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. WIND CAVE SD Just a bit further and some rock-hopping over a usually tame stream, and this scenery-packed hike culminates at the base of sheer 400 cliffs, with spectacular Waimoku Falls quite literally falling to Earth right in front of you. You basically walk up through a bamboo forest to a truly amazing waterfall. Guide of Hawaii, LLC is a privately-owned (non-government) business. The drive is an adventure in and of itself! Thanks Megan. If you're visiting during the rainy season, call ahead to the visitors center to make sure that the trail is still open. Our pictures seriously dont do it justice. Facilities: National Park Rangers, Information Facility, Camping (no permit reqd), grills, picnic tables and toilets. Difficulty: The Pipiwai Trail is rated moderate due to the often muddy and uneven terrain. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. https://www.nps.gov/hale/planyourvisit/kipahulu.htm, http://mauiguidebook.com/adventures/itinerary-shelbys-kipahulu-day/. Aloha Donna the trail does not close, though I would not suggest doing it in the dark! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-88173006', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Hana anyway, the Pipiwai trail is one of the best and moderate hikes on Maui. Thank you! 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. * Hawaii-Guide.com is not a booking agent, accommodation provider, establishment, or tour operator. NATIONAL LAKESHORES It takes about 1h00-1h30 on the way up. The park is open 24-hours. There will be signs pointing you in the correct direction of the trail, which begins just across the street from the parking lot. MOUNT RUSHMORE SD This gets you here quicker, but it is a more rugged, remote road than Highway 360 (the Hana Highway). can we swim in the pools at the base of the falls? aloha! Located above theOheo Gulch(Seven Sacred Pools),Pipiwai Trail is 4 miles roundtrip andgains650ft. ofelevation. There are a TON of stops along the Hana Highway you can make along the way to Pipiwai Trail. I made one quick stop at Wailua Falls along the way. The Waimoku Falls hike passes the 185-footMakahiku Fallswhich is also beautiful. That said, being cited and fined are unlikely, but youd certainly better be sure that you fully understand your abilities, the physical risks and the current conditions. Once youre past the incline, it is relatively smooth-sailing from there. There are no height issues on the trail Have fun! The trail and the waterfalls were very nice, but I have to say the 9 miles from Hana are in bad shape, potholes abound. Bring at least one liter of water per person but more is even better. (more info: Canoe Plants of Ancient Hawaii). Cheers, Julie, Hi! Your online price: 375 USD. Tip: Take all warning signs seriously. Call ahead. This includes Pipiwai Trail and Kuloa Point Trail. SNORKELING SHIRTS Hi Chis I dont know anything about repelling however I do know that many of our cliffs are quite prone to fracturing and breaking apart, so my advice would be not to try this without a guide who is very familiar with Maui. Download your copy of our Due to its location, this is the typically the final stop of the day, as most people drive the Road to Hana out and back, starting in the north. (Again, 5 minutes per destination except the last hike). Just looking for a rough estimate, thanks. This can be confusing because Haleakala National Park is actually split into two parts. Hiking shoes are ideal since they provide a lot of traction but you can also get by with running or walking shoes. This 4 mile trail runs along a section of the King's Highway. Once you emerge from the bamboo, you are getting close to the end of the trail. Over time, these majestic trees gained their own special place in Hawaiian myths and legends. Located above the Oheo Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools), Pipiwai Trail is 4 miles roundtrip and gains 650 ft. of elevation. yes it is safe as long as you have a good hold on them along the trail. It's one of the most iconic experiences in Hawaii: watching the sunrise from the summit of Haleakala. I would like to take my 87 year old mother for a little walk on this trail. There are many that are pretty much right along the Hana Highway. These mighty thundering falls will probably be more than enough waterfall for most. 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.) Hours: 9 am to 5 pm; last entry at 4:30 pm. Get here no later than 3 pm, so you have enough time to finish the hike before the gates close. At the entrance booth you will pay the park entrance fee. We packed in our 3-year-old, had a backpack for when he got tired, but he walked a good part of it. MAMMOTH CAVE KY Mile Marker: #42 (Hana Hwy aka Hwy 31 *After Hana markers go back down) To reserve call 808-248-7375. GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS TN NC Highly recommend this hike if you have the time!! Visitor Info: $10 for parking, swimmable but with caution. The Kpahulu District is open from 9 am to 5 pm. If you get here too late in the day, not only will large crowds which make parking challenge, but the park may not even be open. They really need to do something about the road to the Black sand beach, seriously. Katherine is a freelance writer who covers Hawaii and California travel for Tripsavvy. We also receive a small commission from travel partners for some of the links found on this website. How long do you think it will take to get there from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? You will hike through a bamboo forest!! 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. 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. I saw that your post was just in August 2020 and wondering if they have the 7 scared pools open at the time. We are going with a few older companions who might not be able to hop across rocks and do not know how to swim. How much time will it take me to hike up to the 400 foot or last waterfall on the trail. This narrow stretch of road on the northwest side of Maui is for the experienced driver, but a great alternative to Road to Hana. Read all of our articles about the United States in our United States Travel Guide. Take your time on way back. Is it worth it to travel to? The National Park Service recommends starting this hike no later than 3 pm, in order to give yourself enough time to complete the hike and exit the park before the gate closes. If you are new to hiking or are curious about what you should bring on a hike, check out our Hiking Gear Guide. As many have said, its more about the journey than the destination, but we think both in this case are pretty awesome! