Enjoy Haleakala National Park On Your Maui Bike Tour

Are you all ready for your Maui volcano bike tour? To help you get mentally well-prepared for this amazing journey and get even more delight out of it, we thought we might give you a little history about Haleakala itself and what you're likely to see on your Haleakala sunrise excursion.

As you may already be aware, Haleakala is Maui’s biggest volcano, and Haleakala National Park is home to the tallest peak in Maui, the summit of Haleakala at 10,023 feet. Many native Hawaiians consider the summit area of Haleakala to be a special place, “the wilderness of the gods.” It’s said that when the Polynesians first arrived in Hawaii more than a thousand years ago they regularly went up to the summit of Haleakala and its majestic beauty. There are many of important cultural places and sites that can be found in the Haleakala National Park.

Established in 1916, Haleakala National Park comprises more than 30,000 acres of public lands – the most famous part of which is the Haleakala Crater. Visitors can hike through this richly-colored volcanic landscape from the summit of Haleakala. There are two main trails into the crater: Halemau’u and Sliding Sands trails. The Haleakala Crater area is home to rare and endemic species of wildlife and plants. You may see Hawaiian geese or “nene” looking for food in their natural habitat amid the crater’s cinder desert.

Another neat aspect of the Haleakala National Park is the diversity of landscapes that it has. From hiking across the Haleakala volcano desert in the Summit Area to traversing tropical coastal environments and waterfalls in the Kipahulu Area, the Haleakala National Park offers a wide array of views and activities.

“You pass through as many ecological zones on a two hour drive to the summit of Haleakalā as you would on a journey from Mexico to Canada,” the Haleakala National Park Service noted.
Along with hiking, visitors can also go camping, swimming in the freshwater pools at Ohe’o Gulch (only when conditions allow), and sky watching at the top of this Maui volcano.

The Haleakala sunrise is the often the highlight of a visit to Haleakala National Park. Many can’t imagine how amazing the sunrise looks from the summit of Haleakala. It’s one of the most unforgettable things you can do on your Maui vacation. On our Haleakala sunrise bike tour, you can see this memorable sunrise and then bike down the Maui volcano all the way to sea level at your own pace. As part of our Haleakala volcano tours, we take our Maui biking guests on a narrated tour of the Haleakala National Park area they will be biking through.

Our tour guides provide Haleakala bike tour guests with the best and most extensive narration of the Haleakala National Park – explaining points of interest along the route, the history of the area, interesting aspects of Hawaiian culture, and also tasty dining options at restaurants along the bike route. With our Maui volcano tours, guests are driven by van to the summit on the same route they will bike down the volcano. Maui biking guests can then enjoy a relaxing and enjoyable self-paced bike tour through the Haleakala National Park down to sea level.

So have a blast on your Maui volcano bike tour and enjoy all the thrilling sights the Haleakala National Park has to offer.

Best Places In Maui For Bike Rides

Biking enthusiasts  often delight in Maui for its beauty and diverse scenery. Biking trails in Maui can vary, from challenging singletracks up Maui’s majestic mountains to laid back rides by the beach. No matter which Maui biking trail you take, you’re sure to see some stunningly beautiful sights. So if you’re scheduling a visit to the island soon, plan some time to take a ride in this biker’s oasis and perhaps test your Maui mountain bike skills in the places listed below.

Haleakala Sunrise Bike Tour

In our honest opinion we feel that every cyclist should bike Haleakala at least once. Our Haleakala sunrise bike tour starts at the summit of this 10,023 ft. Maui volcano at sunrise. This sunrise above the clouds amid the mountains and with the ocean in the distance is simply an spectacular sight! Then see the unique Haleakala Crater with its pumice stone landscape and desert cinder. Wind downhill through the beautiful Upcountry of Maui and take breaks at little shops and towns all the way down to the ocean. Our downhill Haleakala bike tours are self-paced and can either start at sunrise on the summit or a little later in the day at the peak of Haleakala.

Only the most advanced mountain biker may want to traverse Haleakala uphill, or maybe just part of it really. “One of the most difficult bike climbs in the world” is what biking all the way up Haleakala has been called, with gradients reaching up to 18% over 36 miles. Every year the toughest of mountain bikers climb Haleakala in a race famed as the Cycle to the Sun on the “longest, steepest paved road on the planet.”

But for most of us, biking down Haleakala is the best choice for a Maui bike ride. The downhill Haleakala bike tour is unquestionably an absolute must-do bike ride for those who want to see all the unique beauty that Upcountry Maui has to offer.

