Various implementations of stone steps, all appearing to date from different periods in ancient pre-history, augment the scene to where running across some Sleestacks hunting dinosaur eggs wouldnt look out of place in the least. Or you could make it a 2 day trip if you plan to sleep in some hotel in the road to Hana (Im not that rich, tyvm. What time does the park open to start hiking the Pipiwai Trail? Getting to Pipiwai Trail parking - Flashpacking America I did because its gorgeous and I took my sweet time to bask and absorb it all in. Pipiwai Trail hike information. Observe the streams from the Ppwai trail and see if you can spot the freshwater shrimp and rock-climbing goby. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. 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. Your use of this website constitutes your acceptance of all the terms, conditions, and disclaimers posted herein. The dramatic diversity then suddenly morphs into the zen-oneness of an immense bamboo forest. The trail follows the Pipiwai Stream and is a fantastic hike on Maui. Most Internet sources say it takes 2 1/2 . youll probably be satisfied with these falls as your end-point. Your email address will not be published. PIPIWAI TRAIL - 1047 Photos & 201 Reviews - Yelp Your email address will not be published. It has absolutely been my favorite part of the vacation so far. It can get hot on the hike, especially on a sunny day. We packed in our 3-year-old, had a backpack for when he got tired, but he walked a good part of it. Hiking is an awesome way to enjoy the beauty of Maui for free or very little. Or perhaps you'd rather lace up the hiking boots and hit the trail. We are visiting from Washington in April. For example, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. 2023 Hawaii Travel Guide. Soaring over The Valley Isle with a birds-eye view? Once you cross the bridge, youll enter the Bamboo Forest, which starts with a stone pathway and quickly becomes a nice boardwalk. The trail will cross over the Hana Highway. Even if the pools are closed below, this hike is exceptional. Your humor and descriptive writing are perfect! 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. They really need to do something about the road to the Black sand beach, seriously. yes it is safe as long as you have a good hold on them along the trail. It's a very long way back if you do get injured;so just use caution when approaching the falls. How would you like to experience this beautiful area of Maui? Is this hike safe enough to carry a toddler in? At the entrance booth you will pay the park entrance fee. This iconic hike is one of Mauis idyllic treasures. Distance from Kihei to Pipiwai Trail? - Maui Forum - Tripadvisor Once released from the bamboo, youre dropped at the very base of a towering sheer-cliff waterfall worthy of a slow-motion Imax fly-by. The proper name of this attraction is 'Ohe'o (Oh-Hey-Oh). You'll need about 2-3 hours to hike Pipiwai at a relaxing pace and get back again (or continue around the Pi'ilani Highway, which re-opened October 4, 2008). Wear comfy sneakers and clothes. Kihei to Pipiwai trail - Maui Forum - Tripadvisor So, you can also choose to make the Pipiwai Trail a part of your Road to Hana day trip. Right near the main parking lot and Kipahulu Visitor Center, youll find the start of the trail. You still end up in Kahului and then have to drive to Kihei. 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. * Hawaii-Guide.com is not a booking agent, accommodation provider, establishment, or tour operator. What you might not know that there is a smaller section of Haleakala National Park on the southern coast of Maui. Super recommended to download the Shaka Guide app for insightful history and helpful tips for sightseeing spots. Getting to the Trail Getting to the Trail The Pipiwai Trail is in the Kipahulu district of Haleakal National Park. I was wondering how to get from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The false looked like Niagara. I want to hike the trail but my wife is not capable of this type of hike. Enjoy the Hana drive. Thank you! Not only do I get to live in such a beautiful place, I get to pursue my passion of helping people buy and sell real estate. It gains 650 feet in elevation in just under 4 miles of trail. Near trailhead is the Oheo Gulch Visitor Center, Oheo Gulch (part of Haleakala National Park), Maui's Top Hotels, Resorts, B&Bs, & Vacation Rentals, Maui's Best Tours, Excursions, & Adventures, Maui Kayak Adventures - Tours & Activities. If you have any questions about how to hike the Ppwai Trail, or if you want to share your experience, let us know in the comment section below. Try to get there by 10 am or earlier for heat comfort. 