Pipiwai Trail
Pipiwai Trail
5
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A scenic hiking and horseback riding trail that features major waterfalls, beautiful pools and an eerie bamboo forest.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
1,315 reviews
Excellent
1,080
Very good
194
Average
31
Poor
7
Terrible
3
DEC808
4 contributions
Jan 2023
Grab your water and some good walking shoes, this hike is definitely worth it! This trail is so much fun with amazing sights and views. The bamboo forest is great for pictures and something unique to see. I've hiked this about 8 times and it is so much fun! Water is a must!
Written 23 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Steve9172
Suwanee, GA20 contributions
Jan 2023
We were "blessed" with no rain during our whole trip. The drawback is that meant that several waterfalls were "lacking" and this was one of them. Trail is cool in general, but if you are a lover of waterfalls; check before you go. The Sacred Pools were also barely flowing, which made them not even worth the half mile walk.
Written 22 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Marion G
Cincinnati, OH393 contributions
Jan 2023
This Trail was fun about 4 miles out and back, couldn't really see the first Waterfall from above,cause it was a little overgrown,the Banyan Tree was just awesome to see,so ancient looking, the Bamboo Forest was so fun to walk through its like you are in a different world and to top it all of,Waimoku Falls at the End, the flow was on the light side,but still amazing to see.
Written 18 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Exploration288337
2 contributions
Jan 2023 • Couples
Nice short hike but very busy…. Is a very long day out just to travel to this walk , probably better to spend more time in the area
The lead to Hana is very long and slow going
The lead to Hana is very long and slow going
Written 14 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
ChinS988
Vancouver, Canada43 contributions
Dec 2022
We, a family of 3 with a 9 year old boy, hiked this trail in December 2022 during a supposedly rainy day. It was cloudy and did not rain and the temperature was just right for the hike. It was definitely a worthwhile hike, especially after you have reached the bamboo forest. Prior to that, we were walking in a tropical forest with strangler figs, epiphytic plants and various kinds of fruit. It was great. Make sure to have mosquito repellent with you as otherwise you will be assaulted by mosquitoes. We eventually reached the towering fall; however, the fun thing was in the process of hiking and not merely reaching the final destination. A worthwhile hike and if you do this, you can skip the Twin Falls one for sure. This one definitely worth the money we spent ($30) but not the Twin Falls one ($10-13).
Written 23 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ken D
Charlottesville, VA41 contributions
Oct 2022
Don't stop in Hana...keep going to the Kipahulu Visitor Center to walk this trail. You get bamboo forests, a mostly hidden 200ft waterfall, and then the payoff of Waimoku falls...400ft straight down. We recommend wearing decent walking shoes. There are ample rocks on the trail and in some places they can be slippery. Also try and get there early. The parking lot was pretty crowded when we got there around 10 and parking was in the overflow lot when we left a couple of hours later.
Written 6 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
irawine
Benicia, CA567 contributions
Oct 2022
My wife and I recently hiked the Pipiwai Trail on Maui and really enjoyed the experience. It is about 2 miles in each direction with a fair amount of up and down sections. We used trekking poles, which we found to be very helpful. It took several hours to go back and forth, but, it was well worth it. It is also a very popular trail so be prepared to meet a lot of people along the way.
Written 1 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Rookie Wine Maker
Rosemount, MN286 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
Great views. The bamboo forest was interesting to walk thru leading up to the main waterfall. The first waterfall was dry.
Moderate hike with some easy parts if the hike mixed in. The waterfall at the end of the trail was amazing (thankfully it had water coming over it). Recommended.
We drove in and out from the south. The road was poor at best in several spots. Watch the weather if you plan to go this way.
Moderate hike with some easy parts if the hike mixed in. The waterfall at the end of the trail was amazing (thankfully it had water coming over it). Recommended.
We drove in and out from the south. The road was poor at best in several spots. Watch the weather if you plan to go this way.
Written 21 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Belinda E
Brisbane, Australia421 contributions
Oct 2022
We are keen hikers and have probably been spoiled on some amazing paths around the world. This one is a nice walk but we found it underwhelming and I don't see the 5 star ratings (especially with the waterfall essentially closed to most travellers).
