Parking
Use the Route 006 roadside pullout by the Lower Sauma Ridge Trail and Pola Island lookout; the Upper Sauma entrance is opposite.
Overview
About Upper Sauma Ridge Trail
Why go
- Ridge views over Vatia and Pola Island
- Dense rainforest with native trees and birds
Heads up
- Steep, very rocky climb with uneven footing that can be slippery
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the American Samoa map
Full mapElevation194–1,322 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
2 active American Samoa alerts
- CautionSmall Craft and High Surf AdvisoriesSmall Craft and High Surf Advisories are active in American Samoa; boaters and people using the coast should change plans as needed and follow safety officials’ advice.Official details
- ClosureMount Alava and Fatifati trails closedThe Mount Alava Trail and the Fatifati Trail from Fagasa Pass to the summit are closed until further notice for trail improvement work.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
American Samoa Tour Guide
Your drive to Upper Sauma Ridge Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for American Samoa National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this trailhead
Lower Sauma Ridge and Vaiʻava Strait0:00 / 0:32
“You're approaching Lower Sauma Ridge, with a roadside view across Vaiʻava Strait to Pola Island. For a quick stop, the overlook gives you the island's tall, narrow outline without a hike.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf American Samoa Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Pola Island Beach from Vatia
- Old Vatia Trail to the Ridge
- Bats Before Dark
- Afono Pass Harbor View
- 15 audio storiesacross American Samoa’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Noddy, Samoan Starling, Butterflyfish, and 4 more
- Works offlinemaps, 10 trails, 15 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Upper Sauma Ridge Trail
What you’re signing up forUpper Sauma Ridge Trail is a strenuous out-and-back from Route 006 to a ridge above Vatia.
Upper Sauma Ridge Trail is a strenuous out-and-back from Route 006 to a ridge above Vatia. The mapped trail is about 1.1 miles each way, or 2.2 miles round trip; allow three to four hours. It’s a demanding climb for a short hike, but the view over Vatia and out to Pola Island makes the effort worthwhile.
The climbThe route rises through dense rainforest, with native trees and birds along the way.
The route rises through dense rainforest, with native trees and birds along the way. The tread is very rocky and uneven, and it can be slippery. There’s roughly 1,500 feet of climbing, so expect a slow, careful ascent and an equally deliberate trip back down.
At the ridgeThe payoff is a high view of Vatia village and Pola Island.
The payoff is a high view of Vatia village and Pola Island. The Upper Sauma path meets the longer Mount ʻAlava Adventure Trail here; turn around at the ridge to keep this hike as the standalone out-and-back. For a photo, frame Pola’s offshore rock stacks with the green ridge in front of them.
Start and accessFind the Upper Sauma entrance on Route 006 opposite the Lower Sauma Ridge Trail roadside…
Find the Upper Sauma entrance on Route 006 opposite the Lower Sauma Ridge Trail roadside pullout and Pola Island lookout; a wooden ladder marks the entrance. Pets are allowed and the hike doesn’t require a reservation. Park entrance fees may apply.
Wildlife
Wildlife in American Samoa
19 sightingsNoddyMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
11 sightingsSamoan StarlingMost seen around 9 AMSighting map
17 sightingsButterflyfishMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
18 sightingsHermit CrabMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
10 sightingsMigratory ShorebirdMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
11 sightingsCane ToadMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across American Samoa. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
