Olinda Forest Cycling Route – Advanced

31 miles, 4,300’ elevation gain

A climber’s dream! Start your ride in Paia at sea level and climb your way up to nearly 4,000’ over just 12 miles. As you approach the high point, you’ll find yourself immersed in the dense pine trees of the Olinda Forest. A steep, windy descent down Piiholo Road awaits as you round the turn at the top of the road.

Enjoy The Olinda Forest climb From The Sea

The climb begins relatively gently – the gradient averages 4-6% for the first 7 miles up Baldwin Ave to Makawao. Then, the real challenge begins! Pass straight through the 4-way intersection in Makawao and up the steep quarter-mile pitch. The road then flattens out and becomes Olinda Ave. Enjoy the short recovery before the gradient turns uphill once again! Starting around mile 8, and for the next 4 miles, the incline averages just under 10%. The grade maxes out around 15%.

Round the turn at the highest point, and enjoy your descent!

Congrats – you’ve hit the high point of the day! When you’re ready, descend cautiously down Piiholo Rd. It’s very steep at points, and the hairpin turns are TIGHT. At just past mile 17 on the route, you’ll hit Makawao Ave. Here, you can turn left and follow it back into Makawao to grab a well-earned meal before continuing down toward home. 

If you’re ready to keep pushing, follow our route to the right. You’ll continue around the long way back to our Paia shop via a scenic tour of neighboring Haiku.

Grab A Bite After Your Olinda Forest Ride

As you descend Makawao Ave (which becomes Kaupakalua Rd), be aware that there is a very tight hairpin turn around mile 18.5. Continue onwards until taking a left onto E Kuiaha Rd. This is our personal favorite for a quiet, scenic descent through Haiku.

When that road ends, hang a left at the stop sign. Enjoy a couple of miles of tight, windy rollers through the jungle before popping out into the center of Haiku town. You’ll find a couple of food options if you need a pit stop before the final push home.

From here, enjoy the net downhill (and often, tailwind!) back to Paia!

Tour of Haiku Cycling Route – Intermediate

30 miles, 3,000’ elevation gain

Climb to the cowboy town of Makawao before a scenic and windy descent through the jungle town of Haiku. Then, ride back to Paia along the ocean.

30 miles, 3,000′ of climbing, 3 Maui towns to explore.

Starting at our shop in Paia, aim straight uphill on Baldwin Ave. After 7 miles and 1,700’ in elevation gain, you’ll hit Makawao town. In Makawao, there is a general store in addition to a couple of restaurants and food trucks…great refuel stops if the climb took it out of you!

At the 4-way intersection, turn left to start a stellar descent toward the center of Haiku town. Take your first left at Kokomo Rd and settle in for a few downhill miles.

Through the jungle and back toward the beach.

As you approach the town center of Haiku, you’ll pass over a couple of speed bumps. The road will bend to the right. At the bend, our route has you take a left at the “Haiku Town Acres” sign for a fun side route through a beautiful neighborhood. If you opt into this side quest, it’s a short climb back up into Haiku town. Be sure to stop for lunch at any of the great eateries in Haiku!

Continue along our route by finding Haiku Rd, and following it for a fun few miles of tight, windy rollers through the jungle. A final, beautiful climb awaits you up E Kuiaha Rd – one of our favorites in Haiku! You’ll connect back up with Kaupakalua Rd, where you’ll then turn left to descend back to the Hana Highway. Take a left on the Hana Highway, and cruise the steady rollers all the way back to Paia!

Maui Cycling Routes

Tour of Haiku – Beginner

15 miles, 1,300’ elevation gain

A short lollipop route along the Hana Highway, highlighted by a short climb into Haiku. Cruise along a few fun miles of tight, windy rollers through the jungle before a return to Paia!

A lollipop route through the jungle town of Haiku!

Starting at our shop, take two quick rights to head east on the Hana Highway. Continue out past Ho’okipa Lookout and onwards through the sweeping S turn, where the grade turns uphill.

Next, take your first right onto Haiku Rd, which brings you into downtown Haiku. If you’re feeling hungry, there are plenty of good eats in the immediate area. Then, turn left to continue onto Haiku Rd, where the rolling, windy jungle miles begin!

