Hiking the Mānoa Middle Ridge Trail on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Distance: 3.6 miles / 5.8 km
The Mānoa Middle Ridge Trail, in the heart of Mānoa Valley, is a trail to the Koʻolau Summit, not often hiked compared to neighboring ridge trails, like the Puʻu Kōnāhuanui Trail to the north and Waʻahila Ridge to the south.
Nevertheless, the Mānoa Middle Ridge Trail is only 1.8 miles (2.9 km) from the valley floor to the summit, which hopefully indicates that Mānoa Middle is a very steep hike—especially considering that the first 0.7 miles (1.1 km) through the bottom of Mānoa Valley are relatively flat.
This means that there’s about 1,850 ft. (564 m) of elevation gain in just the remaining 1.3 miles (2.1 km), but since it’s so direct, Mānoa Middle moves fast, which is one of my favorite parts about hiking it over neighboring trails to the summit.
Mānoa Middle Ridge Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Mānoa Middle Ridge is located on Waʻaloa Place in the back of Mānoa Valley.
It’s important to mention that this area in Mānoa Valley is very quiet compared to the adjacent Mānoa Falls Trail, and I say this to emphasize the importance of parking legally and being quiet and respectful, so as not to do anything that would draw negative attention to this local trail.
Google Maps Directions: Mānoa Middle Ridge Trailhead
My Hawaiʻi Hiking Checklist
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Mānoa Middle Ridge Trail
The Mānoa Middle Ridge Trail begins at the Seven Bridges Trailhead, located at the very end of Waʻaloa Place.
Now, it’s important to mention that the Seven Bridges Trail, including the neighboring Puʻu Pia Trail, is truly a maze of interconnecting trails through the back of Mānoa Valley. This is why there is a lot of conflicting information regarding the best route to reach the Mānoa Middle Ridge.
That being said, the route I prefer and recommend follows the true Mānoa Middle Ridge Trail from the base of the ridge, making it the most direct and straightforward route by eliminating other unnecessary trails and elevation gain on those trails—like Puʻu Pia and parts of the Waiakeakua Falls Trail.
After the gate, getting to the Mānoa Middle Ridge is all about making the correct turns on the Seven Bridges Trail, and be aware, there are four important turns to remember.
That said, this is the first split, where the Seven Bridges Trail continues to the right.
This is the second of the Seven Bridges, the first being the one at the trailhead.
At this second split, it truly doesn’t matter which direction you choose to hike, as both will meet up about 0.25 miles (0.4 km) ahead.
However, I personally prefer to go left to remain on the Seven Bridges Trail, which is the direction this article is written.
This is the third of the Seven Bridges.
Mānoa Middle Ridge-Naniuapō Falls Junction
This third split may look less obvious, but it’s the difference between making it to Waiakeakua/ Mānoa Middle to the right and Naniuapō Falls to the left.
Therefore, go right to continue toward the base of the Mānoa Middle Ridge.
This bridge is the fourth of the Seven Bridges, and it’s where long-time hikers may remember the massive Banyan tree that once fell right before the bridge—which was, honestly, quite lucky not to have crushed it entirely!
Eventually, the Seven Bridges Trail will transition into a true trail for the rest of the hike to Mānoa Middle and Waiakeakua Falls.
These first sections through the bottom of Mānoa Valley are typically muddier than anything encountered higher on the ridge.
Even though there may appear to be other routes that branch off, stay on the main trail to the left.
These other routes are often for the fruit trees or simply a connector to the paralleling trail on the other side.
This is where both sides of the trail meet back up, following the second split from earlier.
That said, go left to continue on the correct trail to Mānoa Middle.
At this split, it doesn’t matter which direction you go, as both sides meet up shortly ahead.
Lower Mānoa Middle Ridge-Waiakeakua Falls Junction
This is the fourth and final junction in the valley, where the Mānoa Middle Ridge Trail and Waiakeakua Falls Trail split from one another.
Here, go left to continue toward the base of Mānoa Middle, but it must be said that other people may suggest going right here to meet up with the ridge further ahead.
Personally, I don’t recommend this because it’s a less direct route to the ridge, as opposed to simply picking up the ridge shortly after the stream crossing.
Waiakeakua Stream
This is where the Mānoa Middle Ridge Trail crosses over the Waiakeakua Stream, which is a good indicator that you’re hiking in the right direction.
It’s always a good time to jump in the stream after making it off the ridge on the way back!
Mānoa Middle Ridge
This is where the trail leaves the valley floor, and the Mānoa Middle Ridge begins!
The true Mānoa Middle Ridge is very steep in the beginning compared to spending more time on the Waiakeakua Falls Trail.
However, I honestly think this is preferred, as Mānoa Valley can be very wet and muddy—not to mention all the mosquitoes!
Toward the top of the hill, the Bamboo begins to thin, which is where the remaining trail to the top of the ridge may likely look a little confusing.
That said, simply keep going up until the cutover to the left, which will eventually top out on the ridge.
This is where the trail cuts to the left.
