Waikamoi Ridge Trail
Waikamoi Ridge Trail
3.5
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A great hiking trail on the road to Hana.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
3.5
35 reviews
Excellent
7
Very good
8
Average
16
Poor
2
Terrible
2
Piero C
Annapolis, MD769 contributions
Oct 2020 • Solo
This trail, as explained in the guidebooks, seems fairly tame and suitable for children. What’s worse is that it’s a Hana trail that DOESN’T lead to a waterfall... or so they would have you believe. At the trailhead, you are warned the trail offers no waterfall views, but don’t believe it. Get on the long loop trail, which takes you up into what looks like old growth forest. Lots of roots trying to trip you up. Veer off where the sign points to a trail to the picnic area. It’s steeper, and even more roots to tangle your feet in. When you get to the picnic area, a sign warns that the trail ends here, which flies in the face of an obvious trail opening next to the sign. Head dow this, going south, through a bamboo forest and many broken trees. Though somewhat unkempt, the trail is clearly discernible and obviously in daily use. My guess is that the Waikamoi Ridge trail was once open all the way to the falls, until the lawyers got involved. At the end of the trail, down a steep declivity, you’ll find a man made water chute which you clamber over with convenient metal rungs. You find yourself at the lip of a beautiful waterfall, with a deep green pool below you, offering enticing coolness. But there’s no way down, unless you are Alex Honnold. Be very careful here. Crossing the stream to explore for possible ways down is quite dangerous...very slippery, with little room for error. People must have died here, and they closed the trail...rightly so. But, like many signs in Maui, there is no legal force behind it, pure government bravado. The whole adventure will set you back about an hour, after which you’ll be in the heart of Hana’s beauty down the road.
Written 16 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jubin Edachery
Fremont, CA1,372 contributions
May 2018 • Solo
This is a nice not hard to do trail along the road to Hana. There is a short and long loop. Lots of greenery and views (not waterfalls). Can get a little muddy and slushy when raining.
I wouldn't call it a must do - but nice.
I wouldn't call it a must do - but nice.
Written 12 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matt W
Phoenix, AZ56 contributions
Mar 2017 • Couples
Cliff Notes version first, detailed below. If you want a quick hike to stretch legs and get a quick photo, head out on the trail to the right. Make a slight left down the return loop side and grab a quick photo on the clearing to the right with a park bench. Return back the way you came. It's the best kept portion of the trail. Moving swiftly you could probably knock this out in ten minutes or so and be back on the road.
Stopped here and decided to stretch our legs. We are avid hikers and figured we could knock this off the list as we were a little ahead of our planned schedule, We started out to the path on the right. This was fairly well maintained, with crushed rock plateaus, etc. Once we reach the top of the loop, we saw a sign that said you could climb higher to the picnic area. We decided to hike to the end. It was somewhat muddy and slippery up this portion, the bamboo section was nice. However, we were let down when reaching the top and seeing no view, just a small picnic area. The trees crowded out any chance of a view. We headed back down the trail and returned the side of the loop we didn't climb up. Just before heading down, there is a nice look out on the right with a small bench. Good spot for a photo. The section back down was muddier than the side up so you had to watch your step in a few places and make sure you had good footing. Round trip, moving at a good clip was 30 minutes for a total mileage of 1.58 miles.
Stopped here and decided to stretch our legs. We are avid hikers and figured we could knock this off the list as we were a little ahead of our planned schedule, We started out to the path on the right. This was fairly well maintained, with crushed rock plateaus, etc. Once we reach the top of the loop, we saw a sign that said you could climb higher to the picnic area. We decided to hike to the end. It was somewhat muddy and slippery up this portion, the bamboo section was nice. However, we were let down when reaching the top and seeing no view, just a small picnic area. The trees crowded out any chance of a view. We headed back down the trail and returned the side of the loop we didn't climb up. Just before heading down, there is a nice look out on the right with a small bench. Good spot for a photo. The section back down was muddier than the side up so you had to watch your step in a few places and make sure you had good footing. Round trip, moving at a good clip was 30 minutes for a total mileage of 1.58 miles.
Written 15 March 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lnmagnee
Portland, OR177 contributions
Feb 2020
This hike is boring and not worth the effort. A muddy climb ends at a picnic area with no view. We continued past the "end" thinking we could reach the waterfall. We bushwhacked through a bamboo forest with lots of mosquitoes only to reach water, but no falls.
Written 23 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
michaeljones46
Oklahoma City, OK457 contributions
Apr 2016 • Family
OK place to stop and stretch your legs on the Road to Hana, but avoid taking the trail-- the lower loop is OK but nothing to see but forest. The upper trail goes up the ridge to a picnic area eventually- and still totally blocked by trees. There was one spot just off the trail where you could look out and see the waterfall in the distance you hear, but not easy to get to. The big problems with the trail: Mud and Roots. The trail is a mass of exposed roots filled with mud puddles- and are trip hazards. 2 on my group fell during the hike. The biggest problem-- the mud splashes up on your legs and clothes- and if you fall it gets all over. IT DOES NOT WASH OUT. My daughter had a white shirt, we rinsed it out at the next rest stop, then soaked it in detergent, pretreating the spots. No result. Then used bleach. NOTHING. Stains like black greasy spots. So if you do take this trail, wear old clothes you can throw away. I had on nice white ankle high socks. Ruined. The Road to Hana is great to go on, just avoid this trail. I am an avid hiker by the way, and i would rate the upper trail quite dangerous.
Written 5 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Qnne
Tartu, Estonia307 contributions
May 2012 • Couples
I liked this trail. Easy access, possibility to walk short or long loop. I was not walking Waikamoi because of view. I walked because I was interested to have closer look at local rainforest, not designed park or garden. This trail was exatly I was excpecting for: ferns, bamboo, pothos, eucalyptus etc.
Written 11 April 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mongnhingo
Sydney, Australia118 contributions
Aug 2015 • Couples
Muddy, rooty and no views. Dont bother wasting your time here. So many overgrown trees in the way of views. Not too sure its on the list of thing to do. Make sure you bring your insect repellent. We did both trails to the picnic and the longer loop and it was just disappointing.
Written 26 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thidmark
Killeen, TX38 contributions
Jun 2014 • Couples
For most people doing the Hana Highway, it's probably worth skipping. If you don't have mosquito repellent, skip it. You're not going to see much in the way of waterfalls and breathtaking coastal views. There is an amazing variety of trees and plants.
Written 18 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MomCanDream
Uxbridge, Canada333 contributions
Jul 2012 • Couples
At the Waikamoi Ridge Trail, you will be treated to a view just above the parking spaces, before the trail actually begins. From here, the ocean and the road below can be seen. The loop in the first half of the trail is very pretty and you will be rewarded with some gorgeous flowers and towering trees, particularly on the left side of the loop. However, if you persevere to the top, it is quite muddy, a bit more arduous, and you will be rewarded with only a picnic shelter at the top for your efforts as the shrubbery masks the potential view. Were I to do it again, I'd just do the loop as that is the highlight. Save your energy for other trails.
Written 11 August 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
megklee30
Appleton, WI256 contributions
Oct 2019
This is a good place to stop for a nice view but you're better off spending your time and energy on a different hike. The trail is not very difficult but you don't get any better views than the one at the start.
Written 20 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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