HALEAKALA DOWNHILL

The bike ride down Haleakala starts at 6,500 ft, and is 99.9% downhill at an average gradient of 5-6%. Each lap is 6.5 miles, two laps is a total of 13 miles. The entire experience is roughly 4+ hours. You are riding on paved country roads with active traffic, and for most of the ride, there is no shoulder or bike lane.

Closed-toe shoes are strongly recommended. For the Haleakala Downhill, most folks are fine in just shorts and a t-shirt. We provide a rain jacket/windbreaker that functions as an added layer, as the windchill can be chilly at our staging area. Full-finger gloves are included in the tour, as well.

On a typical day at 6,500′ around 10:30am (the time and elevation at which you’ll start the ride), temps are usually in the low to mid-60s. We also provide a backpack to put any layers or purchases in on the way down. If the weather looks overcast, windy, or rainy we recommend wearing more removable layers such as pants or a sweatshirt. In these conditions, temps can be in the mid to high 50’s.

The minimum age to participate in this bike ride is 15 years old. The minimum height requirement to fit the bike is 4’11”. Intermediate bike experience is required, as is experience using disc brakes on a bike.

The ride requires maturity; you will ride on paved roads with traffic, and most of the ride does not have a shoulder or bike lane. We trust the judgment of the parent or guardian in determining a minor’s skill level.

The nature of this ride doesn’t require you to necessarily be in shape nor does weight matter as long as you aren’t over the bike manufacturer’s weight limit of 300lbs. This ride is quite easy and you BARELY even pedal! It’s 99.9% all downhill.

However, riders must be CONFIDENT and COMFORTABLE riding a bike. This ride isn’t for beginners, and not safe if you haven’t been on a bike in years.

If it’s been a while, we recommend getting out on a bike and practicing before you do this ride. While it’s not a physically challenging ride, you are descending at 25+ mph at an average grade of 5-6%. This requires bike handling skills.

You will be sharing the country roads with vehicles and riding a bike down the sloping switchbacks of Haleakala! It’s truly a fun and easy ride AS LONG as you are a confident cyclist and comfortable riding a bike!

There are just a few restrictions for your safety:

• Riders must be confident and experienced at riding a bike with disc brakes
• Minimum Age 15 Years old.
• Minimum height requirement to fit the bike is 4’11”.
• Intermediate bike experience is required, as is experience using disc brakes on a bike.
• Under 18 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
• Maximum Rider Weight: 300lbs
• Must not be Pregnant

On this Maui downhill bike tour you will not get lost. We will do laps and be waiting for you at the pick-up points. There are no opportunities to get lost!

Guests arriving on a cruise ship at the Kahului harbor come do our bike ride all the time! You arrive at the dock at 8am and our shop is about 15 minutes from the Harbor. Taxi or Uber is your best bet and costs around $20 each way. Check-in time is 8:45am and we are open at 8:30am.

You will return to our shop in Paia around 1:30pm. From our shop, it’s about a 15 minute drive to the airport. Security lines do tend to be longer here on Maui than at mainland airports, so do factor that into your day’s timeline, but yes, you can fly the same afternoon as your bike tour!

You are more than welcome to store your luggage at our shop, customers do so all the time and we are more than happy to keep it secure until you return.

We do not offer hotel pick-up and drop-off where you spend more time driving around in a van than being able to explore the North Shore of Maui or Haleakala after your bike ride. By riding back to our shop in Paia at the end of the tour instead of being transported back to the hotel, you‘ll be able to explore the North Shore of the island and get to see a little more of the charming small towns in Maui. Whether you are driving from the south side of the island or the west, directions to our shop are as simple as three right turns and you’re at our front door.

We eliminated hotel pick-up and drop-off where you spend more time driving around in a van than on the actual bike ride. Since our tour is self-guided, everyone finishes the ride at different times. By riding back to our shop in Paia, you‘ll be able to explore the North Shore of the island and get to see a little more of the charming small towns in Maui. All our guests enjoy the freedom of having their car and exploring Paia, North Shore beaches and waterfalls or even going up to the summit for sunset after the ride.Whether you are driving from the south side of the island or the west, directions to our shop are as simple as three right turns and you’re at our front door. By eliminating hotel pick up and drop offs, this also helps to keep our rate the lowest on the island.

Yes, of course. Biking down Haleakala at your own pace allows you to experience the ride at a speed that feels comfortable to you, as well as allowing you to stop and go as you please without getting stuck in a group or to having to keep up with someone else’s pace. If you need assistance with anything at any time along the Maui bike tour, we will always be available. Just remember to bring a cell phone with you to call us for assistance. We have a safety van always nearby.

