The beautiful island of Maui has so much to offer! In addition to the unforgettable experience of a Haleakalā volcano bike tour, which we of course highly recommend, Maui boasts some absolutely picturesque hiking trails. So if you’re looking to hike in Maui after your bike tour down Haleakalā, perhaps we can make some helpful recommendations.
Hike Maui and Its Many Trails
Before we tell you about some the trails on the wonderful Valley Isle of Maui, it would be good to first mention a few basics on how to safely get the most out of any hiking adventure wherever you travel.
- Wear sturdy hiking shoes with good tread
- Wear light clothing to keep cool, but layered clothing at the Haleakalā Summit
- Use insect repellent
- Use sunscreen
- Bring a backpack with enough water and food
- Also bring a First Aid kit, flashlight, map (preferably a paper map in case you lose cell phone service), and a compass
Now on to the trails!
Haleakalā National Park
This national park covers a diverse and engaging landscape with over 30 miles of hiking trails just in the summit area. There are several trails in the Summit Area such as the Sliding Sands Trail or the Halemau’u Trail. On these trails you can see amazing views of this volcanic landscape as well as the unique wildlife found only on Haleakalā. Because of the elevation and terrain, some of these trails are not for beginners, so check with the National Park Service for more details. Weather can be pretty extreme at the summit, so be sure to wear layers of clothing.
On the other side of the park 12 miles past Hana, you can see a totally different ecosystem by hiking through a lush tropical rainforest in the Kīpahulu Area. Here the weather is usually warm and humid. Make sure to bring rain protection, sturdy close-toed shoes, and insect repellent on this gorgeously green hike. In this area of the park, you can hike to Oheo Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools) on the half-mile round-trip Kuloa Point Trail, take the 4-mile round-trip Pīpīwai Trail through a freshwater stream to see gorgeous waterfalls and bamboo forests, or take the half-mile Kahakai Trail from Kuloa Pount to the Kīpahulu campground where you’ll pass by some interesting archaeological sites along with great ocean views.
‘Iao Valley State Park
Located in central Maui, the ‘Iao Valley State Park offers another beautiful hiking adventure and is home to the famous 1,200-foot Iao Needle, the “iconic green-mantled rock” towering above Iao stream. This tropical area is also an important historical area for the island.
“It was here in 1790 at the Battle of Kepaniwai that King Kamehameha I clashed with Maui’s army in his quest to unite the islands. Even with Iao Needle serving as a lookout point, Kamehameha defeated Maui’s forces in a ferocious battle that ultimately changed the course of Hawaiian history,” the Hawaii Tourism Authority noted.
This famously lush park offers a great hiking location for the whole family with a ridge-top lookout point and interactive exhibits at the Hawaii Nature Center in the park.
These are just a few of the hiking trails and day hiking trips you may want to plan after your Haleakalā volcano tour adventure. Maui has so much to see and do, even beyond the beaches and ocean activities. Explore all that this island has to offer, starting with an exciting Haleakalā sunrise volcano bike tour!
(First photo by Anna Hirsch)
(Second crater photo by Frank Kovalchek)
(Pīpīwai Trail photo by daveynin)
(Iao Needle photo by Curt Smith)