Kahakapao Loop

This singletrack bike ride in the Makawao Forest winds through “stands of eucalyptus, cook pines, and tropical ash,” the Maui Mountain Bike Coalition mentioned. It perhaps is better for mountain bikers who want a more rigorous Maui bike ride. Starting on the east side loop and going clockwise, this steady climb has an average grade of 7.7%. “As a climb, the trail can be challenging or easy depending on the speed at which you ride,” the Coalition said. “As a descent, this trail gives cyclists speed and flow.” This singletrack through dense forests has roots and tight corners to look out for, and it’s not suggested to ride in wet conditions as it can get very slick.

West Maui Loop

The West Maui Loop bike ride is another great Maui bike ride to take on your vacation. Along with the Haleakala bike tour and Hana Highway, West Maui is one of the most scenic bike rides in Maui. This challenging ride runs along the beautiful shorelines of northwest Maui. Because it is a loop, you can start and stop almost at any point along the bike ride. If you did ride the entire West Maui Loop, it would be about 60 miles all together. On the northern side of the loop, the road turns from a two-lane paved road into a one-lane meadering road along cliffs, so great caution is highly recommended. Because it gets windier as the day goes on, it’s best to start out early, but be careful because the roads can also be slick from dew or rain.

Along your bike through West Maui, you’ll see beautiful Honolua Bay, which is a good surfing break where many professional surfers come to ride the waves. Then stop to see the Nakalele Blowhole just outside Honokohau Bay. Further on at the Kahakuloa Village, you can stop and have a bite to eat at the local banana bread stand before you continue on the bendy path. With its picturesque stops at every turn, the West Maui Loop is definitely another not-to-be-missed Maui bike ride.

If you really enjoy biking and want to explore a little more in Maui, we have bike rentals in Maui in addition to our self-paced bike tours. With our daily Maui bike rentals, you can rent the bike and equipment, along with a vehicle bike rack, and then you can enjoy biking for the entire day. Be mindful though that you will need an extra driver, and our Maui bike rentals are based on availability. Call for more details.

Experience some of the most thrilling and enjoyable mountain bike rides on earth by taking one of these amazing Maui bike rides through this gorgeous island.

How To Stay Energized On The Haleakala Sunrise Bike Tour

One of the most extraordinary things you can do while on the Valley Isle in Maui is the sunrise bike tour from the peak of Haleakala. Seeing the Haleakala sunrise is nothing short of absolutely amazing. The night sky is covered like a blanket with stars and then turns into a beautiful medley of colors as the sun glistens through the clouds and over the mountains of Upcountry Maui.

The Haleakala sunrise is an experience that simply should not be passed over. But to get a glimpse of this awe-inspiring sunrise view, you’ll have to get up pretty early – around 3 a.m. – to travel to the summit of Haleakala at 10,023 feet. What can you do to get ready for this incredible journey?

Since Maui sunrise bike tour guests meet us at our shop in Paia at 3 a.m., some guests have found it helpful to schedule their Haleakala sunrise bike ride for the first full day of their vacation. This is helpful for the early excursion because jet lag could actually work in your favor in this instance. Coming from the mainland U.S., there can be as much as a 7-hour time change traveling to Maui, and around twice that for those traveling to Maui from Europe. Because of this time difference, most Maui visitors naturally wake up early the first few days of their vacation. So what better way to use those early morning hours than to see the majestic sunrise from the atop Haleakala?

Also, visitors often want to know what they should wear on the Haleakala sunrise bike tour. The summit of Haleakala is at a tremendous 10,023 feet above sea level. At this high elevation in the mountains, temperatures can get pretty cold and windy, and even more so during the winter months. So really warm clothes are definitely needed at the summit, preferably worn in layers that you can take off as you bike down the volcano to warmer Maui temperatures. Backpacks are thoughtfully provided as part of our Haleakala sunrise bike tour for guests to carry their extra clothes and supplies on the ride down. You might even want to bring a blanket for viewing the sunrise on Haleakala’s summit. Then, when you start the Maui bike tour down Haleakala, you can leave the blanket in the tour van and pick it up at our shop when you return.

At this high of elevation, proper nutrition and hydration is essential. In order to prevent altitude sickness, you’ll need to drink plenty of fluids, and be mindful to refuel your electrolytes. It’s recommend that those at high altitudes basically double their intake of water. This includes drinking lots of water before you ascend Haleakala, during your Maui bike ride, and after you’ve returned to sea level. Also, you might want to pack some snacks to take for your bike ride down Haleakala. Experts recommend eating a high-calorie diet with plenty of carbohydrates in high altitudes to keep your body filled with energy. Eating foods high in iron like spinach and other dark greens can also help to prevent altitude sickness.

