Hiking the Lāʻie Ridge Trail on Oʻahu

Distance: 10.2 miles / 16.4 km

Generally speaking, Lāʻie Ridge is not a hike that you would do just for the fun of going up and down. That being said, it is one of the best access trails for the northern KST.

The distance above is the roundtrip distance to Lāʻie Summit and back. It does not include the extra 0.6 miles (1.0 km) each way to get to and from Lāʻie Park.

Lāʻie Ridge Trailhead Parking

Parking for the Lāʻie Ridge Trail is the same parking area as Lāʻie Falls.

Parking is best off of Poʻohaili Street outside of Lāʻie Park because all of the land further up the road is private.

Google Maps Directions: Lāʻie Ridge Trailhead

Lāʻie Ridge Trailhead Parking

Lāʻie Ridge Trailhead Parking

 

Getting to the Trailhead

From Lāʻie Park, it’s a 0.6-mile (1.0 km) walk each way to get to and from the trailhead.

Walking to the Trailhead

Walking to the Trailhead

Walking to the Trailhead

Hiking the Lāʻie Ridge Trail

Don’t forget to pack a headlamp for the long hike.

At this split in the road, take the trail heading uphill behind a typically locked gate.

Lāʻie Ridge Trailhead

Lāʻie Ridge Trailhead

Lāʻie Ridge Trail

Go left for Lāʻie Ridge.

This sign has been like this for as long as I can remember.

Go Left

Lāʻie Ridge Trail

At this split, you can go either way to end up on the same trail shortly after.

Go Either Way

Lāʻie Ridge Trail

Lāʻie Ridge Trail

Whether hiking up or down, this Cook Pine forest is always a good mental checkpoint.

Lāʻie Ridge Trail

Lāʻie Ridge Trail

Lāʻie Ridge Trail

Lāʻie Ridge Trail

Lāʻie Ridge-Lāʻie Falls Junction

This split is where most hikers turn off of Lāʻie Ridge to head toward Lāʻie Falls.

It’s also the point where the hiking becomes a bit more overgrown because the summit sees far fewer hikers overall.

Lāʻie Falls / Ridge Split

Go left for Lāʻie Summit.

Lāʻie Falls / Ridge Split

Lāʻie Ridge Trail

Lāʻie Ridge Trail

Past Lāʻie Falls, the trail turns into a contour trail, which will remain like this until the KST.

Lāʻie Ridge Trail

Lāʻie Ridge Trail

Lāʻie Ridge Trail

Lāʻie Ridge Trail

Lāʻie Ridge Trail

Lāʻie Ridge Trail

Lāʻie Ridge Trail

Lāʻie Summit

Lāʻie Summit is a very indistinct summit compared to other more dramatic areas in the southern Koʻolaus.

It can be easy to miss if you’re hiking by on the summit trail, and it doesn’t stand out much from the surrounding landscape.

If you are going to hike anywhere north or south on the summit trail, be sure that you know exactly what you are getting into. The hiking in either direction should not be taken lightly.

Read My Separate Post: Koʻolau Summit Trail (KST)

Lāʻie Summit

Lāʻie Summit

Native Plants on the Lāʻie Ridge Trail

The upper Lāʻie Ridge Trail is one of the best places on Oʻahu to see a variety of different native Hawaiian plants.

To name a few, you can find ʻŌhiʻa lehua, ʻŌhiʻa ha, Kōpiko, Koliʻi, Hōʻawa, Kōlea, and truly too many more to name.

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

Koliʻi - (Trematolobelia macrostachys)

@noahawaii

Hi,

Iʻm a self-taught adventure photographer living on the island of Oʻahu.

@noahawaii

https://noahlangphotography.com/
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Hiking the Golden Canyon-Gower Gulch Loop Trail via Zabriskie Point in Death Valley National Park