Great Places to Go Camping After Your Maui Volcano Tour

Maui volcano tours like those we provide at Maui Sunriders offer an excellent chance to see the summit of Haleakala and the beauty of Upcountry Maui. However, if you want even more adventure after your bike tour, then why not stay in this beautiful countryside? There are several great camping spots in the Haleakala National Park area. Some of these camping areas can be driven to and others require a bit of a hike. Several cabins are available for reservation and there are areas where you can camp in a tent. So if you’re wanting to discover more of the Haleakala Crater after your Maui volcano tour, here’s some information about the campsites to help plan your stay.

There are two car accessible campgrounds in Haleakala National Park. Hosmer Grove is in the summit area just below the 7,000-foot level in the cloud belt. There is a self-guided nature trail that begins and ends at the campground if you want to venture further into this beautiful landscape. As the National Park Service (NPS) notes, the weather can be cold and rainy here, even dropping to near freezing at night and reach around 50-65 degrees during the day. Hosmer Grove only has picnic tables, barbecue grills, pit toilets, and drinking water. Kīpahulu campground is closer to Hana about 1/8 mile south of the Kīpahulu Visitor Center and just a short walk from ʻOheʻo Gulch on the east side of the island. This campground overlooks ocean cliffs. Although the campground has picnic tables, grills, and pit toilets, there is no water available here. The NPS has drinking water available at the Kīpahulu Visitor Center.

Although you may have seen the unforgettable sunrise on Haleakala on your Maui volcano tour, camping out in the summit district of Haleakala National Park will give you the opportunity to also see the amazing night sky at the top of this volcano. The summit of Haleakala is known as one of the best places in the world for stargazing.

In addition to biking, many who take the Maui volcano tour also love to hike. So, for those who enjoy backpacking and really want to explore the various volcanic landscapes of Haleakala up close, there are cabins and campsites that require a hike through the Wilderness Area of Haleakala. Three cabins are available in the Haleakala Wilderness – Hōlua, Kapalaoa, and Palikū. The closest of the three, Hōlua Cabin, is accessed by a 3.7 mile hike on the Halemauʻu Trail. These quaint historic cabins have limited amenities like a propane stove, dishes, 12 padded bunks, pit toilets, and water that requires filtering before use, but no electricity. As UnrealHawaii.com mentioned though, these cabins do go fast, so you will need to make a reservation, possibly a few months in advance. At Hōlua and Palikū, there are also campsites available. As the NPS noted, the Wilderness Area has unpredictable weather, at times steep hiking trails, and loose cinder or rock terrain, so caution and experience is needed when hiking or staying in these areas. Please see the NPS website for more information about the cabins and campsites and any permit requirements.

The Hawaii State Parks association also offers two camping and cabin areas on Maui. On the slopes of Haleakala, Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area is home to a single cabin available for rent as well as tent camping sites. Polipoli Spring is about 10 miles upland from Kula on Waipoli Road. (A four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended for getting here.) This camping area is in the “fog belt” of the Kula Forest Reserve at an elevation of 6,200 feet with views of Central and West Maui, Kaho’olawe, Moloka’i and Lana’i in clear weather. There are restrooms and trash cans at the campsite, but no drinking water or campground showers. Along the “volcanic coastline” of Hana, the Wai‘anapanapa State Park offers camping and cabin lodging with outdoor showers, drinking water, trash receptacles, and restrooms. Visit the Hawaii State Parks website for more information about these camping areas.

So what do you think? Are you up for a little more adventure, off the beaten path? If you love the outdoors and want to experience even more of Haleakala’s wilderness after your Maui volcano tour, these great camping and lodging areas can give you, as Hawaii State Parks noted, “solitude and respite from urban life.”

(First photo “Stars Above Haleakala” Photo by thedaintyheart via Flickr)

(Cabin photos via NPS)

Add a Bike Tour to Your Maui Vacation Plans

Are you taking a vacation to Maui soon? When planning your vacation to the islands, you’re no doubt trying to plan which Maui activities to do. Many wonder if they should take a tour or try to go sightseeing all on their own. Well, there are many advantages to taking a tour, especially a bike tour with Maui Sunriders, as opposed going to Haleakala on your own. Let us explain why.

