Hike of the Week: Wa‘ahila Ridge Trail, O‘ahu, HI
Climb Wa‘ahila Ridge below Mt. Olympus for some of the island's best views.
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Trail Facts
- Distance: 5.4 miles (out and back)
- Time: 3-4 hours
- Difficulty: 3 out of 5
Summary
Nab huge views over Honolulu on this relatively quiet ridge walk. From the trailhead at the end of Ruth Place (21.3071, -157.7983), climb up Wa‘ahila Ridge, a north-south spine that spiderwebs down from 2,486-foot Mt. Olympus. Nearby waterfalls will steal the lion’s share of visitors, so relish the quiet as you high-step, steadily gaining nearly 2,300 feet in 2.7 miles to the route’s highpoint (or turn around sooner for a quicker getaway). Breaks in the old pines and ironwoods reveal Palolo Valley on one side and Manoa on the other.
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