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-88162597', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Hana Highway. If you drive straight to the trail your be missing so much. That would be 2 long car days. The hike starts at the park staging area ($10 per vehicle to get in.) WATCH THE SUNRISE AT HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK. In fact, when youve reached the end, youre smack at the base of the falls, and can walk right up and stand under them. This is a different visitors center than the one at the top of Haleakala Crater, so dont get the two confused if you have your heart set on this hike. You say you are in shape so climbing the equivalent of the sears tower in few miles should be doable! What time should we leave our resort to avoid as much traffic/crowds as we can? There are restrooms at the Visitor Center but none along the trail. I see some guide services offer rapelling. You park at the Haleakala National Park Visitor Center (again this is a different Visitor Center than the one on the way to Haleakala Crater). You can take a hike! Super recommended to download the Shaka Guide app for insightful history and helpful tips for sightseeing spots. I hiked this trail in 2018 and the bamboo forest was one of my favorite parts. We hiked the Ppwai Trail and then the trail to the Seven Sacred Pools at Oheo. Hope that answers your question! 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. We did it in about 2 hours at a leisurely pace, but avid photographers and those who are less active will need more time. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. We have had tons and tons of rain in the past couple months. 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. The trail is just mauka the Hana Hwy at Haleakala National Park Kipahulu (Seven Sacred Pools.) Very muddy. If you do choose to return the way you came, driving the Hana Highway at dark isn't something you want to do, trust us. My fiance and I want to hike the Pipiwai Trail on Wed 6/12/19. This 1.8-mile route offers one of the best hikes in East Maui. The U.S. national park annual pass is also valid at Haleakala National Park. Check out our full guide to hiking the Pipiwai Trail below. |. Most people are familiar with the summit section where you can watch the sunrise from above the clouds, but theres a coastal section of the park in a town called Kipahulu, about 12 miles from Hana town. Farther along the trail, around another mile, reach the trail's turnaround point at Waimoku Falls. 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. Find parking at the Kipahulu Visitors Center at Haleakala National Park for $25 per car. 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. The Pipiwai Trail- with its stunning waterfalls, huge bamboo forest, idyllic stream, and more beauty than you can imagine- is simply one of the best hikes on Maui. I am going to Maui the third and forth week of march 2015. Since the Pipiwai Trail is a part of Haleakala National Park, an entry fee is required. Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve. We left Kihei at 5:30 and made one stop for a bathroom break along the way. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. The trail is safe, well maintained, and the steeper grade during the first half mile or so is really the only part that is less than easy if youve not been off the couch in a while. How would you like to experience this beautiful area of Maui? Just beyond the Makahiku Falls Viewpoint, you reach a giant Banyan tree. Good advice from IdreamofMaui - important to note that they left at 5:30am. If you want to break up the drive with some quick stops, roadside waterfalls on the Road to Hana can be perfect! Aloha Holly not sure of the specs how fit are you? As the trail continues winding, if you pay careful attention the bamboo will begin to thin and trees will start coming back. Also stopped at an arboretum (about 30 minutes) and a few stops for lunch and smoothies (maybe another 1.5 hours.) Flash-flooding, rock falls and cliff/bridge jumping have taken several lives, and many natural dangers occur suddenly without warning. The waters from Waimoku Falls flow all the way down the mountain into the ocean here. Luckily, the trail is long enough and diverse enough to provide hikers with plenty of space to explore. Make bee-line for State Park. Follow until you see dirt parking on your right. If you dont have the time or arent up for a longer hike, turn around at Makahiku Falls and head back from there. The Kpahulu District is located on the south coast of Maui. Alternatively, you may use. This 400 foot waterfall is one of the tallest in Maui. Pipiwai Trail Reviews | U.S. News Travel (This is also where the boardwalk comes in and save you from having your shoes sucked off by thick mud.) After passing through a gate, you will come upon a giant banyan tree. Easy yet challenging. 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. Your email address will not be published. Get here as early as possible, ideally by 10 am, to avoid waiting for a parking space. ZION UT ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-110507016', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Kihei to the park entrance to the trail in just over 3 hours. Weird question, I know. Driving from Hana to Pipiwai Trail: Hana Highway, less than 5 minutes away from Haleakala National Park Kipahulu area. I would like to know the round trip time with a few stops along the way. Also--the trail is in the National Park. Is it worth the 2 hour trip out? Key Info: (for trailhead @ HNP Kipahulu.) No matter how you choose to explore, our handpicked tours are sure to impress. Before or after the hike (if theres time) do the half-mile loop to Oheo Gulch from the visitors center to view the Seven Sacred Pools. No stops were planned , but had to stop twice - one of the kids was very nauseous. There is a lot to see on the RTH, before you get to Oheo Gulch, where the trailhead is located for the Pipiwai. The last entry into the park is at 4:30 pm (get updated hours before you go on the National Park Service website). Best bet is to check the Haleakala National Park website the day prior to your trip for real-time closure info. Leave No Trace. You can go to Pipiwai Trail and the Kipahulu district as a part of the popular Road to Hana drive. If you can find someone taking the southern route, youve got it made. From the somewhat challenging summit of the Haleakala volcano to the awe-inspiring views along the Pipiwai Trail, Maui offers hikers of all levels something to enjoy. Basically, the hike to Waimoku is the Makahiku hike extended about 1 1/2 miles. One Day Road to Hana Guide: Route, Stops, & Maui Waterfalls As always, we also discourage visitors from swimming beneath the falls. YELLOWSTONE WY There is no parking along Hana Highway. If the parking lots are full, you will not be permitted to enter the park.