Minuses: Youll be sharing the trail with lots of other folks. This gets you here quicker, but it is a more rugged, remote road than Highway 360 (the Hana Highway). We are going with a few older companions who might not be able to hop across rocks and do not know how to swim. Mossy rough-hewn stone block steps evoke scenes out of "The Land of the Lost". You can get here by driving the Road to Hana. Sunblock, sunglasses, and a hat. Just did this today - left northernmost (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Hitting the trail is the perfect way to explore; in fact, it just might be our favorite! Have fun, stay safe, and let us know what you think! At the trail junction, go left to start the Ppwai Trail. I will warn, the road is windy at some places and not everyone can handle doing this trip more than once. 3750 Wailea Alanui * Kihei, HI 96753. Alternatively, you can drive Highway 37 along the south coast to get to the Kpahulu District. Check out our full guide to hiking the Pipiwai Trail below. Years ago, the National Park Service added a handy boardwalk through this forest to keep hikers headed in the right direction and keep the mud at bay. Just a bit further and some rock-hopping over a usually tame stream, and this scenery-packed hike culminates at the base of sheer 400 cliffs, with spectacular Waimoku Falls quite literally falling to Earth right in front of you. You probably dont want to hike it in the dark though! I have taken all four of my children on this hike countless times from the time they were little babies in carriers. If you want to go here now, youre going to have to squeeze under or around the fence wherever other trespassers before you have bent it back. Hike the Pipiwai Trail. Along the Kahekili Highway, see the Nakalele Blowhole, hike the Ohai Loop Trail or Waihee . From the trailhead, it is a 0.5 mile walk to the first viewpoint of the hike, the Makahiku Falls Viewpoint. Along the way you'll be able to explore a dense bamboo forest, a grove of ancient banyan trees, and the spectacular 400-foot Waimoku Falls. Once you arrive you'll have to go through an entrance station where a fee of $30 per vehicle is required. It looks vastly different than the barren, almost Mars-like appearance of the Haleakala crater. Spend some time in the mysterious, zen-like oasis before continuing out of the forest and towards Waimoku Falls. Either lot is fine but the lower lot is closer to the visitor center and restrooms. While the regular road to Hana is crowded, it is scenic and full of interesting things to see. GPS Coordinates: 20.661458,-156.045299 Approaching the Pipiwai Trail parking from the backside of Haleakala aka from the back road to Hana. I see some guide services offer rapelling. On a windy day, the bamboo stalks sound like wind chimes as the breeze knocks them together. There were Heaney rains. PICTURED ROCKS MI Faster coming down. Pipiwai Trail & Waimoku Falls | Maui Guidebook It is a pretty quick change, starting around the time you cross two bridges. Our website uses cookies. There is no parking along Hana Highway. Water. Visitor Info: $10 for parking, swimmable but with caution. We're committed to your privacy. Re: Distance from Kihei to Pipiwai Trail? By the time we reached the parking lot (at 11:15) the parking lot was completely full and a long line of cars were lined up in front of the entrance gate. Alternatively, you may use. This trail is part of the Ahihi Kinau Natural Area Reserve. The falls here are surrounded by greenery ranging from massive ferns to bamboo and vines. This is likely not a good hike for the vast majority of octogenarians as it has a steep incline (especially at the start) and also has challenging footing for most older people. Road to Hana: Best Things to Do, Map, Photos & is It Worth It? I made one quick stop at Wailua Falls along the way. Exploring Maui: Things You need to Know About As a New Resident! I am going to Maui the third and forth week of march 2015. This site has been very helpful. Love hiking the bamboo in a fine mist. What you might not know that there is a smaller section of Haleakala National Park on the southern coast of Maui. Most people are familiar with the summit section where you can watch the sunrise from above the clouds, but theres a coastal section of the park in a town called Kipahulu, about 12 miles from Hana town. You cross two bridges over the Ppwai Stream, climb some rock steps, and entire the cool, moist air of the bamboo forest. Is it worth the 2 hour trip out? Whats the best route to take to get to trail head from Lahaina? Driving to the Oheo Gulch & Back in One day? | Maui Hawaii And don't forget a selfie stick to get amazing pics of your Valley Isle getaway! At least one of the stops was at a waterfall, lol. Also--the trail is in the National Park. These mighty thundering falls will probably be more than enough waterfall for most. Please do not wear flip-flops. I dont beleive the mailing address for the park is at this location. Looking at this tree in front of you, with new trunks sprouted out along the far-reaching branches, ever further from their source, you can see why Hinduism considers the banyan