Experience the excitement of a bike tour in Maui.

There are many kinds of tours you can take on vacation. Why opt for a bike tour of the Valley Isle? Well, if you want a little adventure with a sightseeing expedition, then a bike tour in Maui is the way to go. Our Maui bike tours down the Haleakala volcano offer a relaxing and at the same time an exciting way to see Upcountry Maui. Instead of just riding in a car or bus, experience the crisp wind in your hair as you ride a bike down the volcano all the way to sea level. And with a bike tour, you don’t just see Upcountry, but you really get a chance to be a part of the scenery. You can stop and pick a flower or have a picnic on a Haleakala hillside with the mountains in the background. There’s no better way to really see all of Upcountry Maui and at the same time experience it firsthand than to take a bike tour through this beautiful land.

Biking is also just a fun, healthy, and relaxing activity. Thus, bike tours in Maui offer an active and more memorable way of seeing this incredible island.

Guided through the area.

Many drive up to the summit of Haleakala on their own and set off to explore Haleakala Crater or other parts of Haleakala National Park and Upcountry, and they will see a gorgeous and unique landscape. But how much more could you see and understand about what you’re viewing by having a guide tell you more about the area? On our bike tours of Maui’s Haleakala volcano, we give guests a narrated tour of the area as we drive up to the summit. On this narrated tour, our experienced guides give interesting information about the National Park and Haleakala Crater, various points of interest along the way, facts about Hawaiian culture, and where there are great restaurants, shops, and art galleries along the route. This narrated van tour gives you all the information you need to have a fun and memorable bike ride down Haleakala.

Our self-paced bike tours in Maui give you the best of both worlds. 

Sometimes you want a little bit of everything. Wouldn’t it be great if you could have a guide show you the area giving you interesting and helpful tips and yet also get to explore Haleakala on your own? Well, we thought so too. That’s why we developed a self-paced bike tour of Haleakala. On our self-paced tours, guests are driven up to the summit of Haleakala on the same route they will later bike down. As we drive up to the summit, guests are given a narrated tour of the area with interesting facts about Haleakala, culture, points of interest, and various shops to stop at along the way. Then, after exploring a little of the summit area and crater, guests are taken to start their self-paced bike ride down Haleakala. With our self-paced tour, you get to explore Upcountry on your own timetable, stopping wherever you would like along the route. Having already heard about the area and points of interest on the tour ride up, you now can see the sights at your own pace. On guided bike tours down Haleakala, guests have to keep up with the biker taking the lead in the group and stop where they want to stop. But with a self-paced tour, you’re in control and can take a relaxing bike ride down the volcano and stop at whichever town or store you would like – all the way to back down to sea level.

So, should you take a tour or go sightseeing on your own? With our self-paced bike tours in Maui, you can do a little bit of both and see all that Upcountry has to offer!

Maui Downhill Bike Ride - See Upcountry Maui & Paniolo Country

There is a side of Maui that relatively few ever see. This part of the Valley Isle is very different than what many usually think of when they picture Maui, the golden sandy beaches of the island. However, it’s equally as beautiful. This area is known as Upcountry Maui, the inland part of Maui located on the slopes of Haleakala.

On your Maui bike ride down the Haleakala volcano, you can discover this beautiful countryside, noted as the “hidden gem” of Maui, all at your own pace. In this Upcountry, you’ll explore a diverse landscape of rolling green hillsides, crisp mountain air, lavender farms, spectacular views, quaint small towns, and even paniolo, or Hawaiian cowboys.

Yes, cowboys. Roaming this gorgeous landscape are the cowboys and ranchers of what is known as Paniolo Country. As you make your decent on your Maui bike ride from the summit of Haleakala, you may see some paniolo riding horseback and herding cattle across the pastureland. The tradition of the paniolo dates back to around 1800 when cowboys from Mexico came to Hawaii to help local ranchers learn how to herd cattle, even before their mainland counterparts conquered the Midwest.

