Maui Mountain Biking: Trail Info & Where To Go

Maui’s coastline gets all the postcards, but there’s a whole different side of the island once you head for higher ground. You get rainforest singletrack, volcanic cinder trails, and now a proper bike park, and depending on the day, you could ride more than one of those without going far. The weather moves fast up here though, so it’s worth checking conditions before you commit to a drive. The forest reserves also see a fraction of the traffic you’ll find near the beaches, which is part of the appeal if you’re trying to get away from the resort crowds for a few hours.

This guide covers where to ride, what each trail area is actually like, and how to plan around Maui’s weather and terrain so your day goes smoothly.

Kula Forest Reserve — Poli Poli

Upcountry Maui | Intermediate to advanced

Poli Poli sits high in Upcountry, between about 6,500 and 7,100 feet, and it’s one of the few places on Maui where you get real alpine forest riding — cool air, tall stands of pine and redwood, and views out over the isthmus and the West Maui Mountains on a clear day.

Most rides here are wide fire roads that climb to access singletrack descents. The Mamane Trail is a good intermediate option at around 1.5 miles, looping back near the parking area. Redwood and Boundary Trails are the more advanced picks, with technical sections and some hike-a-bike stretches that reward patience over speed.

One thing worth knowing before you drive up: this area is prone to closures after heavy storms, since the terrain and access roads take real damage in high wind and rain events. Check current conditions with with us before you commit to the drive up — closures aren’t unusual and they don’t always get announced far in advance.

Skyline Trail

Haleakalā National Park to Kula | Strong intermediate to advanced

Skyline is the big one — starting around 9,600 feet inside Haleakalā National Park and dropping more than 3,500 feet over roughly 10 miles, finishing down near Kula. The upper half is loose volcanic cinder and demands real technical focus; a fall up there is no joke given the terrain. Lower down, the trail mellows into gravel and forested singletrack as it drops into Kula.

A few things to know if you’re considering it:

• You’ll need a shuttle plan — two vehicles or a driver, since this isn’t a loop
• A National Park entrance pass is required
• Cell service disappears for most of the ride
• No tour company, including us, is permitted to shuttle riders on this route — it’s strictly self-supported

We don’t guide Skyline, and we’d only point experienced riders with a solid shuttle plan toward it. It’s also worth knowing the lower section connects toward the Poli Poli area, which means it can be affected by the same storm-related closures mentioned above — worth checking current status before you plan a shuttle around it.

West Maui Bike Park

Napili | All levels

This one’s new to the island, and it’s a genuinely good addition. Built by the Maui Mountain Bike Coalition in partnership with pro rider Cam Zink’s trail-building company, Sensus RAD Trails, the West Maui Bike Park went up on a leased 5-acre parcel in Napili in the years following the 2023 Lahaina wildfires — it was built specifically to give the community a free outdoor recreation space during a stretch when a lot of local resources were strained.

The park is open now, and it’s free to ride, every day from dawn to dusk. A few practical notes if you’re headed there:

• It’s human-powered only — no e-bikes or throttle-assisted bikes on the trails
• The park closes in high wind or rain, and a closed gate means the park is closed for the day
• It’s on private land run by volunteers, so trail etiquette and posted signage matter here more than almost anywhere else on the island
• You’ll need your own bike — this isn’t a tour stop or rental pickup location

Kapalua Trails

Kapalua, West Maui | Mixed skill levels

Right outside Kapalua town, and just steps from our Kapalua shop, sits one of the more overlooked riding spots on Maui. The area was once the Kapalua Village golf course, designed by Arnold Palmer, and later hosted the Xterra World Championship. Today it’s home to more than 12 miles of singletrack mountain biking trails winding through the forest, alongside over 5 miles of paved walking paths.

The trail network is maintained by the Maui Mountain Bike Coalition in partnership with Maui Land & Pineapple, and it’s free to ride. It’s still fairly early in its life as a public recreation area, so signage and mapping are a little sparse in places — if you don’t mind some exploring, that’s part of the appeal.

Since it’s mixed terrain and right next to our shop, it’s an easy one to fold into a West Maui visit. We’ve also got e-mountain bikes available at that location, which make the climbing sections a lot more approachable if you’re not looking to grind uphill all day.

Makawao Forest Reserve — Kahakapao Trails

Upcountry Maui | Beginner to expert

If you only ride one trail network on Maui, Kahakapao is probably it. It’s the most accessible and rider-friendly system on the island — a loop-based network under a canopy of eucalyptus and pine, with everything from easy green-rated warmups to intermediate switchbacks and rolling descents.

Elevation gain runs 800–900 feet depending on your route, and the trail surface is smooth singletrack with occasional roots and rocks, well signed throughout. It’s a great place to build skills or just get in a fast, fun lap, and it’s close enough to Paia and Upcountry that it’s easy to fit into a half day.

When To Ride

Maui’s rideable year-round, but a few patterns are worth knowing:

• Early mornings mean cooler temps and better visibility, especially at higher elevations
• The drier months (roughly April through October) tend to have more stable trail conditions
• Avoid riding during or right after heavy rain — Maui’s red dirt turns slick and can seriously erode trails when it’s saturated

Staying Safe on the Trail

• Bring more water than you think you’ll need
• Sunscreen matters even under tree cover
• Pack a light jacket or layers, especially for anything at higher elevation
• Know that cell service is unreliable to nonexistent on Haleakalā and much of West Maui’s backcountry
• Yield to hikers, stay on marked trails, and pack out anything you bring in

Trail Etiquette in Hawai’i

Maui’s trails often run through native forest reserves and land with real cultural and ecological significance, so it’s worth riding with that in mind:

• Stay on designated trails to protect native plants and prevent erosion
• Leave no trace
• Respect private property — some trail systems border ranches and residential land
• Be courteous to hikers and fellow riders

What’s Included With a Rental

If you’re supplying your own riding skills but not your own gear, our rental fleet is built to cover the rest. Every mountain bike rental comes with a helmet, gloves, a backpack with a lock, a flat repair kit, and a lightweight windbreaker, so you’re not scrambling to piece together gear from three different shops before you hit the trail. We also rent bike shoes and racks that work with almost any rental car, in case you need to get the bike to the trailhead yourself.

For trail riding specifically, check our current rental page for available mountain bikes — we carry bikes from Santa Cruz, Trek, and Giant/Liv.

Ready to Ride?

Maui’s mountain biking scene has genuinely grown in the last couple years, from the quiet forest riding Upcountry to a brand-new community bike park and a hidden trail network on the West Side. Wherever you end up, come by one of our shops and we’re happy to help point you toward the right trail for your skill level and timeframe.

If you’re planning a Haleakalā downhill ride as part of your trip, we’ve got a full breakdown of whether to catch sunrise or sunset at the summit around your ride. And if you’re deciding between our guided and self-guided downhill options, here’s a comparison of the two to help you figure out which fits your day better.