the symbol of eternal life. Waihe'e Ridge is a good alternative. Then, bathe in the two lower pools and find a nice spot to share a picnic with your loved ones! You get to try lots of great Hawaiian food and see traditional Hawaiian dancers. Find parking at the Kipahulu Visitors Center at Haleakala National Park for $25 per car. We endeavor to offer the best, personalized service and quality vehicles, for the lowest rates we can. Or stay a night in Hana and wrap back around through Haleakala National Park, hiking the Pipiwai Trail. If you drive straight to the trail your be missing so much. We hiked the Ppwai Trail and then the trail to the Seven Sacred Pools at Oheo. This is the only tour available that offers a hiking opportunity in the Kipahulu Section of Haleakala National Park. Before or after the hike (if theres time) do the half-mile loop to Oheo Gulch from the visitors center to view the Seven Sacred Pools. Pipiwai Trail hike information. Distance from Kihei to Pipiwai Trail? - Maui Forum - Tripadvisor Hi Mark, We were on this greatest of all islands for our honeymoon in 03. Aloha Jen it really is wonderful year-round. There are myriad trails offering sweeping ocean and mountain views, as well as lush jungle routes through rainforests. Its beautiful. How much time will it take me to hike up to the 400 foot or last waterfall on the trail. Makahiku Falls Information, Photos & More | Maui Hawaii Check the Haleakala National Park web page if you need to mail them something . The Hanna airport is the closest, but getting a commercial flight there is probably going to be difficult. The trail can be slippery at certain areas due to the on and off rain, so make sure you bring proper hiking shoes, or shoes that have some decent traction. Try to get there by 10 am or earlier for heat comfort. There are a few points where you can catch your breath, drink some water, eat some snacks, etc. If you're visiting Maui soon, be sure to download your copy of one of our updated 2023 Maui Visitor Guides. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Once youre past the incline, it is relatively smooth-sailing from there. Twin Falls is another waterfall along the Road to Hana drive in the jungle of East Maui. ARIZONA A Magical Hike to Maui's Famous Bamboo Forest: Ppwai Trail Throughout the hike youll spot several warning signs; take them seriously. Hi Chis I dont know anything about repelling however I do know that many of our cliffs are quite prone to fracturing and breaking apart, so my advice would be not to try this without a guide who is very familiar with Maui. We left around 7:30, got gas at Costco, and arrived at the Haleakala National Park in Hana around 10:30 (we stopped to take some photos along the way since this was the first time we did this road). Can you give me an idea of what kind of physical activities give you difficulty? (Again, 5 minutes per destination except the last hike). There are no benches. DATEBOOK/COVID-19 SCHEDULE CHANGES - PressReader PIPIWAI TRAIL - 1047 Photos & 201 Reviews - Yelp This 400 foot waterfall is one of the tallest in Maui. Spots are limited so you need to book well in advance. Hi would i want to plan a separate trip to hike this or can i do it on the same day as my road to Hana drive? Aloha Donna the trail does not close, though I would not suggest doing it in the dark! Pick about three or four stops you want to see, and then anything else you have time for is a bonus! The Ppwai Trail is located in the Kpahulu District of Haleakala National Park in Maui. This narrow stretch of road on the northwest side of Maui is for the experienced driver, but a great alternative to Road to Hana. We BARELY survived the hike back out of Sliding Sands Trail back then, but discovered our love of hiking together. Super recommended to download the Shaka Guide app for insightful history and helpful tips for sightseeing spots. The park service has been known to close down the Pipiwai Trail during particularly wet periods since the hike is in a high-risk flood area. Thanks! We recommend wearing shoes with good grip that you dont mind getting wet as there is a stream section you will have to cross to get a closer view of the waterfall. Unless you rented a truck or jeep this route is very hard to navigate and a little scary at times. Our popular Summary Guidesheets are now included. Find out what we carry in our day packs and what we wear on the trails. Make bee-line for State Park. Winding along a string of dramatic pools and waterfalls, you'll encounter a giant Banyan tree, dense bamboo forests, and a grove of mountain apple . You may use these HTML tags and attributes: document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Original info & content 2009 to 2023 Maui Guidebook.com, LLC, Maui, Hawaii. This includes packing out what you bring to the hiking trail, be considerate of other hikers, and leaving archaeological artifacts as you found them. It is here that you have a view of the elegant Waimoku Falls. We sincerely want our customers to have a great experience on our island! The Waimoku Falls hike passes the 185-footMakahiku Fallswhich is also beautiful. The NPS has even built a