Hiking the Kuilau Ridge Trail on Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 3.4 miles / 5.5 km
The Kuilau Ridge Trail on Kauaʻi feels like a hidden gem next to other, more popular hikes, like the Sleeping Giant Trail.
I say this because the Kuilau Ridge Trail is one of the most gradual ridge hikes on the island, with great views of the mountains to the west. Being the case, Kuilau Ridge can make for a great trail run, so long as you don’t mind getting a little dirty!
By this, I mean that Kuilau can be as dry as the photos I took below or extremely muddy throughout the entire trail to the Moalepe junction. In either case, wear clothes that you wouldn’t mind getting a little muddy.
Kuilau Ridge Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Kuilau Ridge Trail is located in small parking area just outside of the trailhead off Kuamoʻo Road.
Out of caution, consider the Kuilau Ridge Trailhead to be a high-crime area for petty theft, meaning you should never leave visible bags or anything valuable in your car.
Google Maps Directions: Kuilau Ridge Trailhead
Hiking the Kuilau Ridge Trail
For the most part, the Kuilau Ridge Trail is a fairly straightforward day hike with only one important turn once at the Kuilau Shelter.
The incline on Kuilau Ridge starts off very gradual, which will remain nearly constant for much of the hike to Moalepe.
Once Kuilau reaches the Uluhe ferns, you have made it to the most native-forested section on the entire trail. This is also where the best views of the mountains to the west are located.
That being said, Kuilau Ridge is a fairly low-elevation trail by Hawaiʻi standards, meaning that the vast majority of the hike is dominated by non-native, invasive species, with a few exceptions here and there.
Kuilau Shelter
Just past the shelter, go right at the split to continue toward Moalepe.
The trail to the left doesn’t lead to anywhere of interest.
Kuilau Ridge should continue through the grass in the photo above and around a switchback to the view in the photo below.
That being said, this section is also some of the last views on the Kuilau Ridge Trail before reaching the Kuilau-Moalepe Bridge.
After 1.7 miles (2.7 km), Kuilau Ridge meets with the Moalepe Trail that continues down to Olohena Road.
Roundtrip the distance from the Kuilau Trailhead to the Moalepe Trailhead and back is around 8.1 miles (13.0 km), but typically only trail runners complete the both trails in this way.
Nevertheless, the best views on the Kuilau Ridge Trail are all before and just after the Kuilau Shelter, which can make for an even easier adventure than the total 3.4-mile (5.5 km) roundtrip distance to the Kuilau-Moalepe Bridge described here.
Native Plants on the Kuilau Ridge Trail
As previously mentioned, the Kuilau Ridge Trail is a relatively low-elevation hike in Hawaiʻi, meaning that the trail is predominately non-native/ invasive species throughout.
However, once the ridge reaches the Uluhe ferns at about the halfway point, there is the opportunity to see both ʻŌhiʻa lehua and Kalia growing alongside the trail.
If you would like to learn more about these and many other native Hawaiian plants from across the islands, I encourage you to check out my separate post linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide
