Waiheʻe · RedAwning

Waiheʻe Ridge TrailMaui's signature hike — 4.5 miles, 1,500 vertical feet, ridge-top views of three waterfall valleys

The Waiheʻe Ridge Trail is a 4.5-mile out-and-back hike along a knife-edge ridge in the West Maui Mountains, climbing 1,500 vertical feet from a 1,000-foot trailhead to a 2,563-foot summit knoll. The trail traverses the Department of Forestry's Waiheʻe Forest Reserve, with viewpoints over Makamakaʻole Falls, the ʻĪao Valley headwall, and the Waiheʻe River canyon. It is the most-photographed hike on Maui that isn't inside a national park.

Hours today7:00 AM – 7:00 PMSunday hours
TicketsFrom $85Guided hike (optional)
LocationWaiheʻe, HawaiiMaluhia Road
Official sitedlnr.hawaii.govPlan your visit

4.5 mi RTTrail length
1,500 ftElevation gain
2,563 ftSummit
ModerateDifficulty

The Waiheʻe Ridge Trail climbs the seaward spine of the West Maui Mountains from a 1,000-foot trailhead behind the Boy Scout's Camp Maluhia to a 2,563-foot summit knoll called Lanilili. The trail follows a true knife-edge ridge for the upper two miles — the spine drops 800 feet to the Waiheʻe River canyon on one side and 600 feet to Makamakaʻole Stream on the other. On a clear morning, the summit looks down on the ʻĪao Valley headwall, three waterfall plunges across the canyon, and the north-shore coast all the way to Kahului.

The trail surface is mixed concrete, gravel, and tropical mud — the first half-mile climbs a 1-in-3 paved access road behind the camp before turning into a single-track that's been rough-graded with switchbacks. After mile one, the ridge narrows and the trail becomes exposed; gusts above 25 knots make the upper section actively unsafe. The midpoint sits at the second of three pavilions, where most casual hikers turn around; the upper mile to Lanilili is the hardest sustained climbing on Maui outside of the Haleakalā summit trails.

Trade winds bring clouds onto the West Maui ridge by 10 AM most days year-round — the only reliable window for unobstructed summit views is the first two hours after the gate opens at 7 AM. Pack a long sleeve (the summit runs 15 degrees cooler than the trailhead), real shoes (not flip-flops), and water for the round trip. The trail is on the wet side of West Maui, so cloud-burst showers happen even on "sunny" days; a small rain shell is good insurance.

Lanilili Summit (2,563 ft)
The trail terminus — a 50-foot-diameter grass knoll with a wooden bench and 360° views: ʻĪao Needle to the south, Makamakaʻole Falls to the west, Kahului Bay to the east, the Waiheʻe Reef to the north. Plan to be on top by 9:30 AM for a clear view before trade clouds wrap the ridge.
Makamakaʻole Falls overlook
At mile 1.6 the trail crosses a saddle where Makamakaʻole Stream drops three plunges totaling 1,100 feet down the canyon to the west — visible only from this single saddle, not from the road or the summit. The middle plunge is the photograph that defines this hike.
Knife-edge ridge section
Between miles 1.2 and 2.2 the ridge narrows to a 10-foot-wide spine with cliff drops on both sides — 800 feet down to the Waiheʻe canyon north, 600 feet down to Makamakaʻole south. Trail surface is good but the exposure is genuine; not advised in winds above 25 knots or with small children.
ʻIliahi (Hawaiian sandalwood) grove
A small replanted grove of native ʻiliahi (Santalum freycinetianum) sits between the second and third pavilions, part of the forestry division's reforestation program. The trees are signposted; do not collect bark or leaves — ʻiliahi was harvested to extinction once and recovery is slow.
Three pavilions resting points
Open-sided wooden shelters at the half-mile, one-mile, and two-mile marks — built and maintained by the Sierra Club Maui chapter. Each has a bench, a trail sign with cumulative elevation, and enough roof to wait out a 15-minute squall.
ʻIʻiwi and ʻapapane sightings
The native Hawaiian honeycreepers — ʻiʻiwi (scarlet) and ʻapapane (crimson) — are reliably spotted between the second and third pavilions where ʻōhiʻa lehua trees bloom red. Listen for the squeaky-door call of the ʻiʻiwi; the bird is the bigger of the two.
ʻĪao Valley headwall view
Between miles 1.8 and 2.0 the trail opens a south-facing view across the valley to the back wall of ʻĪao — the same eroded volcanic interior whose ʻĪao Needle is photographed from the road below. From this angle you see the 4,000-foot drop the rock face makes in two miles.
Maluhia Road access
The trailhead is reached via Maluhia Road, a paved-then-gravel access road that climbs past Camp Maluhia. The first 1.4 miles are paved; the last half-mile to the trailhead lot is gravel and steep — drivable in any sedan dry but rough after rain. Free parking; lot fills by 8 AM.

Open hours

Gate at the trailhead is locked outside posted hours. Free parking lot holds about 25 cars and fills by 8 AM most mornings — arrive at 7 or after 11 for a space. Trail closes during high-wind warnings; ridge exposure is real.

Monday7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
SundayToday7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Note · Last entry by 4 PM to allow 3 hours up and back before the gate locks at 7 PM. Trade-wind clouds typically wrap the summit after 11 AM — the morning ascent is the only way to bank a view.

Ticket pricing

Per-person admission. Buy in advance to skip the gate line.

Trail accessFreeFree; no permit, no reservation
ParkingFreeFree at the gated trailhead lot
Guided hike (optional)$85Hike Maui Eco-Tours small-group hikes from Pāʻia

The trail is entirely on State of Hawaii forest reserve land — no fees, no permits. The gravel access road past the gate is steep and unpaved; passenger sedans manage it dry but not after rain. No dogs. No bicycles. Pack out everything you bring in.

Plan your hike

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