Hiking Trails in Maui
We hiked over 15 miles total when we were in Maui. I loved every hike that we did. Read more about my whole Maui trip here.
See more of my Maui trip on Instagram @daysbymc
In this post, I’ll be sharing the 3 trails we hiked.
Sliding Sand Trail
Location: Haleakala National Park
Level: Moderate. (Easy decline, incline back can be challenging)
Length: 11 miles out and back
Cost: $30 (unless you have a national park pass)
We hiked a total of about 4 miles out and back.
Located by the summit in Haleakala National Park. This hike is 11 miles total out and back. The trail starts at the top and then you descend as you hike into the crater.
On a clear day this hike is absolutely gorgeous. You are literally in the clouds on a mountain. The views are unreal and so worth it!!
The hike back is an incline, and it was a challenge. While the incline is not steep, it’s still quite long (depending on how far down you went) and you’re also 10,000ft above ground so the elevation can make it more difficult.
We went about an hour after sunrise so the temperature was still pretty cool. I recommend wearing layers if you are up in the summit that early.
As you hike and as the day goes on, the temperature will get warmer. By layering, you can take off your jacket or sweater if you need to. This will help your hike too.
On a clear day, the sand on the trail is dry so you won’t be sliding around. I had on my hiking shoes and they were fine. People were just wearing sneakers too and that was fine.
I would say the hike itself is not challenging per se. It’s not too steep in any section. However, the elevation and altitude does make it harder (in my opinion).
I recommend staying hydrated! And take your time.
Note: The $30 pass you pay at the door is good for 3 days to any location of Haleakala National Park. You can come back or enjoy the east side of the park. I recommend doing everything you want at the park within those 3 days if you don’t have the national pass.
Pipiwai Trail
Location: Haleakala National Park
Level: Moderate.
Length: 4 miles out and back
Cost: $30 (unless you have a national park pass)
Located on the east side of Haleakala National Park. (The $30 pass works for this entrance too if it’s within 3 days of purchase. Otherwise, it’s $30 to get in because it is part of the national park).
This hike is typically the last stop for people who are doing the Road to Hana. Most people stop here to hike and then turn back instead of going around the south highway of Haleakala. (Mostly because the there are flash floods and not recommended to go pass this marker).
We arrived here around 11am. At the time of this post, the park closes at 5pm.
This trail has a lot of lush greenery. There isn’t drastic inclines or declines on the trail, just some ups and downs like most woody trails.
You will come upon Falls of Makahiku. It’s beautiful especially with the viney lush view right beside it. We got to see these beautiful white birds soar here and it was the most spectacular view!!
Keep going and you’ll see a Banyan tree. It’s pretty sweet.
You’ll cross a bridge and then enter the bamboo forest. The bamboo forest stretches for quite a while. I recommend taking your time here because it’s absolutely beautiful. Once it’s quiet, you can hear the bamboo clashing against each other making beautiful sounds. This is probably my favorite part of the entire hike.
Once pass the bamboo forest, you’ll eventually come to the infamous Waimoku Falls. It’s 400ft high and is an amazing view. You do have to cross a small river to get closer. However, at the end of the trail, there is a sign that tells hikers they can’t pass and may get a fine.
I didn’t go over, but there were some people who did.
Waihee Ridge Trail
Location: West Maui Mountains
Level: Moderate/Difficult. (Incline & decline)
Length: 5 miles out and back
Cost: Free
Located on the west mountains of Maui. The trail opens at 7am. If you get there early or at a good time, you will find a parking spot at the start of the trail. If that parking lot is full, there is an overflow parking 1 mile down from the head of the trail.
The trail is an incline until the top, then decline coming back down. There are some plateau areas you can rest to see the view.
The incline may be difficult for some people. Because this is a ridge trail, next to the trail are steep greenery going down—the dirty trail is maybe 5ft wide all throughout. There’s really no “flat” area on this hike so keep that in mind.
On a clear day, you get the most gorgeous, lush views of the West mountains.
However, on the day that we went it was cloudy and at one point it was raining. The trail was wet most of the way and some areas, it was slippery (people were literally sliding down the trail).
Even though it was cloudy and I couldn’t see any of the lush greenery, it was still beautiful to see the fog against the greenery alongside the trail.
Those were the 3 hiking trails I did in Maui (on separate days of course). I loved every single one. There was something beautiful about each one and they were all so different which made it exciting.
Here are some hiking tips:
Stay hydrated
Bring snacks
Bring bug spray and sunscreen
Take all your trash with you
Take your time
Hikes are most enjoying when you take your time to enjoy the surroundings. I believe it’s both the journey and the destination.
If you’re heading to Maui, check out one of these hikes!