It was a little more difficult than expected mainly as parts of it are quite slippery after rain and it was definitely more time consuming than expected as you had to take it slow in places. Take water if you go as it gets fairly hot. The pass that you need to park here is the same as for Haleakala (in our case we'd purchased a Tri Park pass from Volcano National Park on the Big Island). If you haven't already purchased one it will be $30.
The walk as a whole is quite pretty with a lovely bamboo forest part. It's a popular walk to a waterfall however they are now actively discouraging people from actually continuing on to the waterfall at the end. They have removed signage and the official word on it at the moment is "well we can't stop you but we don't encourage people to do it".
So while I understand what they are doing with visitor numbers it does bring up a question as to how to rate this hike. The hike WITHOUT the waterfall is probably only 3 stars. It's pretty and the bamboo part is really lovely. Some nice scenery but ultimately a hike that is hot and sweaty without really any "high point". WITH the waterfall it's probably a 4 star.
If you want to get to the waterfall at this point, you can still do it BUT you have to take your shoes off and make your way over the rocks upstream to the left. Quite a few people had trudged through the water so that they could get photos under the waterfall but, due to the lack of signage, many others just headed back once they got to the rocks.
It was a little more difficult than expected mainly as parts of it are quite slippery after rain and it was definitely more time consuming than expected as you had to take it slow in places. Take water if you go as it gets fairly hot. The pass that you need to park here is the same as for Haleakala (in our case we'd purchased a Tri Park pass from Volcano National Park on the Big Island). If you haven't already purchased one it will be $30.
The walk as a whole is quite pretty with a lovely bamboo forest part. It's a popular walk to a waterfall however they are now actively discouraging people from actually continuing on to the waterfall at the end. They have removed signage and the official word on it at the moment is "well we can't stop you but we don't encourage people to do it".
So while I understand what they are doing with visitor numbers it does bring up a question as to how to rate this hike. The hike WITHOUT the waterfall is probably only 3 stars. It's pretty and the bamboo part is really lovely. Some nice scenery but ultimately a hike that is hot and sweaty without really any "high point". WITH the waterfall it's probably a 4 star.
If you want to get to the waterfall at this point, you can still do it BUT you have to take your shoes off and make your way over the rocks upstream to the left. Quite a few people had trudged through the water so that they could get photos under the waterfall but, due to the lack of signage, many others just headed back once they got to the rocks.
Written 19 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
SmitcheQ
Waikoloa, Hawaii36 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
This was a harder hike than I expected, but it was worth it. 4 miles round trip with a lot if uphill, narrow, twisty terrain that was often slippery. I was glad we took snacks & plenty of water. The scenery is jaw-dropping! Beautiful rainforest outlooks, incredible waterfalls, and a magical bamboo forest. Go early to beat the crowds!
Written 9 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
J L
6 contributions
What is the current fee to park and access the trail? Do you need to make a reservation ahead of time?
Nic GR
11 contributions
Every review says go early. The national park says hours are 9-5. Can we not start the trail until 9 AM?? We are staying in Hana and are on EST, ready to hike at sunrise if we can…
Laurat33
Orlando, FL397 contributions
The drive from Hana to the entrance is probably 45 min and I wouldn’t really want to do that drive in the dark. You have to pay and go through the gate to access the trail. Just plan to be there right at 9.
Allison C
2 contributions
Is there a Road to Hana tour that actually stops at the Pipiwai Trail? Or even just a Pipiwai trail tour that offers pick up from your hotel? I really want to do the hike but don’t want to do the drive myself. Most Road to Hana tours I’ve seen only pass by this trail.
Rich E
Burnsville, MN12 contributions
I've been to Maui a few times, but was wondering how the road on the back side of Maui (Pilani Hwy) is to get to the Pipiwai Trail (NOT via Hana)? I have driven it many years ago and it was a bit sketchy, but definitely doable and was wondering if it is any better or worse as I will be there in February 2020.
thetravelorganizer
Tega Cay, SC541 contributions
If I am understanding you correctly, you want to get to the Pipiwai Trailhead driving ENE along the southern side of Maui. Assuming you will be renting a car, be sure to check the agency's policies for driving on this road. My understanding is that this road is very rough and driving on it would void the insurance offered by most car rental companies.
kfpanda1
San Jose, CA409 contributions
Are there a lot of mosquitoes on the trail? Is bug spray recommended?
thetravelorganizer
Tega Cay, SC541 contributions
We did not encounter any mosquitoes personally but they do exist on Maui, especially on the Hana side. They tend to be more active in the early morning and early evening.