Upper Mānoa Middle Ridge-Waiakeakua Falls Junction
Once on the ridge crest, go left to continue up Mānoa Middle, as the trail to the right is simply the alternate route from Waiakeakua Falls, had you chosen to go right at the Lower Mānoa Middle Ridge–Waiakeakua Falls Junction.
Once on the true ridge, Mānoa Middle starts off gradual through the Bamboo and Strawberry Guava, but it doesn’t take long for the ridge to start getting steeper.
It’s honestly quite sad how invaded Mānoa Valley is with non-native Shoebutton, Koster’s Curse, and Strawberry Guava—to name just a few of the common weeds.
This peak that can be seen in the photo below is not the Mānoa Middle Summit.
Rather, the true summit is a short distance beyond this first peak.
This rope section traverses the skinniest part of Mānoa Middle, but with all the vegetation, it’s fairly easy to make it across without slipping.
After the narrowest section, the Mānoa Middle Ridge climbs a short but steep section up to the junction with Naniuapō Falls.
Mānoa Middle Ridge-Naniuapō Ridge Junction
When the Mānoa Middle Ridge reaches this clearing, the trail splits, with the much less trafficked Naniuapō Ridge Trail.
Essentially, Naniuapō Ridge is a direct connection between the Mānoa Middle Ridge Trail and Naniuapō Falls. However, after previously hiking the trail once before, I don’t recommend it.
It’s slow and overgrown, and if you’re going to hike either Mānoa Middle Ridge or Naniuapō Falls, I recommend treating them as separate day hikes.
Following the Naniuapō Ridge junction, the Mānoa Middle Ridge Trail becomes much more straightforward, as there is only 0.4 miles (0.6 km) left to hike to reach the Koʻolau Summit.
However, this is also where Mānoa Middle becomes noticeably more overgrown, which is why I recommend hiking in durable pants—not only to help here but also with the mosquitoes down in the valley.
The pants below are my recommendations that hold up the best with the overgrowth here in Hawaiʻi, but with any hiking pants that need to be durable, make sure that they are at or near 100% nylon. This is really the most important factor!
Needless to say, the final summit push is very steep!
In addition to good hiking pants, there is very little shade on the upper mountain, which is why I always recommend hiking Hawaʻi ridges in good sun shirt.
These rope sections may look more difficult in the photos than they actually are.
Mānoa Contour Trail (MCT)
There will be a point where the Mānoa Middle Ridge Trail crosses the historic Mānoa Contour Trail (MCT), which may or may not be obvious.
Regardless, don’t follow the contour trail if you’re hiking up Mānoa Middle for the Koʻolau Summit Trail (KST). Rather, continue up to the Mānoa Middle Summit before moving north or south on the KST.
I say this because the contour is very overgrown toward Puʻu Kōnāhuanui, north of Mānoa Middle, while to the south, the contour trail is a little better, but not until the KST reaches Waiakeakua Summit.
This is where the Mānoa Middle Ridge Trail reaches the top of the first false summit, with the true summit less than 0.1 miles (0.2 km) away.
Mānoa Middle Summit
From the summit of Mānoa Middle, places across the east side of Oʻahu can be seen, including Maunawili, Kailua, the Lanikai Pillboxes, Mt. Olomana, and much of Kāneʻohe.
If you are continuing further on the Koʻolau Summit, be aware that the next major trail to the north is Puʻu Kōnāhuanui, while Waʻahila Ridge is the next significant trail to the south.
Read My Separate Post: Koʻolau Summit Trail (KST)
Native Plants on the Mānoa Middle Ridge
On the Mānoa Middle Ridge Trail, there aren’t many native Hawaiian plants to talk about in the lower valley beside the Hau, Palaʻā, ʻĒkaha, and Māmaki.
However, once on the ridge, native plants include ʻŌhiʻa lehua, Kōpiko, ʻAhakea, Akaʻawa, ʻAmaʻu, Koa, and Hame, to truly only name a few.
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
All information provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for information or advice from qualified professionals or managing agencies.
Noah Lang Photography LLC makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information provided here, and readers should use their own discretion, judgement, and seek professional advice where it is appropriate.
Furthermore, Noah Lang Photography LLC shall not be held responsible for any injuries, lost individuals, or legal issues arising from the use of information provided on this website, and if applicable, the above safety disclaimer should be referenced to provide a generic overview of the risks involved.
All said, the content on this blog is for the sole use of Noah Lang Photography LLC, and unauthorized use or reproduction of this content is strictly prohibited.
Disclosure
This post is not sponsored.
However, some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission if a purchase is made through one of those links. This commission comes at no additional cost to you, and I only recommend products that I personally use and believe will add value to my readers. Thank you for your support, which enables me to continue creating more!
To read the full privacy policy, click here.
About This Blog
Noah Lang Photography, also known as @noahawaii, is 100% reader-supported!
I do not accept guest articles or sponsored content of any kind on my blog, which is why, if you enjoy the outdoor and travel content I create, please consider buying me a coffee!
I appreciate your support, which helps me continue to keep this blog alive!
