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Hiking on Maui

Hiking on Maui

They shouldn’t be there, but 6,500 feet above sea level on the island of Maui, are California redwood trees. This is just one fascinating detail you can discover hiking on Maui. There is also an alpine desert, bamboo forests, sea-cliff ridgelines and lava fields that look like the surface of the moon.

Haleakalā is arguably the most popular hiking destination on the island. People come from all over the world to watch sunrise or sunset at the summit or hike the crater descent called Sliding Sands Trail. But beyond Haleakalā are several more memorable hiking trails. The Pīpīwai Trail through a bamboo forest to a 400-foot waterfall on the Hāna side is an easy hike with an extraordinary payoff. The Waiheʻe Ridge Trail in West Maui climbs 2,500 feet into misty mountains for spectacular ocean and valley views. The Kapalua Coastal Trail connects two beaches that have each been named the best in America.

If you are only on Maui for a short time, hike the Pīpīwai Trail and one of Haleakalā’s trails, ideally finishing just before sunset.

Maui Hikes by RegionMust-Do Maui Hike vs. Nice to HaveAltitude and PermitsSafetyKnow Before You GoFAQ

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Maui Hikes by Region

Haleakalā Summit and Crater Haleakalā is unlike any other hiking environment in Hawaiʻi. The 10,023-foot summit, which sits above the clouds on most days, and the crater’s interior is a vast, quiet landscape of cinder cones, lava formations and colors that shift from red to gray to black depending on the light. It looks like the surface of another planet.

The two main hikes into the crater are Sliding Sands Trail (Keoneheʻeheʻe) and Halemauʻu Trail. Sliding Sands descends 2,500 feet into the crater from the visitor center at the summit. It’s fairly easy on the way down, but the return climb at 10,000 feet altitude is challenging. The two trails connect at the crater floor and can be combined with a car shuttle to bring you back up. It’s one of the best full-day hikes on the island for intermediate to advanced hikers.

Haleakalā National Park. Photo by Galyna Andrushko (Shutterstock).
Haleakalā National Park. Photo by Galyna Andrushko (Shutterstock).

Hāna Side — Pīpīwai Trail The Pīpīwai Trail is the second best option for hiking on Maui for most visitors. It is a 4-mile round trip trek through a bamboo forest to Waimoku Falls — a 400-foot waterfall inside Haleakalā National Park on the Kīpahulu coast. The tall bamboo forest provides shade and the trail is relatively flat and manageable for most fitness levels. The trail is located at the end of the Road to Hāna, which means tour buses begin to arrive and unload hoards of people around 10 a.m. For a less crowded experience, start hiking around 7 or 8 a.m. 

Upcountry — Polipoli and Waiheʻe Ridge Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area in the Kula Forest Reserve sits between 5,500 feet and 10,000 feet on the slopes of Haleakalā. Here, you’ll see redwood, plum, eucalyptus and pine trees weaved throughout a network of trails. The area is open for hunting, so wear bright colors and watch out for wild pigs and goats on the trail. The most challenging hike here is Skyline Drive, a road that climbs all the way up to the Haleakalā summit — a serious high-altitude workout.

Waiheʻe Ridge Trail in West Maui is the island's best ridge hike. It climbs 2,500 feet through fern-lined switchbacks into the mountains above Waiheʻe Valley. You can see all the way to Molokaʻi on clear days. Wait a couple days if it rains, as the trail gets very muddy and dangerous. The hike takes about two to three hours to complete. Make sure to wear good hiking shoes.

Pipiwai Trail. Wirestock Creators (Shutterstock).
Pipiwai Trail. Wirestock Creators (Shutterstock).

West Maui — ʻIāo Valley and Kapalua Coastal ʻĪao Valley State Monument is one of the most sacred sites on Maui. Unfortunately, it is closed at this time, but when it reopens you can see the lush green valley and its 2,250-foot ʻIao Needle from a viewpoint that is just a short jaunt from the parking lot on a paved path. It isn’t a hiking trail, but a beautiful scenic area with deep Hawaiian history you should learn before arriving. Check gostateparks.hawaii.gov/iao-valley for updates.There is no parking or entry available at this time. 

The Kapalua Coastal Trail is an open, breezy 1.75-mile trail that connects Kapalua Bay with D.T. Fleming Beach Park along the West Maui coastline. The trail passes through coastal shrubs with ocean views throughout. Both beaches it connects have previously been named the best in America. The walk is flat and easy — a nice morning trail before or after snorkeling at Kapalua Bay.

ʻĪao Valley State Park. Photo by Tor Johnson, courtesy of Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.
ʻĪao Valley State Park. Photo by Tor Johnson, courtesy of Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.
Your Guide to Maui's HaleakalāHigh Demand

Your Guide to Maui's Haleakalā

Sunrise reservations, hiking Sliding Sands, Kīpahulu waterfalls — everything you need to plan your visit to Hāleakalā National Park on Maui.