Like any other outdoor activity, there are inherent risks. In order to minimize those risks, you MUST be comfortable riding a bike, be able to use hand brakes, and be able to stay focused throughout the ride. You are coming down country roads and sharing the road with cars.

If you are a beginner cyclist or haven’t been on a bike in years, this ride likely is not the right fit for you. We recommend practicing on a bike before you do this ride. While it’s not a physically challenging ride, you are descending at 25+mph at an average grade of 5-6%. You will be sharing the country roads with vehicles and riding the bike down the sloping switchbacks of Haleakala!

It’s truly a fun and easy ride AS LONG as you are a confident cyclist and comfortable riding a bike on the road while descending!

At Maui Sunriders, we are committed to keeping you safe. We take great effort to provide you with the safety awareness, guidelines, and briefings you need to have a safe and fun trip. However, ultimately you are in control of the bike. Remember this is a Maui biking tour, not a race. If you decide to bike down Haleakala at 50 mph, then you can make the bike ride very dangerous. And, of course, this is not the place to learn how to ride a bike, so you need to be experienced at riding a bike. Although it is not a difficult ride, you should be a competent, confident rider.

Tipping is greatly appreciated. Our guides provide you with a fun and informative drive up, as well as make sure everyone is coming down the volcano safely. They work hard daily loading/unloading your bikes, assuring a proper bike fit, as well as the behind the scene efforts making sure your bikes are in top working order and sanitizing all your gear daily.

Our tour guides do their best to ensure that your experience is both informative and memorable. As in any other service industry, tipping is subject to the level and quality of the service provided. (suggested gratuity is 18% however, a gratuity of any amount is always appreciated)

We do ride rain or shine. Maui is a tropical climate and it can rain any day of the year. For this reason, we provide rain/wind breaker jacket & pants, as well as bike gloves every day of the year. As long as you are confident and comfortable riding bikes, it can be safe riding in the rain and wind. We hope that our riders have all been on bikes recently (like within a couple years minimum.) If it’s unsafe for anyone, it would be those who haven’t been on a bike in a long time….and are a bit wobbly on a bike to begin with!

When there is rain and wind, it is ok to ride as long as you slow down and anticipate the rain and wind gusts at all times. The upper portion of the ride can be windier as it is more exposed with less trees and the lower portion can be more protected, aside from the occasional gusts coming around a corner. If for some reason the wind or rain is too much for you at the start we can always put you on the bikes at a lower elevation where it is less exposed. If you feel nervous about it, contact us to reschedule. We have a 48 hour change policy so if you give us notice we are happy to move the reservation for you. Feel free to contact us any time if necessary.

We do occasionally cancel a tour if we receive Warnings from the National Weather system and we determine it to be unsafe to ride. Due to our unpredictable and fast changing weather systems on Maui, we can only cancel a tour the morning of the ride. The forecast can change the day before or the morning of, as tropical weather is spontaneous! We aim to make the final decision by 7:30am daily. In the event that we cancel a ride, you can reschedule for another day, or if you can’t book any other day we also offer a full refund.

Tours that take you into the national park to see the crater/summit range from $220-$240 per person. Our tour is a lot less per person, due to the fact that we don’t enter the National Park. Tours that bring you into the park, will then drive you back down to the same place we begin our bike ride. No tour operator can allow you to bike inside the National Park.

We suggest going into the National Park on your own for a more personal experience at only $30 per vehicle. There are over 35 miles of hiking that you can do inside the park so it may be worthwhile to separate your activities to really take in the park and make it an experience of its own. 

Most of our guests visit the park another day or go after the bike ride to watch sunset. A lot of locals say the sunset is just as beautiful (if not MORE) and much warmer, less people (no reservation needed) and so much less of an ordeal, like waking up at 2am on vacation. With that our favorite recommendation is to join us at 9am for your downhill ride. Enjoy Paia and the beaches after the ride, maybe have an early dinner in town and then drive up and catch sunset. You can enter the park an hour early and explore the park, hike around a bit and see it more than you would at sunrise. Bring a towel, bottle of wine or beverage of choice, Hawaiian snacks and see the spectacular sunset! It’s warmer at the crater than it will be waiting for the sun to rise. You can also look up the volcano and see if the weather is to your liking to view sunset, where as with sunrise it is all or nothing at 3am!

