even some to their dog (the dog was so thirsty and it drank eagerly and choked, which made us feel so sorry). There are no restrooms along the way.
5 It's recommended to wear a hat, tie your long hair up, wear sunglasses, and apply sunscreen to reduce the risk of sunburn.
6 The trail is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you start your hike late, remember to bring a flashlight and be aware of the sunset time to get back (Sunset was around 4:30 p.m. in December). It took us 4 hours to reach the summit and return (including chatting with others along the way and taking photos at the summit), so if you feel tired, just rest as needed. Don't push yourself too hard and save enough energy for the going back.
The scenery along the way was truly rewarding . It was tiring but definitely worth it. read more