boardwalk to span the muddy sections and have been adding more stone steps in the steeper grade areas in the past couple years oooh the luxury! Realtor conflicted selling family's precious land This is an absolutely beautiful falls and well worth the hike to access. It takes 2 1/2 - 5 hours to hike, depending on how much nature loving you do. HAWAII EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS Riper (to the point where the skin begins to crack and become damaged) is better. Get here no later than 3 pm, so you have enough time to finish the hike before the gates close. We are visiting from Washington in April. We did it in about 2 hours at a leisurely pace, but avid photographers and those who are less active will need more time. Most Internet sources say it takes 2 1/2 5 hours to hike. Is this hike super hard? This is the absolutely stunning precipice of Makahiku waterfall, a sheer lava-rock cliff face that drops almost 200 into the valley below. Since this is part of the Haleakala National Park . The powerful waterfall flows from 400 feet up, spraying cool mist from yards away. Download your copy of our The daily ticket is only good for 72 hours--meaning you would end up paying again if you didn't do the two areas back to back. Thank yoU! The Kpahulu District is one of the main stops on the Road to Hana. And in this part of Maui, it rains quite frequently. Its also the hottest, since it is the sunniest part of the trail. Maybe avoid the side trails. Both my husband and I are quite fit and are interested in doing one hike while we are here. About one mile into the hike, the landscape is about to make a dramatic change. We really enjoyed the Waihee ridge trail that is sort of northwest of (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Our luau is less than one quarter the size of the average luau in Hawaii. Past Hana. THEODORE ROOSEVELT ND Here are the driving distances and times from other locations in Maui, via Highway 360 (these times do not take in account any additional time for stops along the way): WHAT WE DID: We drove Highway 360 directly to the Kpahulu District, arriving at 9:30 am. The only thing missing from this hike is solitude; because of the easy National Park access, and the half-million visitors per-year to the much more famous pools below, you definitely wont have this one all to yourself. I am wondering if you know of any public access areas that would be available for use if we brought our own equipment. I would like to take my 87 year old mother for a little walk on this trail. This is still an unpaved dirt trail with exposed roots that can get dusty, rocky, or muddy for a majority of the way, so be sure to bring sturdy hiking shoes or boots. It is approximately a half-mile from the trailhead. If the parking lots are full, you will not be permitted to enter the park. There was nothing different that day than any other day, a rock fell, as they do from time to time, and struck a child. not sure if that will always be the case. I would recommend most people take the clockwise (north) route to Hana and just dont stop at too many stops along the way of you plan to visit this trail. Ive really enjoyed reading about these wonderful hikes in Maui. Latitude: 20.66387241 Overall, it took about 2 hours in total for us from start to finish, did the short .5 mile loop to check out the 7 sacred pools, and we got back to Kihei around 4:00. No--you need to do the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Thank you! SOUTH DAKOTA Stop at the visitors center to get more information about the trail conditions for the day, check out some maps, and learn more about the area. There will be signs pointing you in the correct direction of the trail, which begins just across the street from the parking lot. LANAI No stops were planned , but had to stop twice - one of the kids was very nauseous. Follow the trail for about 300 feet. The most common suggestions are Twin Falls, Haleakala Crater, or Iao Valley but, not many folks hear about the great hiking trails in Poli Poli Spring State Recreation Area. The trail is just mauka the Hana Hwy at Haleakala National Park Kipahulu (Seven Sacred Pools.) I am not a hiker but I think I should be able to handle this trail. There are restrooms at the Visitor Center but none along the trail. This website's use is your expressly conditioned acceptance of the terms, conditions, and disclaimers found within our Disclaimer of Warranty and Limitation of Liability page without any modifications. If youre a tree climber (or you have some in-tow like I usually do) youll be spending more than a couple minutes here. Is it worth it to travel to? There is no other parking near the Pipiwai Trail, so you need to enter the national park in order to hike the Pipiwai Trail. Easier (downhill) but just as rewarding with a new angle from which to view the scenery. So, you can also choose to make the Pipiwai Trail a part of your Road to Hana day trip. We overnighted here so wed be able to relax and enjoy the trip. Begin the hike by accessing the trailhead across the road from the parking lot, and after about half a mile youll be in sight of Makahiku Falls. NORTH