Must-Do Maui Hike vs. Nice to Have

Must-do: Pīpīwai Trail For most visitors, regardless of fitness level, the Pīpīwai Trail will be the first hike on your list. This 4-mile round trip trail through bamboo forest to a waterfall is a hard-to-beat Hawaiʻi hiking experience. HIkers will need to pay the Haleakalā National Park entry fee ($30 per vehicle, valid for three days and accepted at both the summit and Kīpahulu entrances). Combine this hike with a Road to Hāna drive for a full-day of exploration.

Must-do for fit hikers: Sliding Sands descent The descent into Haleakalā crater, called Sliding Sands Trail, is one of the most challenging and rewarding hiking experiences on Maui. The crater landscape is extraordinary, and the full Sliding Sands–Halemauʻu trail is one of the best day hikes in all of Hawaiʻi. Make sure you are physically prepared. The climb back up at 10,000 feet altitude is significantly harder than it looks. Don't attempt it if you're not in good hiking shape and acclimatized. Many people will have a car waiting for them at the bottom to take them back up. 

Nice to have: Waiheʻe Ridge Trail The view of the north shore from the top of Waiheʻe Ridge is your reward for this challenging climb. It's not on most visitor’s itineraries, which means there will be less crowds. You also won’t need reservations.

Altitude and Permits

Haleakalā's 10,023-foot summit is higher than any point in the continental United States east of the Rockies. Visitors from the continental U.S. usually underestimate the altitude shift. Exertion will feel harder on this hike. Headaches and lightheadedness are common among visitors who drive straight from sea level to the summit and immediately start hiking. Drink more water than you think you need and give your body time to adjust before attempting the Sliding Sands descent.

The sunrise experience at the summit requires a reservation through recreation.gov, available 60 days ahead at 7 a.m. Hawaiian Standard Time with a $1 booking fee plus the standard park entry fee of $30 per vehicle. After 7 a.m., no reservation is needed — sunset and night-sky visits don't require sunrise reservations. The Kīpahulu entrance used for Pīpīwai Trail is a separate entrance from the summit — the same three-day park entry pass covers both.

Temperatures at the Haleakalā summit can drop to 30 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit at sunrise with significant wind chill. This surprises visitors who packed only for a beach vacation. Bring a warm layer — a fleece or light down jacket — regardless of what the weather looks like at sea level when you leave your hotel. The summit weather is its own microclimate and changes fast. I remember going for sunrise as a little girl with my mom. She brought a blanket to wrap around us and I shivered the entire time.

Safety

Three Maui-specific hazards that catch hikers off guard:

Pīpīwai bamboo forest and flash flooding. The trail runs through a valley fed by significant rainfall. Flash floods can develop without warning, and the bamboo forest section offers limited visibility of what's coming upstream. Check weather conditions before heading out and take heed of any trail closures posted at the Kīpahulu visitor center.

Sliding Sands: easy down, hard back. The descent into the crater is gradual enough that it consistently misleads visitors about what the return involves. Climbing 2,500 feet back to the rim at 10,000 feet altitude is a different physical experience than the same climb at sea level. Carry more water than you expect to need and listen to your body.

ʻĪao Valley closures. The valley closes during heavy rain due to flash flood risk. Check the Hawaiʻi DLNR website (gostateparks.hawaii.gov/iao-valley) before visiting, particularly during winter or after a heavy overnight rain. The 2016 flooding that caused major damage here was not a freak event, it was the valley doing what the valley does. Currently, the monument and park is closed for repairs and improvements. There is no parking or entry available at this time.

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Hiking on Maui

Insider Tips

Know Before You Go

  1. 1High altitude at Haleakalā The summit is 10,023 feet, and the drive from sea level to the top takes roughly two hours on a good day — which means your body has almost no time to adjust. Visitors who feel fine on the drive up often feel the altitude immediately when they step out of the car and start moving. Drink extra water before and during the visit, move slower than feels necessary for the first 30 minutes and don't be surprised if a mild headache develops. Sunrise temperatures can drop to 30 to 40 degrees with wind, so bring a jacket regardless of what the forecast shows.
  2. 2Pīpīwai timing Pīpīwai Trail sits at the end of the Road to Hāna, which means most tour buses and organized groups arrive between 10 a.m. and noon. Starting the trail at 7 or 8 a.m. gives you time to have the bamboo forest and Waimoku Falls mostly to yourself. The trailhead is at the Kīpahulu Visitor Center. Plan to arrive before 9 a.m. The trail is 4 miles round trip and takes two to three hours to complete — longer after a heavy rain when the path gets muddy.
  3. 3The thing about Sliding Sands Sliding Sands Trail into Haleakalā crater looks and feels easy on the way down, but you have to climb 10,000 feet high on the way back. You can always turn around earlier to make the return trip shorter. Bring lots of water and make sure you acclimate yourself to the altitude, so you donʻt get sick. Every year, hikers require assistance on the Sliding Sands return because their body couldn’t handle the journey back up. Whatever distance you hike down into the crater, plan for the return to take at least twice as long. It’s an amazing hike, just make sure you’re prepared.

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