At the 4-way intersection (mile 8.5 on our route), turn left downhill on E Kuiaha Rd. Take another left to get back onto the Hana Highway en route back toward Paia. Save for one quarter-mile kicker through the S-turn, it’s a net descent back to town…often, with a tailwind!

Makawao Figure 8 Cycling Route – Advanced

40 miles, 4,500’ elevation gain

Climb a third of the way up Haleakala Volcano, then loop your way back down the scenic route. Cruise through the towns of Kula, Makawao, and Haiku before finishing up your ride along the ocean as you make your way back toward Paia.

The Makawao Figure 8 Climb

Starting in Paia, aim straight up Baldwin ave for 7 miles and 1,700′ to Makawao. Continue straight through the intersection and up the steep quarter-mile pitch.

Follow the road until you turn right onto Hanamu Rd, just opposite the horse ranch. Next, bear left at each of the upcoming merges to find yourself on the Haleakala Highway. Six more miles of steady climbing brings you up to the highest point on this route – the town of Kula – at just under 4,000’. The road then crests and then starts downhill – you’ve earned it!

After two downhill miles, you’ll hit the Kula highway. Turn right, and then make a second quick right onto Lower Kula rd to continue your descent. You’re welcome to continue along the main highway, but we much prefer the quieter side roads!

If you brought lunch, the best place to stop is Harold Rice Park – the views are hard to beat. Otherwise, you’ll pass a couple of food options along Lower Kula Rd. Lower Kula Rd will merge back onto the Kula Highway before splitting off again to your right after half a mile. Hop back on the side road for another 2 miles of less traffic and better views!

For the beer drinkers out there…Mahalo Aleworks will be on your left along Aapeuo Parkway as you continue down the Kula Highway.

Descend through three iconic upcountry Maui towns

At mile 24.5 in our route, you’ll hang a right on Makawao Ave, which points you back toward the T-intersection in Makawao from your climb earlier. Either turn left to descend right back down the way you came, or follow our route for a scenic descent through our favorite roads in Haiku! 

As you descend Makawao Ave (which becomes Kaupakalua Rd), be aware that there is a very tight hairpin turn at mile 28.5! Follow along that road until taking a left onto E Kuiaha Rd. This is our personal favorite for a quiet, scenic descent through Haiku. Hang a left when that road ends at a stop sign. A couple of miles of tight, windy rollers through the jungle await, popping you out in downtown Haiku. You’ll find a couple of great food options if you need a pit stop before the final push home.

Once in Haiku town, just follow our route back down to the Hana highway, and hang a left, and enjoy the net downhill (and often, tailwind) back to Paia!

Iao Valley Cycling Route – Intermediate

28 miles, 1,800’ elevation gain

Ride a 28-mile out and back from our shop in Paia to the lush jungle of Iao Valley. Climb into the heart of the West Maui Mountains in Iao Valley. Tack on a bonus climb through a beautiful neighborhood next to Iao Valley to find sweeping views of the east side of the island.

Ride into the heart of the West Maui Mountains.

Start by following the Paia bike path westward. Six miles in, when the road ends, take a left onto Hobron Ave, followed by a quick right onto E Kaahumanu Ave. Take the next right onto Kahului Beach road and continue oceanside for a mile or so, turning left onto Kuhio Pl. As you head inland, the gradient turns slightly uphill!

Turn left onto Makaala Dr to connect onto the Kahekili Hwy. If your only goal is Iao Valley, continue straight until you take W Vineyard street on your right. Follow W Vineyard uphill and around the corner until you connect onto Iao Valley Road.

If you’d like to tack on the bonus climb into the neighborhood next to the Valley, take your first right (Kamaile St). You’ll climb for a mile and a half or so on a quiet street. Before you continue onwards and descend, be sure to soak in the stellar view of Haleakala!

The Iao Valley climb ends in the parking area of the Iao Valley State Monument. Take a minute to look back down the valley toward the ocean. Be sure to pop your head over the side to catch a glimpse of the sacred Iao River. If you’re the adventurous type, there are a few spots where one can hop into the river to refresh!

When you’re ready to descend, just follow the same road all the way out of the valley and through Kahului. If you’re hungry, stop downtown along Main St, where there are a number of good eats, before heading back toward Paia along the bike path. Hopefully, those notorious easterly headwinds aren’t too strong for your return journey!