Maui's Bamboo Forest - Hiking the Pipiwai Trail

Hawaii’s Pipiwai Trail was an unreal experience and highlight of our Maui trip. If you have heard about the beauty of the bamboo forest in Maui, you are definitely reading about hiking the Pipiwai Trail in Haleakala National Park. When planning a trip to Maui, you will probably read about Haleakala National Park. Most information references the crater portion of the park known as the summit side. The bamboo forest and waterfalls on the Pipiwai Trail are located in the Kipahulu District, accessed only by the road to Hana. Ready to get there? Let’s plan your bamboo forest adventure!

The Pipiwai Trail in Maui is a 4-mile out-and-back hike with an elevation gain of 800-feet. The hike takes you through a stunning bamboo forest to a beautiful view of Waimoku Falls. The trail is located in Haleakala National Park, about 25 minutes after the main town of Hana. If you missed any of my posts about the Road to Hana and how to get to the Pipiwai Trail, check them out below.

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PLANNING RESOURCES FOR YOUR BAMBOO FOREST ADVENTURE

If you take on the adventure to this bamboo forest, you will not be disappointed. Maui is an island full of unreal sights. Do not miss this national park adventure. This bamboo forest portion of the island is different than the officially closed Na’ili’ili Haele stream located on private property at mile marker 6.5.

BAMBOO FOREST MAUI – A BUCKET LIST HIKE

My motivation to explore the road to Hana was to get to Hawaii’s Bamboo Forest on the Pipiwai Trail. I saw this hike in Sunset Magazine in 2018 and knew I wanted to go there one day. Once we booked our 2021 Maui trip, I started my research on this trail at home in San Diego and realized the road to Hana was the way to get there. We knew it would be an adventure and a full-day commitment. However, I knew the views would pay off, and I started planning our route to this majestic bamboo forest!

Due to changing weather and road conditions in this area of the island, always check current closures through the Haleakala National Park website before heading out on your adventure. As with any part of Maui, it is not uncommon for closures in part of the bamboo forest due to safety concerns.

HOW TO GET TO THE PIPIWAI TRAIL – THE BAMBOO FOREST HIKE

PLANNING YOUR TIME

You will want to hike the Pipiwai Trail early for several reasons. First, late morning brings lines of cars pouring into the parking lot. This can lead to extended wait times at the entrance booth, parking issues, and an overall crowded bamboo forest trail. In addition, all of the extra waiting only eats up your overall timing for your day and return trip on the Hana Highway.

So many people are looking for a similar adventure, so you need to plan strategically to avoid frustrations. Finally, we wanted to see a lot along the highway and we were hoping to be done by dark, so early was key. Our road to Hana adventure was a day trip, and it can be for you too!

The park brochure says to begin hiking before 3:30 pm to finish in daylight. However, the parking area is closed at 5 pm. If you are still parked, you will be stuck, and there is nothing around for you to walk to (outside of Hana 10 miles away).

You need to consider your return trip on the Hana Highway as well. Located at mile marker 42, the Pipiwai Trail is further down the road than Hana town. Make sure you are aware of time and know what time sunset is when you plan your day. Unless you stay in Hana for the night, I recommend hiking before 1 pm, especially with children.

HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK ENTRANCE FEES

There are entrance fees to Haleakala National Park as with any National Park. Your payment is good for multiple days, meaning you can use your ticket to access the summit of the crater if you choose to visit at sunrise or another time during your trip. As of June 2022, the fee is $30/car for three days but you can confirm the current fees here. If you have a National Park pass, make sure to pack it and your entrance fee will be covered.

We used our National Park annual park entry pass to enter. For $80, this is something you should consider purchasing if you visit more than two National Parks per year. Also, if you happen to have a fourth-grader, you are eligible for a free annual pass! Follow these instructions ahead of your visit.

PIPIWAI TRAIL PARKING

Check out this post for all of the details of how we got to the Pipiwai Trail parking lot. The road to Hana is a popular day trip filled with stunning waterfalls, unforgettable views, and pools for dipping. It is also home to private property, rental car overload, cars parked everywhere, wet conditions, and tourists everywhere. Make sure to plan accordingly. Read more about planning this Hawaiian bucket list adventure here.

The entrance gates for the Kipahulu District, home of the Pipiwai Trail, open at 9 am, and I recommend getting there as close to that as possible. Since we arrived at Haleakala National Park at about 10:30 am, we were still able to park our rental car in the main lot. Make sure to secure your car rental in advance.