The small town of Makawao is famous for its paniolo and keeps the traditions of the Hawaiian cowboys alive with a rustic charm unlike any other. Although a little town, Makawao has a big heart. A historic ranch town, Makawao is very proud of its paniolo heritage with its signature western-style storefronts, country and western dancing, and rodeo competitions. As you make your way on your Maui bike ride downhill, you’ll pass the renowned Oskie Rice Arena where the largest rodeo in Hawaii is held every year. The paniolo culture here is just a way of life for many locals, and it’s neat to experience all the culture contained in this small town.

In this charming little town set in gorgeous Paniolo Country, you’ll also find a thriving arts community full of art galleries, shops, and lovely boutiques. There are also numerous restaurants, bakeries, and coffee shops. So plan to stop in on your Maui bike ride and browse through all the great stores and restaurants of Makawao.

Paniolo Country and really all of Upcountry Maui simply can’t be missed. It’s a completely new side of Maui for many visitors, but one full of personality and unforgettable scenery. On our self-paced Maui bike rides through Upcountry from the summit of Haleakala, you’ll get to really experience this beautiful area for yourself, taking time to stop as you wish along the way and catch a glimpse of what some call “the real Maui,” but we just call it home.

Makawao photo by 293.xx.xxx.xx (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons

Best Clothes for a Haleakala Sunrise Bike Tour

When visitors book their Haleakala sunrise tour, many ask what they should wear on the summit of Haleakala at sunrise. And it is good that people ask because the answer may be different than some might expect.

When packing for a trip to Maui, who would ever think to pack a sweater or even a coat? But that is exactly what you might need on the summit of Haleakala at sunrise. At 10,000 feet above sea level, the temperature can get pretty cold and windy. At sunrise, temperatures generally are in the 40-degree range. On the peak of this Maui volcano, the weather can be unpredictable too so we provide wind/rain gear with your Haleakala sunrise bike tours including jackets, gloves, and pants.

So as to what you should wear on the Haleakala sunrise bike tour, we generally recommend that visitors wear the warmest clothes they have with them, especially during the winter months. But it will be pretty cold even in summer. Some also bring hats, scarves, and even blankets, but make sure you bring a hat that won’t easily be blown off.

We also recommend that Haleakala sunrise bike riders wear several layers of clothing that can be taken off as they make their way down the mountain into warmer temperatures. When you get all the way down to Paia, you’ll probably only need a T-shirt and shorts. Long pants are provided with the rain/wind gear included in the biking equipment if you need them. Of course, closed-toe shoes are recommended for all of the Haleakala bike rides. We have also heard that visitors who wear contact lenses may want to bring sunglasses or eye gear of some kind to protect their eyes and contacts from getting too dry in the cold, dry early morning air.
But then you may be thinking, ‘where will I put all these clothes as I ride down the volcano?’ Well, for that very reason, we provide backpacks for our Haleakala bike riders to carry their clothes. If you bring a blanket to the summit, you can leave it in our tour van when you start the bike ride. Then you can pick it up at our shop when you get back.

There is no food for sale in Haleakala National Park, but on the ride down the mountain there will be many opportunities to stop for breakfast or lunch at restaurants along the bike route. For your early morning sunrise, you may want to bring some water and light snacks. It’s recommended that those at high altitudes such as at the summit, drink plenty of fluids, basically doubling their intake of water, refueling their electrolytes and eating plenty of carbohydrates to avoid altitude sickness.

If you take our Summit Tour at 9 a.m. instead of the Sunrise Tour, you may only need to bring a sweatshirt for the time you’re at the summit of Haleakala as it will most likely be a little warmer after sunrise. Normally shorts are okay for both the Summit and Express Tours because most of the bike ride will be during warmer temperatures in daylight hours.

The sunrise above the clouds at Haleakala’s 10,000 ft. summit has been said to be one of the most memorable things you can experience, and we would have to agree. But just remember that at sunrise, the summit will be cold. It will be beautiful and worth the chilly temperatures, but bring warm clothes, particularly layers of clothes for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

First image courtesy of M – Pics at FreeDigitalPhotos.net