Where In Hawaii Can You Ride Bikes Down A Mountain?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Out of the numerous activities on the island,

Maui mountain bike tours

have become the most popular. Enjoying a Haleakala sunrise before a leisurely Maui bike ride down 30-38 miles of winding road is an experience few forget. The dormant reaches just over 10,000 feet at its summit where you'll watch sunrise.

Is there mountain biking in Hawaii?

mountain biking? Yep. Despite being small in area and isolated from pretty much anywhere else on the planet, sitting smack dab in the middle of our largest ocean,

Hawaii is actually not just paradise in general, but paradise specifically for mountain bikers as well.

Can you bike down a volcano in Hawaii?

Riders cross back over the road after a scenic viewing stop on their

sunrise bike trek down Haleakala, a nearly 10,000-foot volcano on Maui

. Every year, thousands of bicyclists take the 27-mile ride to the sea. Bicyclists keep to the side of the busy road as they pass through the upcountry hamlet of Kula.

Can you still bike down Haleakala?


The bike ride down Haleakala is approximately 24 miles from the drop-off point near the top of Haleakala to our shop in Paia

. Haleakala has an average grade of 5% and is 98% downhill. After the 45 minute drive up, you're usually beginning to bike around 10:30am.

Can you mountain bike in Kauai?


Kauai offers a variety of mountain bike trails, from beginner to expert

. Trails don't have signage however, nor will you find them on a map. Unfortunately, the weather dictates when and where we can ride on any given day and Kauai being the ‘Garden Isle' means its very hard to plan a ride in advance.

Which Hawaiian island is best for outdoor activities?


Kauai

offers up pure paradise to anyone who loves the great outdoors. Kauai is the oldest of the major Hawaiian Islands and has certainly earned its nickname of the “Garden Isle.” Beautiful flora and fauna abound around the island. As the oldest Hawaiian Island, Kauai is also home to some of the world's best beaches.

Should I bike down Haleakala?

In my opinion,

biking down Haleakala is one of the best ways to experience the crater and Upcountry Maui while getting a little dose of excitement

(van tours can be sooooo boring!). You don't even need to be in great shape to do the bike ride…it's all downhill!

Can you bike up Mauna Kea?

The Hawaiian volcano of Mauna Kea (“white mountain”) is considered

one of the most extreme cycling climbs in the world

. From the beach in Hilo to the telescopes at the summit it's 4,200m of altitude gain in one continuous climb of nearly 70km.

How long is the Haleakala bike ride?

The bike route is a

23 mile

ride down Haleakala. Because our bike trips are self-guided, bikers will be coming down the mountain at various paces and therefore end up back at our shop at different times. But on average our Sunrise bike riders finish up around 10:30am including a stop for breakfast.

What mountain do you bike down in Maui?

Maui bike tours with Mountain Riders takes you 26 miles down the slopes of Maui's

Haleakala Volcano

. You may choose Sunrise or day tours that are guided or self paced. As you begin your journey at the 6500 foot elevation downhill to Paia Bay you will descend the verdant green slopes of Haleakala.

Can you bike around Maui?

Maui has some outstanding mountain bike paths, but if you want to ride on the best, you're going to need to head upcountry. Some people don't like road biking on Maui because dedicated bike lanes are rare. But, most of the roads do have wide shoulders and

biking is legal on highways

.

Can Haleakala erupt again?

Mount Haleakalā is also called the East Maui Volcano. Haleakalā is considered a dormant volcano because it has not erupted in a long time, but

it could erupt again in the future

. Haleakalā is a huge shield volcano.

Can you bike around Kauai?


Flat roads and a lack of big hills make the Ke Ala Hele Makalae trail a leisurely bike ride along parts of Kauai's east shore

. The shared-use path stretching along the eastern coast of Kauai was completed in 2009.

How big is the island of Kauai?

552 mi2

How long is the Kapaa bike path?

The Kapaa Bike Path is approximately

4.5 miles

long. There is another section of bike path that leads from Lydgate Park to Wailua Beach Park that is about 2.5 miles long. There are plans to eventually extend the path all the way from Nawiliwili to Anahola.

What is the prettiest Hawaiian island to visit?


Oahu

is the most developed out of all the Hawaiian Islands and is home to some of the most beautiful and easy to access beaches. The most famous one is Waikiki Beach and this is where you'll find most of the tourists – it's busy all the time here!

Which Hawaiian island is the cheapest to live on?

What's the most affordable Hawaiian island to live on?

The Big Island

. With Hawaii's lowest average cost of living (according to MIT's Living Wage project), lowest fair market rents, and lowest typical yearly expenses, the Big Island can be the most economical island in Hawaii.

Which Hawaiian island should I visit first?

If it's your first time visiting Hawaii, head to

Maui

. Every island has its strengths, but Maui offers key attributes that make Hawaii so special. The Valley Isle has all the things you've probably dreamed of in Hawaii, including sunny golden beaches, beautiful resorts and a volcano.

Is biking down Haleakala scary?

Really, the Haleakalā volcano tours are

no more dangerous than any other bike ride

. You do however, need to be comfortable riding a bike, be able to focus, and be able to use hand brakes. But basically this bike ride will be dangerous only if the biker decides to ride recklessly.

How long does bike Maui take?

Haleakala has an average grade of 5% and is 98% downhill. There are many switchbacks on the first portion of the Maui volcano bike ride that eliminate any excessive steepness. Without stopping, the bike tour takes

about 1 1⁄2 hours

to return to sea level and typically return between 11:45am – 12pm and have lunch in Paia.

Can you bike to the top of Haleakala?


Riding by bike from near sea level to the Summit Building just over 10,000′ on Haleakala Volcano is one of the greatest cycling challenges and experiences anywhere in the world

.

Is Mauna Kea a difficult climb?

Discover this 13.4-mile out-and-back trail near Hilo, Hawaii.

Generally considered a challenging route

, it takes an average of 7 h 49 min to complete. This is a popular trail for birding, hiking, and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day.

How steep is the road to Mauna Kea?

The Mauna Kea road includes a steep (

15% grade

) unpaved stretch that, beyond the visitor center at about 9300′, is restricted to 4-wheel-drive vehicles, and also has other restrictions to protect visitors and astronomers' work at the summit's many observatories (including a recommendation to hang around the visitor …

How hard is it to climb Mauna Kea?

Mauna Kea Summit Trail

This is a

very challenging hike

and you must take the altitude, weather, and mountain conditions into account before setting out. You'll also want to start out early in the day so you can be off the mountain before dark.

Kim Nguyen
Author
Kim Nguyen
Kim Nguyen is a fitness expert and personal trainer with over 15 years of experience in the industry. She is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and has trained a variety of clients, from professional athletes to everyday fitness enthusiasts. Kim is passionate about helping people achieve their fitness goals and promoting a healthy, active lifestyle.