Hiking the Lāʻie Ridge Trail on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 10.2 miles / 16.4 km
The Lāʻie Ridge Trail on the North Shore of Oʻahu is a long, rugged, and remote adventure that leads to some of the island’s hardest-to-reach sections of the Koʻolau Summit Trail (KST).
However, Lāʻie Ridge is a fairly well-trafficked trail because there are truly so few options for hikers to get up and down from the KST—outside of the Pūpūkea Summit Trail to the north and the Papali Ridge Trail just to the south.
It is for all these reasons that Lāʻie Ridge is generally not a hike that people do just for the fun of going up and down, as it’s seen by most as an access trail for the northern Koʻolau Summit.
All this to say, the distance above is the roundtrip distance to from the trailhead to Lāʻie Summit and back, and 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 located off Poʻohaili Street, which is the same parking area as Lāʻie Falls.
That said, it’s important to park outside of Lāʻie Park, because all of the land further up the road is private.
Google Maps Directions: Lāʻie Ridge Trailhead
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.
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.
Go left for Lāʻie Ridge.
This sign has been like this for as long as I can remember.
At this split, you can go either way to end up on the same trail shortly after.
Whether hiking up or down, this Cook Pine forest is always a good mental checkpoint.
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.
Go left for Lāʻie Summit.
Past Lāʻie Falls, the trail turns into a contour trail, which will remain like this until the KST.
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)
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
More Oʻahu Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing Oʻahu adventures, check out my separate posts below!
Best Hotels & Restaurants in Waikīkī
If you’re trying to decided where to stay on Oʻahu, check out my top 10 list for the best resorts and restaurants in Waikīkī.
I break down what makes one hotel a better choice over another, so that you can find the best fit for your stay on the island.
Read My Separate Post: Best Waikīkī Hotels & Restaurants
Waikīkī
HNL Airport-Hotel Shuttle
Prices on ride-share apps like Uber/ Lyft cannot beat the price of booking your hotel shuttle prior to arrival. I say this because there are additional fees for ride-share airport pick-ups at Honolulu Airport (HNL), which is why I recommend booking your transportation in advance using the options below.
Additionally, the last option below will go as far as the Ko ʻOlina Resorts on the West Side and Turtle Bay on Oʻahu’s North Shore!
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Oʻahu
Visiting Other Islands
If you are visiting Oʻahu or heading to another island, check out some of my personal recommendations for Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, Molokai, Lānaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island) in these separate posts.
If you’re trying to decide which island is right for your visit, check out my overview about each island in the post below.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Hawaiian Island to Visit?
What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
The weather in Hawaiʻi can often appear to be warm and beautiful throughout the year, but in my experience, there is a lot more to consider when planning what time of year to visit the islands, such as what island you are considering, what sides of each island do you plan to stay, what activities are you most interested in, the wildlife, and countless other nuanced variables that can all impact the type of trip you can expect to have.
For these reasons, I highly recommend reading through my separate article to not only understand my thoughts regarding the best time of year to come to Hawaiʻi but also what you need to consider based on the time of year that you plan to visit.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
10 Best Tours & Excursions on Oʻahu
There are a lot of different tour options to choose from on Oʻahu, but to make it easier to decide, I made a list of my favorite tours because some things simply are better with a local guide!
Read My Separate Post: Best Tours on Oʻahu
Oʻahu
Safety
All hikes in Hawaiʻi should not be compared to trails outside of the islands, and hikers should exercise due caution on every adventure, given that many are extremely dangerous.
By this, I mean that Hawaiʻi is known for hot, humid weather, steep, dramatic, and unstable cliffs, and flash floods, which can occur without warning. Therefore, it is important that you check the local forecast, understand the physical condition of your entire group, and pack sufficient food and water before attempting any adventure.
Disclaimer
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