DAKOTA We went in late Sept. This will get you a 3 day Haleakala pass, and you can use it to visit both the Kipahulu side and the summit side of the national park. Is this hike super hard? Overall, it is not too difficult for most ages and fitness levels, you . This 200 foot (61 m) waterfall has carved out the valley below. https://www.nps.gov/hale/planyourvisit/kipahulu.htm, http://mauiguidebook.com/adventures/itinerary-shelbys-kipahulu-day/. Kahekili Highway. Or perhaps you'd rather lace up the hiking boots and hit the trail. That's being a little generous to allow for road work and traffic delays. aloha! You will definitely want to bring water and some bug spray. Located above theOheo Gulch(Seven Sacred Pools),Pipiwai Trail is 4 miles roundtrip andgains650ft. ofelevation. 201 reviews of Pipiwai Trail "This is a trail that you can find in the lower section of the Haleakala National Park. Is this safe for toddlers and infants of 7 months? There are two parking lots: an upper lot and a lower lot. The Complete Guide to Hiking the Pipiwai Trail - TripSavvy Please post your Road to Hana itineraries - Maui Message Board The park's most popular trail, Pipiwai, is actually at sea level, meandering 4 miles (roundtrip) along Maui's southeast coast. It is definitely a value at the price of a few extra steps. How long do you think it will take to get there from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? IDAHO Over time, these majestic trees gained their own special place in Hawaiian myths and legends. There are a TON of stops along the Hana Highway you can make along the way to Pipiwai Trail. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. It takes about 1h00-1h30 on the way up. I am going next year with a large group of all ages. Side Trip: Infinity Pool Aloha Mamalu check out this post: http://mauiguidebook.com/adventures/itinerary-shelbys-kipahulu-day/, Aloha, would the trail through the bamboo forest be suitable for a 5 and 3 year old. The Pipiwai Trail is truly one of a kind as it takes you through a bamboo forest that ends spectacularly at the 400-foot Waimoku Falls. Do NOT cross if the water is high or moving too swiftly. I agree--if you leave any later than 5 or 5:30, it will easily take you 4 hours. Gilligans' Island Luau is an intimate luau experience and is the only luau in Kihei on Maui. Check out Epic Experience Maui if you would like to consider some private tours! They said they used their arms to . When you rent from Kihei Rent A Car, youll receive great personalized service and a quality car at a reasonable price. So you have to drive the RTH to reach it. Thanks, Aloha Joanne it depends how used to hiking or fit the children are. WHAT TO WEAR HIKING, 2023 Flashpacking America | US outdoor travel blog, national park campground in the Kipahulu district, no interest in driving the back road to Hana, How to spend one day in the West Maui Mountains, swim shirts with UV protection like these, Why a personal swim buoy is an essential for snorkeling and swimming in the ocean. This 1.8-mile route offers one of the best hikes in East Maui. Alex, This road is also referred to as the Back Road to Hana or the Backside of Haleakala. Find parking at the Kipahulu Visitors Center at Haleakala National Park for $25 per car. You could (A) do it tour bus style in your own car, meaning you do the road to Hana, stopping for like 5-10 minutes per location and moving on, then do the big hike at the end to Waimoku Falls and stop to see 7 pools on the way back. The opposite road to Hana ( going counter clockwise) is not for the feint of heart. Also located in the Kpahulu District is a walking trail that leads to the Seven Sacred Pools at Oheo. Stop at Travaasa in Hana for restroom and gift store. Driving Directions: From Haleakala Highway turn left on to Makawao Ave (State Hwy 400). Thanks so much for sharing this info! Maui. I have googled it but have heard to not trust the google maps drive times when it comes to RTH! (Yeah, you can call it a mountain apple tree!) As the trail continues winding, if you pay careful attention the bamboo will begin to thin and trees will start coming back. If you want to break up the drive with some quick stops, roadside waterfalls on the Road to Hana can be perfect! Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve. I recommend parking on the upper loop of the parking lot as it's closer to the Pipiwai Trailhead. I did the road to Hana two consecutive days, one day break, and one extra day (3 in all the same week). Basically, all you need to do to get to the trailhead is to get yourself on the Hana Highway and keep driving until you see the sign for Haleakala National Park! Alternatively, you may use. At the trail junction, go left to start the Ppwai Trail. Can I drive to the Oheo Gulch and back in one day? Ive been reading that its now closed, though, but I see this page was last updated just a few weeks ago, so Im hoping its current. Leave No Trace. For more things to do in Haleakala National Park, with recommendations on how to plan your time, read our, Read all of our articles about the United States in our. 32 Best Things to Do in Maui: From the Mountains to The Sea