From our photos, you will see that we were able to hike the Pipiwai Trail without terrible crowds of hikers surrounding us. On the way back down the trail, we passed many people starting their bamboo forest hike. When we finished our hike around 2 pm, the crowds were very heavy, with the national park overflow parking filling up.

PIPIWAI TRAIL FACILITIES

The main parking lot for the Kipahulu area of Haleakala National Park is next to the park visitor center. Here you can find restrooms, a filtered water dispenser (plan to wait in line a bit if crowded), and a foot rinse area (it gets muddy)!

HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAM

If you read my blog, you know I love National Park Junior Ranger programs. We were not going to miss this free Hawaiian souvenir. If you have kids, definitely take advantage of this free program. We always ask for a park map and Junior Ranger book before exploring at the entrance station. In addition, you can always email the park ahead of your trip to ask for PDF versions or physical brochures, maps, etc., to be mailed to you. This is an excellent option for COVID closures.

Our son loves the information in the Junior Ranger books, and they make for a fun souvenir. Due to COVID, the ranger gave my husband the badge with the book to give to our son when he finished his activities. So, if you are planning a Haleakala sunrise, you can get the book at one location and turn it in at the other for a badge. This way, your child has more time to work on it, and it makes for a great car or restaurant activity in between! If they cannot finish, you can always mail it in after your visit, and they will mail you a badge.

TIPS FOR VISITING MAUI’S BAMBOO FOREST

WEATHER & SUPPLIES

The Pipiwai Trail is one of the island’s wettest areas so expect muddy conditions. During the typical “dry season” (April – October), the Pipiwai Trail will see more rain than the rest of the island, with almost 2/3 of the month rainy. Temperatures can also reach the low 80’s, so layers are essential.

It was a beautiful sunny day when we hiked, but I would have wanted a light jacket if it was raining. The bamboo forest offers shady, cooler conditions which were nice after the elevation gain at the beginning of the hike!

We made sure to lather up sunblock in the parking lot and had a backpack with snacks and plenty of water. We also used bug repellent stickers to avoid bites. Bug spray would work too. The kids wore their sun hats for the majority of the Pipiwai Trail hike.

Our son wore his hiking boots, but we wore tennis shoes due to packing constraints. However, hiking boots would have been ideal in the mud. In addition to the mud, part of the trail is rocky, which leads to slippery conditions. You will want more than flip-flops for this hike due to the wet conditions (and stinging centipedes)! We planned on our shoes getting muddy, and I brought a mesh laundry bag to wash them in the condo after this hike!

SAFETY ON THE PIPIWAI TRAIL

Safety is so important for visitors to Hawaii, and the Pipiwai Trail and bamboo forest are no exception. Basic hiking safety needs to be followed. If your children are young, make sure to review these expectations with them. This is a remote area. You do not want to be waiting for hours for medical help out here. Park signage warns of dangerous conditions like flash flooding, slippery rocks, and swift currents.

STAY ON THE TRAIL

Stay on the trail sounds obvious, but to some, it is not. We saw plenty of people ignoring this basic advice. It is crucial as fatalities have occurred from people trying to get a “better view” and falling down the cliff. As you first start the trail, you walk uphill and can hear the roaring water below you. Signs warning you not to pass them are all along the cliff to your right, saying, “DANGER! Steep Cliffs, Fatal Drop.” Do not go past them. I feel like a broken record here, but when I was looking into this trail with kids, I came across several blogs where the family posted their kids’ photos BEHIND these signs!!! They are there for a reason. The bamboo forest trail is a fantastic place and should be treated as such.

BACK AWAY FROM WAIMOKU FALLS

As beautiful as the 800-foot falls are to stand and marvel at, respect the signage, and do not try to get closer. This is not a safe place to swim. The danger here is a tiny pebble can wash over, and if you are too close, it hits you in the head and feel like much more than a pebble. In addition, what may appear as a light flow can minutes later be dumping massively into a flash flood. Respect this giant beauty from the safe distance the park recommends.

HIKING THE PIPIWAI TRAIL

PIPIWAI TRAILHEAD TO THE BAMBOO FOREST

The Pipiwai trailhead is located by the Kipahulu Visitor Center and crosses over Highway 31 to follow a stream uphill. Park signage is clear, and most visitors are heading this way to visit bamboo forest.

