The Pīpīwai Trail is one of Maui’s most iconic rainforest hikes, located in the Kīpahulu district of Haleakalā National Park on the island’s south-east side. It is very remote and it takes over two and a half hours or more, depending on the route, to get there from the urban areas of Maui, like Kahului or Kihei. It is also the most spectacular bamboo forest hike on the island.

The hike starts at the Kipahulu Visitor Center in the Haleakala National Park. As usual, there is an entrance fee for the park. We got in for free, probably due to the government shutdown currently in force.

The trail is about 2 miles long, making for a moderately difficult 4-mile round trip. Unfortunately, you hike back out the same way you hiked in. The whole hike took us about two and a half hours, and there was plenty of time for picture stops at the more scenic places. The trailhead is at about 130 feet of elevation, and the end point is at 750 feet. So there is some climbing involved.

Be prepared to get wet from sweat and muddy from the trail.

The hike begins with a climb to Makahiku Falls. This waterfall was completely dry when we got there, due to the dry season this year.

I might note here that I need to give photo credit for all the photos below to my wife.

Along the way there is a large Banyan tree where there is usually a small crowd of people resting and taking pictures. So did we:

At about one mile into the hike, the bamboo forest starts:

The path is often narrow and more like a tunnel than a hiking trail. From time to time, when the wind is stronger, the bamboo trunks bump into each other and a clackety-clack ruckus permeates the forest. I tried to take some videos when this was happening, but the sound quality I got was not close to doing it justice to what it was in real life. Noise from wind in a bamboo forest is unlike anything else in nature.

Here you have me under a bamboo canopy. I am wearing camouflage, so you can hardly see me!

Good portions of the trail are built up by plank ways to avoid having hikers slip and slide in the permanent mud below.

There are also many bridges that span over gorges or pools below.

Here is one such pool that was visible below one of the bridges.

Of course, looking to the side of the trail, often unnoticed, are many treasures of nature. This one might end up in a painting one day.

At the end, the highlight of the trail, is Waimoku Falls. This is a 400-foot waterfall that looks absolutely spectacular, even with just the trickle that we saw. After rains, this must be a truly roaring waterfall.

Overall, this is a truly memorable hike in a tropical forest. The only challenge is how long it takes to get there. It’s two to three hours or more away from the urban centers of Maui, so doing this hike takes an entire day out of your schedule. However, I might add that the drive, whether you take the northern “road to Hana” or the southern road, is an entire adventure of its own. I don’t recommend either if you easily get car sickness, or you are scared of driving along sheer cliffs with no guardrails.

’nuff said.

I strongly recommend the Pipiwai Trail hike.