Pipiwai Trail

Pipiwai Trail belongs to the most beautiful hikes on Maui and deserves to be on your to-do list. The combination of gorgeous scenery, moderate hiking, and the opportunity to experience Hawaii’s tropical rainforest make it a truly memorable experience. The trail is home to a huge and dense bamboo forest. But the real highlight awaits you at the end of the trail. The stunning Waimoku Falls are over 200 feet tall and are a truly awe-inspiring sight. Pipiwai Trail is considered a moderate level hike. It took us 2 hours to complete (4 miles round trip).

Some tips:

– Although the trail is heavily shaded, I would recommend using sunscreen. Mosquito repellant is also a pretty useful thing in the rainforest.

– Non-slippery preferably non-white shoes as part of the trail are muddy and slippery.

– Fill up your gas tank. Bring snacks and plenty of water. The closest store/gas is at least 30 min away drive.

– Pipiwai Trail is a part of Haleakala National Park so an entry fee is required. So far it’s $30 per vehicle and should be paid by a credit card. The pass you get is valid for 3 days. You can use it to enter the Summit area of Haleakala (West side).

– There is no WiFi access provided to the public. Cellular service is very spotty in Kīpahulu District.- Getting there: Haleakala National Park (East side) is at the very end of the “official” Road to Hana drive. Many tourists have to skip this hike because when they finally come to the park it’s already dark. And they still have to drive all the way back If you’ve seen my Maui Day Trip posts, you know that I really prefer to start all my day trips early in the day to beat the crowds. If you start driving from our condo at 5.30-6am, you’ll be able to start the trail around 8.30-9am. And after you complete exploring the park, you can start driving Road to Hana and do all the popular stops.