The beginning of the Pipiwai Trail is a challenging hike, as you climb 400ft in the first half-mile. However, you’ll know you have covered the first part of the climb when you come to the first waterfall, the Makahiku Falls Overlook. Enjoy the view of the first fall from here before you start climbing again. The falls drop 200-feet, but don’t go chasing waterfalls… park signs and railings are there for your protection. Flash floods are common in this area and you don’t want to be the next news headline from the bamboo forest in Maui.

GIANT BANYAN TREE IN THE MAUI BAMBOO FOREST

The shade of the giant banyan tree was a welcomed escape from the uphill climb. Take a moment to enjoy the fresh air and explore this incredible tree. This is an excellent place for a short rest or snack. You will notice most tourists take advantage of this beautiful spot on the Pipiwai Trail in Haleakala National Park. A local guide had recommended taking time to enjoy this spot on the island and I am so glad we did!

After the tree, the trail along the waterfalls continues upstream until you reach a bridge crossing several waterfalls. Once you cross over, you are hit with a stunning view. The waterfalls of Haleakala National Park flowing below you are only a taste of the unforgettable waterfall further up the trail.

THE BAMBOO FOREST IN HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK

After you cross the first bridge, you enter the stunning bamboo forest. Although still climbing, you won’t be able to take your eyes off of the bamboo walls surrounding you. As the wind blows, the tapping of the bamboo stalks is such a peaceful noise. The bamboo forest is a very magical place. It was emotional being here after wanting to go for so long and planning to get here!

During your journey through the bamboo forest, the muddy and rocky trail turns into a beautiful boardwalk that keeps you out of the mud. Our son loved this part of the hike because he felt like he could run through the boardwalk sections surrounded by the vibrant, towering bamboo. The wind moving through the bamboo stalks was our favorite part of the Pipiwai Trail experience.

WAIMOKU FALLS IN HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK

As the bamboo forest comes to an end, the boardwalk continues out and curves you around to a spectacular view – the 400-foot Waimoku Falls. The waterfall is stunning but needs to be viewed from afar. As the park’s sign says, “Waimoku can mean water that cuts, severs, amputates, or breaks in two, as a stream often does after heavy rain.” Respect the land, the “power of natural forces,” and the park warning signs.

We took some time here to enjoy the view of Waimoku Falls and have a picnic lunch. We found a spot to picnic on the side of the trail well before the final “do not pass” sign at the end. This is a phenomenal place to appreciate the beauty of the day so far and rest before heading back out on the trail. The good news is you get to enjoy Maui’s magical bamboo forest again! Only this time, heading downhill in Haleakala National Park.

FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT THE BAMBOO FOREST

I love visiting National Parks and Haleakala National Park did not disappoint. The Pipiwai Trail was incredible and made for a beautiful hike. Getting here took some planning, but I am so glad we took the time to check out this bamboo forest in Maui.

Check out this post to read more about our timeline to the Pipiwai Trail from Kapalua. With no rushing and plenty of stops along the way, we took 1 hour and 15 minutes to hike out to Waimoku Falls.

We stayed by the falls for about 45 minutes and took less than an hour to get back down through the bamboo forest in Maui. Between packing up and bathroom breaks before leaving, our entire stop at the Pipiwai Trail was 3 1/2 hours. This can be done faster, especially if you are not with children. We took our time and enjoyed every minute of this spectacular hike!

We hit the road back to Hana at 2:15 and were headed to our next stop… Maui’s black sand beach! Check out my post about Wai’anapanapa State Park for all the details on this leg of our Road to Hana adventure.

MORE ON THE KIPAHULU AREA OF HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK

POOLS OF ‘O’HEO – A SPOT WE MISSED

This beautiful spot has several names – Oheo Gulch, Seven Sacred Pools, Pools of ‘O’heo. No matter what you call it, the pools sound stunning and usually are one of the busiest places on the road to Hana. Sadly, during our visit, COVID had things closed, and we could not visit. I have heard these pools are magical and we will be back for a swim next time!

Check here for current closure information. It started raining on our way home and afternoon rain is common on the road to Hana. Make sure your timing to the bamboo forest and accompanying falls is planned to avoid afternoon delays. Maui is an island filled with endless adventure and beauty.

Have you been to Haleakala National Park? Or experienced the Pipiwai Trail, the bamboo forest hike? What was your favorite part? Let me know below!