32 Best Things to Do in Maui: From the Mountains to The Sea Alex, It's at the Kipahulu end of the Road to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? We have done this in Feb 2015 and 2016. Then 45 mins way back. While the regular road to Hana is crowded, it is scenic and full of interesting things to see. We also receive a small commission from travel partners for some of the links found on this website. Plunging almost 200 over a verdant cliff covered with bamboo, prehistoric-looking ferns and Tarzan-worthy jungle vines melting into the postcard-perfect Hawaiian rainforest valley below the scene is breathtaking. Pick about three or four stops you want to see, and then anything else you have time for is a bonus! Makahiku Falls is at 185 foot falls, which is one of the most beautiful on Maui. There is no other parking near the Pipiwai Trail, so you need to enter the national park in order to hike the Pipiwai Trail. (It is actually past Hana town though technicalities!). We endeavor to offer the best, personalized service and quality vehicles, for the lowest rates we can. Once the bamboo begins to thin out, youll pass some mountain apple trees and a small stream before emerging from the trees into a crescent-shaped rock wall in full view of Waimoku Falls. 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. That's being a little generous to allow for road work and traffic delays. If it has recently rained, the trail will be muddy. Reservations for sunrise 3 to 7 a.m. daily accepted. Or stay a night in Hana and wrap back around through Haleakala National Park, hiking the Pipiwai Trail. Pipiwai Trail: THIS is why I blow through a lot of the stops more towards the beginning of the Road to Hanaso I have time to hike the Pipiwai Trail. The National Park Service offers a guided hike along the Pipiwai Trail on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. on a reservation basis. Both my husband and I are quite fit and are interested in doing one hike while we are here. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The trail is just mauka the Hana Hwy at Haleakala National Park Kipahulu (Seven Sacred Pools.) I don't rec you take the "backside" from Kaupo to Ulupalakua, BTW. Aloha Mark, No--you need to do the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? WYOMING This is the absolutely stunning precipice of Makahiku waterfall, a sheer lava-rock cliff face that drops almost 200 into the valley below. Your online price: 375 USD. (Yeah, you can call it a mountain apple tree!) Pipiwai Trail is part of Haleakala National Park and is located above Oheo Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools). Hi Jackson mom--I grew up in Clinton, but haven't been back in a while! I am wondering if you know of any public access areas that would be available for use if we brought our own equipment. GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS TN NC Its a beautiful walk and best part of this hike, in my opinion. And dont miss the Kilauea Iki Trail, one of the best hikes in the park. Guide of Hawaii, LLC is a privately-owned (non-government) business. Stop at Honolulu Coffee in Paia go restroom and breakfast . We saw people getting by with flip flops and running shoes, but their feet and legs were covered with mud by the time they finished the hike. The road is not nearly as bad as other sources make it out to be. Get here as early as possible, ideally by 10 am, to avoid waiting for a parking space. Lahaina is a town located on the western coast of the island and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Maui. Your shoes WILL get dirty!! How long do you think it will take to get there from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? and you should give yourself at least a couple hours if you plan to enjoy yourself, add another hour if you stop a lot and/or arent a regular walker/hiker. Is it worth it to travel to? Is this hike super hard? I am an active 20 year old male who has an extra day in Maui and read so many wonderful things about this trial. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-88162562', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Hana. Longitude: -156.0437936. The Ppwai Trail is a relatively short hike that is located in Haleakala National Park on the Road to Hana. Latitude: 20.66387241 Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Maui Revealed by Andrew Doughty (2021, Trade Paperback, Revised edition) at the best online prices at eBay! 