Looking For A Great Group Activity in Maui Try Haleakala Downhill

Maui is a world-class destination for a vacation with family or friends. In fact, there are a number of great Maui activities that are ideal for a group including Haleakala downhill. Biking down the Haleakala volcano is an incredible group activity! Check out why . . .

Self-guided Haleakala downhill bike tours. Our Haleakala bike rides are self-paced so this means your group can stop and go along the bike route as they please. Guided Haleakala downhill tours often have to stop where the guide wants to stop, so you may not be able to eat at the Kula Lodge & Restaurant on the way or stop in Makawao Town, but only at their planned tour sights. This can restrict your group, especially when you have different interests than your tour guide.

On Maui Sunriders’ Haleakala downhill bike tours, your group can stop wherever they would like. Check out the different boutiques, art galleries and restaurants at small towns on the route. vGet some fresh fruit at a stand along the way. When it’s at your own pace, you can bike like your group would in your own hometown with the freedom to see what you want to see.

Or if you don’t want to do the entire activity as a group, you can start out together and meet up at the end in Paia for dinner. This way you have the atmosphere of a group, but everyone also has the freedom to do their own thing if they want. Everyone benefits with self-paced bike tours!

Haleakala downhill isn’t a pro sport. Not everyone in your group may be able to surf, and that can be a bit frustrating for those that want to be in a Maui group activity but aren’t very athletic.

The Haleakala downhill bike tour, however, is a Maui activity that just about anyone can do. All you have to know is how to ride a bike with hand brakes and you’re set! Even children who are at least 9 or 10 years old and are experienced in riding a bike alone can take the Haleakala downhill bike tour.

Children who are at least 6 years old can ride on a trailer bike behind an adult. And we have had a 90-year-old bike rider join us! Haleakala downhill is a relaxing and at the same time exhilarating sport for the entire family. The only restrictions are that pregnant women and those over 300 pounds not ride.

The self-paced feature of our Haleakala downhill bike rides also allows flexibility in regard to everyone’s athletic abilities. Being self-paced, you can stay in your own comfort zone of biking without the pressure of trying to keep up with a bike tour guide and a group of people who not be of the same ability.

There’s something for everyone along the way. Ziplining, snorkeling, or spearfishing may not appeal to everyone in your group. But along the Haleakala downhill bike tour, there will be something for everyone in your group to see. Along the route they can stop to shop in a charming small town boutique or see the paniolo cowboys of Makawao or create their own ‘food tour’ throughout the various towns along the way. Upcountry Maui offers such diversity. Each member of your group will find his own favorite spot along the route.

Discover the beauty of Upcountry Maui and explore Haleakala as a group on your downhill bike tour!

The Health Advantages of Biking in Maui

Biking in Maui, especially biking downhill from the Haleakala volcano, is a great activity for visitors and locals alike. Watching the sunrise above the clouds at the summit of Haleakala is one of the most incredible experiences you can have on your Maui vacation. After seeing this memorable sunrise, guests can bike down Haleakala through Maui’s extraordinary Upcountry.

But besides being an unforgettable Maui adventure, this bike tour offers guests and locals the numerous health benefits that come with regular biking. Here are just a few:

Biking in Maui is an easy way to exercise. 

We know that to be healthy and physically fit you have to be active, but some shy away from certain sports because they require a higher level of skill or physical stamina. Biking, however, can be a fairly easy sport. Most know how to ride a bike. And because our Maui bike tour takes cyclists through Haleakala downhill, it doesn’t require a lot of skill or stamina to ride. Even children as young as 10 who are experienced in riding a bike with hand brakes can take our Maui bike tour.

And because our bike tours are self-paced, you have the option of biking in your own comfort zone. You won’t have to try to keep up with a group like many of the guided Maui biking tours of Haleakala.

Biking is a low-impact sport that builds strength and muscle. 

Whereas other forms of exercise can put extra strain on your joints, biking is a low-impact sport that causes less injuries and can be done by people of all ages. We’ve had a 90-year-old bike rider join us, so our bike tours are not just for the young, but also those young at heart. Biking has been shown to improve joint mobility, flexibility, and increase muscle strength, coordination, and stamina.

Biking in Maui can help to reduce stress. 

Health experts agree that regular bike riding can help to reduce a person’s stress levels and can help to reduce anxiety and depression. Add to that the benefit of exercising on the beautiful island of Maui, and you can really see your stress diminishing. Biking through Maui’s gorgeous Upcountry, in the refreshing mountain air, and being able to stop along the way and really be a part of the scenery and the natural environment can really help to uplift your spirits.

Cycling has been shown to improve cardiovascular fitness. 

Biking can help to improve your heart health and lower your risks of certain kinds of disease. “Regular cycling stimulates and improves your heart, lungs and circulation, reducing your risk of cardiovascular diseases,” the Better Health Channel (BHC) of Australia noted. “Cycling strengthens your heart muscles, lowers resting pulse and reduces blood fat levels.”

Biking in Maui is a great total body workout.

The BHC also noted that you all of your major muscle groups when you bike. The BHC also reported that cycling lifts your heart rate to a beneficial level and is a good way to control or reduce your weight. Women’s Health magazine noted that in addition to working out your quads, glutes, and calves, working the handlebar can also sculpt your upper body for all-over muscle toning.

Plus, biking simply is a fun exercise, and doing something fun generally encourages us to do it more often. Feeling the gentle breeze against your face as you ride down the mountain on Haleakala is definitely a fun and exciting experience. So if you’re not a regular cyclist now, biking in Maui with us down Haleakala may jumpstart the love of biking we’ve found in Upcountry Maui.

Of course, these tips are just for informational purposes. Always check with your doctor before starting an exercise routine and make sure you’re healthy enough and comfortable with biking before biking down Haleakala. Check our FAQ page for more information on biking restrictions and things to consider.

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