Some guests opt to do sunrise on their own & then join us for a Downhill Bike Ride. Since our tour starts at 9am, guests that still want to experience sunrise on their own and save a bundle of money, go up on their own and then drive down immediately following sunrise. You will need a reservation with the National Park as mentioned above, it is very crowded so get there early and you do need to wake up around 2am to get up the volcano in time. It takes about an hour and a half to come down and reach our shop in Paia, plan to leave the summit at the latest by 7:30am. Then you can park your car for the day and we will shuttle you up for your bike ride. When you finish your ride your car will be parked in Paia ready to explore the North Shore.

Keep in mind all the sunrises and sunsets are 50/50 that you will have incredible views due to our tropical weather and clouds that come through. At least for sunset you can decide if it’s worth it but for sunrise it’s all or nothing, due to your reservation and its dark and cold so you can’t totally see the weather. Remember sometimes you see clouds above but you often times break through the clouds and travel a couple 1000’ feet above the clouds. It varies from day-to-day!

No, unfortunately on this experience you aren’t able to bike up into the Halekakala National Park.

We used to offer the sunrise tour for almost 18 years however, as of 2019 we are no longer partnering with the National Park and we have concluded our sunrise tours. The prices have gone way up & we don’t feel it is the best value and nor safest experience to pass on to our customers. To book a sunrise bike tour with any operator these days will cost you about $220-240 per person! We share with our guests the option join us for a 9am self-guided bike ride for a lot less per person. Most of our guests opt for sunset after their Downhill Bike Ride on your own.

Sunset is just as beautiful (if not MORE) and much warmer, less people (no reservation needed) and so much less of an ordeal, like waking up at 2am on vacation. With that our favorite recommendation is to join us at 9am for your downhill ride. Enjoy Paia and the beaches after the ride, maybe have an early dinner in town and then drive up and catch sunset. You can enter the park an hour early and explore the park, hike around a bit and see it more than you would at sunrise. Bring a towel, bottle of wine or beverage of choice, Hawaiian snacks and see the spectacular sunset! It’s warmer at the crater than it will be waiting for the sun to rise. You can also look up the volcano and see if the weather is to your liking to view sunset, where as with sunrise it is all or nothing at 3am!

Furthermore, when you do the sunrise downhill option, it’s sorta confusing because you have to get back in the shuttle van and drive down to 6500 ft’ where all bike tours are Permitted to start and that is where we begin our ride…(right outside the National Park entrance.) So you don’t get to bike down from the summit. We start our tour later in the day so that you have time to catch the sunrise if you wish and to prevent biking with all the sunrise traffic coming down the mountain as well as local rush hour and for some that can be a little unnerving. With our ride beginning later, there are far less cars on the road which makes it safer and much more comfortable cruise down the mountain. Lastly, most of the shops & restaurants that you get to explore on our self-guided tour will be closed in the morning during the sunrise rides.

Some guests opt to do sunrise on their own & then join us for a Downhill Bike Ride. Since our tour starts at 9am, guests that still want to experience sunrise on their own and save a bundle of money, go up on their own and then drive down immediately following sunrise. The entry fee is $30 per car and a $1.50 online reservation fee through the National Park website. (book ahead!) For 2 people you will already save $240 that you could use to go out for a great dinner!

You will need a reservation (they can be almost impossible to attain!!!) with the National Park as mentioned above, it is very crowded so get there early and you do need to wake up around 2am to get up the volcano in time. It takes about an hour and a half to come down and reach our shop in Paia, plan to leave the summit at the latest by 7:30am. Then you can park your car for the day and we will shuttle you up for your bike ride. When you finish your ride your car will be parked in Paia ready to explore the North Shore.

Keep in mind all the sunrises and sunsets are 50/50 that you will have incredible views due to our tropical weather and clouds that come through. At least for sunset you can decide if it’s worth it but for sunrise it’s all or nothing, due to your reservation and its dark and cold so you can’t totally see the weather. Remember sometimes you see clouds above but you often times break through the clouds and travel a couple 1000’ feet above the clouds. It varies from day-to-day!

In 1983, “Cruiser Bob” the originator of the “Maui Volcano Bike Tour” created what is today one of the most popular Maui activities. Bob’s Haleakala bike tour became an instant success story. It grew rapidly with thousands of visitors a year riding down the volcano. Due to his success, many other companies were formed that used Bob’s biking tour as a model. A few of them are still here, while Bob moved on to other biking adventures. Some claim to be the “original,” but this fame belongs rightly only to Cruiser Bob.