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. Guide of Hawaii, LLC is a privately-owned (non-government) business. Amazing views from the top on a clear day, and a really eerie mood when the clouds start to roll in like they did after we had been at the top a while. Please do not wear flip-flops. We were on this greatest of all islands for our honeymoon in 03. GULF ISLANDS FL 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. On google maps, there is Ppwai Trailand the Kipahulu Visitor Center. It took us about an hour to get to the falls with stops to read some signs and take pictures. There are no benches. Thanks so much for sharing this info! Thanks for any advice you can give! Taking into account the easy accessibility, the Pipiwai Trail offers, hands-down, the all-around best of East Maui's most dramatic stream and waterfall hikes. Trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. Most Internet sources say it takes 2 1/2 5 hours to hike. Thanks! The waters from Waimoku Falls flow all the way down the mountain into the ocean here. During normal conditions, the water flows over only the far side; the near side of this pool has taller, thick rock lip that will keep anyone with sense enough to stay on the pool-side from a one-way date with gravity. Are there any hot springs in Maui? - 2023 The park opens officially at 9 but they were letting people in early when we arrived. HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK: Get a list of the best things to do in Haleakala National Parkand how to hike the amazing Sliding Sands Trail and Halemauu Loop. Mile Marker: #42 (Hana Hwy aka Hwy 31 *After Hana markers go back down) You will sweat. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Aloha! Easier (downhill) but just as rewarding with a new angle from which to view the scenery. I will be visiting again this December and would be so sad if I couldnt see the bamboo again :), Yes, the Pipiwai Trail is open, I just confirmed that on the NPS website. Back On The Trail From Khei it didnt take more than half an hour or so to get to the trailhead. 14 . Witness a breathtaking bamboo jungle and dramatic cliffs. We went last week and we made it from our condo in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The Complete Guide to Hiking the Pipiwai Trail - TripSavvy Hana airport is the closest, however, if youre not flying in from another island to stay in Hana specifically, youll likely want to drive from where you stay. Keep in mind that your doing so is against the National Park Services prohibition which could potentially carry a court date and quite significant fines. Is this a steep incline, putting more pressure on his knee? Past the Banyan, another side-trail will present itself (hint: the Park Service has placed a TRAIL arrow here pointing away from it (and toward the main trail.) The bamboo will become thicker, and the ambiance and hollow percussive sounds of bamboo striking one another, will begin to transport you to an Asian nether-world. The difficulty will be in making the decision on what part of your Road to Hana drive you want to make this! Learn about the best time to visit Maui . WATCH THE SUNRISE AT HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK. Can you tell me how far the steepest elevation change is and what degree of incline that part of the trail would be? Kahekili Highway. I saw 2 people who were walking gingerly down the trail in bare feet carrying their flip-flops. That would be 2 long car days. 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. We hiked the Ppwai Trail and then the trail to the Seven Sacred Pools at Oheo. Not nearly so hard to get to the hike. 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. If you drive straight to the trail your be missing so much. Alternatively, you can drive Highway 37 along the south coast to get to the Kpahulu District. There are several great waterfalls along the route; thedestination beingWaimoku Falls,which drops400ft. down a sheer lava rock wall shaped like a horseshoe. In 2021, an individual pass costs $30 per vehicle. Im looking for about a 2 hour hike somewhere beautiful thats not super hard. Farther along the trail, around another mile, reach the trail's turnaround point at Waimoku Falls. You say you are in shape so climbing the equivalent of the sears tower in few miles should be doable! You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. So, every seat is a great view of the show. The U.S. national park annual pass is also valid at Haleakala National Park. im planning a visit to maui in october. Alternatively, you may use. Here's a good online guidebook: http://mauiguidebook.com/things-to-do/road-to-hana-region/. At least one of the stops was at a waterfall, lol. PEARL HARBOR HI This trail is part of the Ahihi Kinau Natural Area Reserve. You will hike through a bamboo forest!! "Seven Sacred Pools" is a name coined decades ago by the owner of what is now Travaasa Hana (previously Hotel Hana Maui) for the purpose of marketing this deservingly spectacular (but then unknown) remote location to tourists. If they can walk 3-4 miles then they should be fine doing the whole thing there is a lot of interesting scenery (even for kids!) Once you emerge from the bamboo, you are getting close to the end of the trail. BIG ISLAND YELLOWSTONE WY Really want to do this hike but concerned about my level of fitness for incline hiking. Over time, these majestic trees gained their own special place in Hawaiian myths and legends. It depends how long you take to drive the rad to Hana. Or you can choose to stay several days on the Road to Hana to take your time with the waterfalls and beaches that are along the Road to Hana! There will be signs pointing you in the correct direction of the trail, which begins just across the street from the parking lot. My husband and I are over 65, fairly active, and would like to hike this trail this February. Although the hike has plenty of covered areas, be sure to pack sunscreen and dont forget the bug spray. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. UTAH Location: 6300 Hana Hwy, Haiku, HI 96708. You cross two bridges over the Ppwai Stream, climb some rock steps, and entire the cool, moist air of the bamboo forest. The Pipiwai Trail cuts though an immense and unforgettable bamboo forest, The stream is a string of pools and waterfalls, In a nutshell: Pipiwai Trail is a treasure of the National Park System that passes through diverse scenery and culminates at the base of an absolutely spectacular waterfall. Gilligans' Island Luau is an intimate luau experience and is the only luau in Kihei on Maui. I made one quick stop at Wailua Falls along the way. About one mile into the hike, the landscape is about to make a dramatic change. For more things to do in Haleakala National Park, with recommendations on how to plan your time, read our Guide to Haleakala National Park. The park's most popular trail, Pipiwai, is actually at sea level, meandering 4 miles (roundtrip) along Maui's southeast coast. Haleakala National Park Summit District open daily with limited access to attractions. OAHU 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. Since the Pipiwai Trail is a part of Haleakala National Park, an entry fee is required. If you are also doing Haleakala when you're here, buy the Tri-Park Pass instead of single admission. A lot of people choose to drive straight through to Oheo Gulch, do the hike, and then drive back the way you came, making extra stops along the way. To give the Road to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? You will hike in and out of the trees and walk over lots of tree roots. Your email address will not be published. Its not a very long drive, at least in terms of distance, but because of the hundreds of turns and one-way bridges, it takes several hours to drive this stretch of road. The trailhead for the Ppwai Trail is located to the left of the Visitor Center. This side trail soon takes you to a view of cave, pool & waterfall combination that my words (or photography) have not yet been able to do justice. OAHU: Top experiences on Oahu include a visit to Pearl Harbor and hiking the Diamond Head Summit Trail. As many have said, its more about the journey than the destination, but we think both in this case are pretty awesome! That probably took close to 30 min. And don't forget a selfie stick to get amazing pics of your Valley Isle getaway! Once out of the pool, if youre an off-trail kind of hiker who hasnt had enough off-trail, you can continue your side-trip upstream along the streambed (be ready to do some swimming and climbing) and check out some more worthy pools and waterfalls. 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. Shortly after starting the Ppwai Trail, you will cross Hana Highway. Mossy rough-hewn stone block steps evoke scenes out of "The Land of the Lost". The pool at the base is shallow people wade in and stand under the falls, though the park service now has a highly ignored sign in the middle of the trail when you approach stating not to pass the sign. I dont beleive the mailing address for the park is at this location. MICHIGAN The town has a rich history, dating back to ancient times when it was a center for Hawaiian royalty. Cheers, Julie, Your email address will not be published. By donating to our small business, you accept and acknowledge the donation terms. Get directions, View Pipiwai Trail & Waimoku Falls in a larger map. That said, in order to fully enjoy your hike you need proper equipment to keep you safe and comfortable. Subscribe to receive discounts, updates and other news! The Kpahulu District is one of the main stops on the Road to Hana. What locations on the way to Pipiwai are good for bathrooms that early. :) and its free! There are only a few choice people Id advise to attempt jumping here (and it isnt because theyre skilled jumpers!). It takes me an hour and 15 minutes to get to the top. No matter how you choose to explore, our handpicked tours are sure to impress. This first part of the trail is one of the steepest sections of the hike. and a great banyan tree for climbing right on the trail about 1/3 of the way up. Getting There The Pipiwai Trail is located near the end of the Road to Hana drive on Maui, about 12 miles past Hana town near mile marker 42. Is it worth the 2 hour trip out? On way back. It's 30.00 and is good for a year.