However, you should limit your consumption of sodium and fat as well as avoiding tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, and sedatives that can affect your respiration and hydration, especially at high altitudes. In fact, it’s recommended that those traveling to high altitudes avoid alcohol for 48 hours before they ascend. It’s always good to check with your doctor about any additional recommendations or health considerations that you in particular may need to stay mindful of.

When you partake in this incredible Haleakala sunrise bike tour in Maui and see the sunrise above the clouds after viewing such a clear night sky literally packed with stars, you’ll be so glad you got up early, drank plenty of fluids, and prepped well for this unforgettable adventure.

Can't Miss Maui Activities - Volcano Bike Ride, Molokini, Road to Hana...

Are you planning a vacation to beautiful Maui soon? This delightful Valley Isle has so many treasures, so many adventures that it can be very hard to narrow down your vacation list of Maui activities. You may have to move to Maui to see all the wonders of this island. But for now a vacation may have to do. So for your vacation, we’ve created a list of some of our own favorite Maui activities – in addition to the thrilling volcano bike ride of course. These Maui activities are sure to provide a vacation full of breathtaking experiences.

Dinner and Shopping on Front Street
Close to Lahaina Harbor is captivating Front Street – a quaint blend of restaurants, charming boutiques, jewelry shops, art galleries, and a hint of historic Old Town Lahaina. There’s also numerous historical buildings in this area of Lahaina including the Old Courthouse with its large banyan tree in the town square known as Banyan Tree Park. Have dinner alongside a panoramic oceanfront view of the sunset at the Lahaina Fish Co. This historic whaling village has so much to see and do. No vacation to Maui is complete without an afternoon of shopping and dining in this picturesque part of Lahaina on the west coast of Maui.

Whale Watching
From the Lahaina Harbor you can venture onto a whale watching tour to see one of the ocean’s most splendid creatures, the humpback whale. These remarkable mammals make Maui their home during the winter months, from December to May with the peak season from January through March.  There are a number of Maui whale watching tours available including charter boats, passenger rafts, and catamarans that offer guided tours. Seeing these marvelous creatures in person is another Maui activity that should not be missed.

Snorkel Molokini
When you see the beauty of Maui’s mountains, rainforests, and beaches, you may think that this is the most beautiful place on earth, and arguably it's at least one of the major contenders. But beneath the surface of Maui, lies another world of brilliance that’s equally, if not more amazing. Molokini is a small, moon-shaped island about three miles off the southwest coast of Maui. This crescent-shaped island is in reality a partially-submerged volcanic crater and was named a State Marine Life and Bird Conservation District. Molokini Crater is home to a plentiful array of vibrant coral reefs and more than 250 species of tropical fish and marine life including whitetip reef sharks and manta rays, making it one of the best snorkeling and diving destinations in Maui. The clear, tranquil waters of Molokini make for a great day of snorkeling with visibility of up to 150 feet. Because of the unbelievable marine life you’ll see around this stunning island crater, snorkeling Molokini is certainly a must for your Maui activities list!

Road to Hana
Then you’ll need to spend a day on the legendary Road to Hana. This rugged, exhilarating drive from Kahului to the little town of Hana is one of the most beautiful scenic drives you’ll ever take, in addition to your Maui volcano tour biking down Haleakala. This road, however, is not for the faint of heart to drive (there are van tours available). With its endless curves and one-lane bridges, the Road to Hana offers a ride into another world through fascinating rainforests where you can stop and hike to incredible waterfalls and glorious pools. On this world-famous drive, you’ll see spectacular views of the ocean, its coastlines, and beaches, all from awe-inspiring cliffs. Stop along the way at a local fruit stand for a snack. Take your time at each scenic spot to take in the awe-inspiring beauty, but be sure to keep track of the time so that you don’t have to drive this winding road at night. So if you’re up for even more adventure after your Maui bike tour, plan a day to travel the Road to Hana.

Maui Volcano Bike Tour
The Haleakala sunrise bike tour is undeniably a not-to-be-missed Maui activity. Seeing the sunrise above the clouds at the summit of Haleakala volcano is indescribable. The sunrise on Haleakala is truly mesmerizing. See the dynamic Haleakala Crater and its volcanic cinder desert. Our self-paced Maui volcano bike tour is an ideal way to bike down Haleakala and see all the gorgeous sights of Upcountry Maui. Bike at your own pace from the top of Haleakala volcano all the way to the sea to the quaint town of Paia. Along the way you can stop at delightful restaurants and shops, see protea farms, paniolo cowboys, and breathtaking views stretching out over the hills out to the sea. The Haleakala sunrise bike tour is one of the most memorable things you can do in Maui.