Enjoy Panoramic Views At The Summit Of The Adrenaline-Pumping Kuliouou Ridge Trail In Hawaii
By Megan Shute|Published September 25, 2019
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Megan Shute
Author
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
There’s no doubt about it: the Hawaiian Islands are easily one of the greatest hiking destinations in the country — and maybe even the world. With miles and miles of trails that ascend mountains, traverse ridgelines, and lead to breathtaking natural beauty, Hawaii is truly a hiker’s paradise. If you happen to live on Oahu and have tackled all of the classic must-visits while improving your endurance and are now looking for a bit of a challenge, you might want to consider embarking on the unparalleled Kuliouou Ridge Trail.
Tucked away off-the-beaten-path in a valley above Hawaii Kai, the Kuliouou Ridge Trail an adrenaline-pumping adventure all avid and aspiring hikers will want to add to their outdoor bucket list — if they haven’t been already, that is.
Starting at the end of Kalaayu Place and meandering up a series of switchbacks zigzagging up to the ridge, the Kuliouou Ridge Trail is home to rocky terrain and steep inclines. Not quite a beginner-friendly trail but also not quite an intermediate excursion, the diverse and beautiful Kuliouou Ridge Trail measures in at five miles round trip.
Along the way, you will notice that the environment changes, as does the plant life that surrounds you. The forest feels nothing like Hawaii, and while you will enjoy occasional ocean views along the way, the real treat comes when you reach the summit.
After hiking up a steep set of stairs, you’ll enjoy panoramic, 360-degree views of Oahu’s windward coast — from the Mokulua Islands to your left and Waimanalo standing front and center to Rabbit Island and Koko Head Crater to the right.
You can expect the entire hike to take anywhere between two and four hours, depending on your pace and how often you stop for water, snacks, and to admire the view.
The trail is well-maintained and popular on the weekends: start early in the morning to avoid both the heat and the crowds. Because the trail is covered with pine needles, loose rocks, and tree roots, you’ll want to wear shoes with traction.
For more information about this terrific trail on the island of Oahu, head on over to AllTrails. For an easier hike on the island with equally stunning views, click here to learn all about the Aiea Loop Trail, a hiking destination that features unique views, a mostly flat trail, and plane wreckage from World War II.
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