Waikamoi Forest Ridge Trail

A little over half-mile past mile marker 9 on the Hana Highway keep your eyes open for the parking lot (mauka) to the Waikamoi Ridge Forest Trail and Overlook. It is easy to miss due to the fact it’s around a bend in the road. After parking in the often crowded lot, head up to the open area to your left to a small overlook with picnic shelters and the Waikamoi trail head.
The Waikamoi Trail is a beautiful, short nature walk through trees, bamboo and ferns with scenic overlooks at various points along the way. There are actually two sections to the trail: one being a short loop that takes about half an hour and ends where it starts (at the picnic area) and the other a one-way extension from the loop trail. Both trails start at the picnic shelter located near the parking area.

The trail is usually in good condition but that can change with just one good rainstorm. The worst part of the loop-trail (when heading counterclockwise) is the part beyond the extension trail. It goes steeply downhill at times and can be filled with roots. We suspect this will be “fixed” in the future, as volunteer groups have already improved the first half of the loop. There are no facilities at this site, and we do recommend bug spray because mosquitoes like to congregate here.
The Waikamoi Trail is a total of 0.8 miles if you do the loop-trail alone and about a mile and a half if you do the extension. You can expect to spend about 30 minutes to an hour here depending on which trails you hike.

Location: Waikamoi Forest Ridge Trail is located in the Northeast Maui

This spot is detailed in our Hana Highway - Road to Hana Mile by Mile Guidebook. Our guidebook includes over 70 of the Hana Highway's best waterfalls, trails, state parks, beaches, and more.