Where In Hawaii Can You Ride Bikes Down The Volcano?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Maui offers the longest downhill bike tour experience anywhere in the world! The ride starts just outside the Haleakala National Park entrance at an elevation of 6500 feet and participants coast downhill through the famous mid-mountain switchbacks, the upcountry Kula area, and ride through the town of Makawao.

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 bike down Mauna Kea?

With two 13,000+ foot volcanoes (Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea) endless country roads, and one of the largest National Parks in the U.S. (Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park)

the Big Island of Hawaii offers incredible terrain to explore on a bicycle— mountain bike and road

.

How long is bike ride down Haleakala?

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.

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!

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

. 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.

Where can I ride my bike in Maui?


The Haleakala ride

is one of Maui's premier bike rides and also one of its most challenging. This route starts at sea level in Paia and travels up to 10,000 feet in 36 miles. Get started early as this is when the conditions are best. Plan on at least 4 to 5 hours to get to the top.

Can you drive to the summit of Mauna Kea?

Frequently Asked Questions about visiting MaunaKea

Q: Can you drive up to the MaunaKea summit?

Yes, but not with any car and only during daylight hours

. On the road from the visitor center to the summit only 4WD vehicles are allowed, and the summit is off-limits from half and hour after sunset.

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.

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.

Which is better sunrise or sunset at Haleakalā?

Overall,

many locals will say that the sunset experience on Haleakalā is the best

! Being above the clouds when the sunsets over the mountain is unforgettable. The convenience of not getting up early maybe more appealing to some. If you have the chance while in Maui, you should see both of these amazing phenomenon.

Is Haleakalā taller than Everest?


It's even taller than Mount Everest

(29,029 ft / 8,848 m). Combined, Haleakalā tops off at 29,704 ft (9,054 m) from its base on the ocean floor to its sky-high summit.

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.

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

.

How long does 25 miles take on a bike?

Well, it depends on several factors like the bike type, riding terrain, your fitness, incline of the road, weather, etc. All these things determine your speed level. If everything remains constant, it may require

100 or 120 minutes

to cover 25 miles, which can differ if you are using a powerful electric bike.

What do you wear to a Haleakala bike ride?

We recommend that Haleakalā bike riders wear

layers of clothing that can be taken off as they make their way down the mountain into warmer temperatures

. When you get all the way down to Paia, you'll probably only need a T-shirt and shorts.

How high is Mount Haleakala?

10,023′

Where can I ride my bike in Lahaina?

  • From Kihei to Lahaina and back! 33 km. 206 m. …
  • Relaxed Thursday Track In Napili-Honokowai. 9 km. 29 m. …
  • Olowalu – WestMauiRoundtrip – Olowalu. 103 km. 644 m. …
  • West Maui Loop from West Maui Cycle. 96 km. 640 m. …
  • kihei to lahaina (west maui loop) 90 km. 618 m. …
  • 2605 Kaanapali Pkwy, Kaanapali to 597 Kahena St, Lahaina. 8 km.

How long is the Lahaina Pali Trail?

SUMMARY: This is a rugged and strenuous

5-mile

trail from Maalaea to Ukumehame. This is an out-and-back hike with trailheads on either end. Both trailheads are close to sea level and the trail gains ~1600 ft.

How long is the West Maui loop?

This

60 mile

bike loop offers a refreshing break from the bustle of the island and transports you through old Hawaii over fantastic ocean cliff views and through verdant pastures.

Will Maui erupt again?

The West Maui Mountains are much older than Haleakala, the volcano observatory officials said. The most recent eruptions occurred between 400,000 and 600,000 years ago. “Because of their ages, we feel that

it is unlikely that this volcano will erupt again

,” the volcano observatory officials said.

Is Maui volcano still active?


The Island of Maui has one active volcano

, Haleakalā, which has erupted at least 10 times during the past 1,000 years. Kīlauea, the youngest and most active volcano on the Island of Hawai'i, erupted almost continuously from 1983 to 2018 at Pu'u'ō'ō and other vents along the volcano's East Rift Zone.

When did Maui last erupt?

Summary. The most recent eruptions occurred sometime

between the years 1480 and 1600

. East Maui's long eruptive history and recent activity indicate that the volcano will erupt in the future. East Maui's volume is about 30,000 km

3

(7,200 mi

3

) with about 97% of the volume below sea level.

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.