All-of-Creation
Monroe, NC759 contributions
How scary is the drive here from Lahaina or Wailea without going any further towards Haleakala?
rockyjoe
Minneapolis, MN8,245 contributions
I drove the Road to Hana from Lahaina and eventually ended up at the Pipwai Trail. The drive is long, and the road has a lot of curves and one lane bridges, but I did not think it was scary at all.
Melody G F
Honolulu, HI3 contributions
I'm confused......we are doing Haleakala for sunrise and were planning on doing Pipiwai Trail to Waimoku Falls. I read a review that said all we have to do is park down the road and start the hike to Waimoku Falls there......then also reading reveiws that state the hike trailhead is a on the other side and most drive the road to Hana to get to the trailhead.......can you please clarify for me? Mahalo
Tricia C
26 contributions
Definitely not a same day type trip.. Road to Hana will take one full day..with minimal stops before hiking the Pipiwai trail. IF I were to do this again I would drive straight to the trail do the the hike then make the sightseeing stops on the way back.. they crowds would have thinned out by then and you wont be driving that road in the dark like we did :)
Melody G F
Honolulu, HI3 contributions
Hi, I have a quick question. Is there a SPECIFIC lot we should park at? Another reviewer mentioned that parking lots can get confusing. That there is a visitor center parking lot and then a specific one for the Pipiwai Trail. We are visiting the summit same morning for sunrise, so I think we might not have to pay for parking...?? Also, are there hours for the parking lot and the trail itself? Thanks in advance.
Kathy M
Dallas, TX17 contributions
We actually did this same day. We found 3 trails in the park - 1 small and 2 very long trails. Shifting sands starts near the same parking lot as the sunrise service but I was too cold to start a hike there - they aren’t kidding about the temperature difference. And my husband did not want to do the longer trail. We googled how to get to the other side of the park and made the mistake (although I got some of my best pictures on this side) of taking the reverse road to Hana. I would not suggest doing this without a higher clearance car since many of the sections of road are barely paved. It took us about 3 hours to get there since we stopped often for pictures but it’s only a few hours hike round trip. We were back to our condo by 4. It was well worth it for me.
expat_mbk
USA589 contributions
Is TripAdvisor showing the wrong location for the Pipiwai trail? Google maps shows it at least ten miles South.
Thanks!
thetravelorganizer
Tega Cay, SC541 contributions
The trailhead for both the Pipiwai Trail and Ohe'o Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools) is at the north end of the parking lot at the Kipahulu Visitor Center south of Hana. The address for the Seven Sacred Pools on TripAdvisor is very, very wrong; I've tried multiple times to get it corrected but haven't been successful yet.
Pipiwai Trail (Haleakala National Park) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Pipiwai Trail
- We recommend booking Pipiwai Trail tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 7 Pipiwai Trail tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Pipiwai Trail:
- Maui "Loop" Road To Hana Audio Driving Tour (From ₹ 1,625.47)
- Maui "Reverse" Road To Hana Audio Driving Tour (From ₹ 1,625.47)
- Shaka Guide Maui "Classic" Road to Hana Audio Driving Tour (From ₹ 1,625.47)
- Hana and Haleakala 45-Minute Helicopter Tour (From ₹ 22,497.15)
- Maui Adventure Bundle: 6 Epic Audio Driving Tours, Including Road to Hana (From ₹ 2,438.61)
- Hotels near Pipiwai Trail:
- (1.17 km) Ala'aina Ocean Vista
- (7.78 km) The Guest Houses at Malanai in Hana
- (1.17 km) Couples & Honeymooners. Privacy & Romance! 7 Sacred Pools - 2 Day Bookings OK!
- (12.12 km) Hana Kai Maui
- (1.67 km) Private, Honeymoon Cottage - 180 Degree Ocean Views
- Restaurants near Pipiwai Trail:
- (9.63 km) Huli Huli Chicken
- (12.97 km) Hāna Farms Roadside Stand, Pizza Oven and Bakery
- (11.82 km) Thai Food By Pranee
- (14.51 km) Coconut Glen's
- (11.18 km) Shaka Pops