What to do in Makawao forest reserve

What to do in Makawao forest reserve

Makawao forest reserve is located in upcountry Maui county in Hawaii. It is an 847ha reserve land on the northwest od Haleakala. Makawao forest reserve is located 2.7 miles from the town of Makawao. You can get there from Kahui airport, which 24 km from the forest reserve. Makawao forest reserve is characterized by indigenous and foreign plants, trees, and shrubs, which grow all over the forest.

Makawao forest reserve is one of those places that are not popular, but once you get there, you never want to leave. Makawao is a small beautiful upcoming tourist attraction that is going to take the world by surprise. It is sure must visit! If you are planning a visit to Hawaii, you need to stop for a visit to the Makawao forest reserve. You will be surprised by the unique things you can do in this little heaven.

What to do in Makawao forest reserve

Mountain biking

You have not experienced mountain biking if you have not been to the Makawao forest reserve. The forest reserve is known to have the best mountain bike trails you will find not only in Hawaii but in the world. Makawao forest reserve offers some of the best single and double trails to suit whichever riding types of rider out there.

The bike trails are very long and challenging. We recommend riding to a town restaurant where you can enjoy the town’s delicacies before you head to the forest for mountain biking. The entrance to the forest trails can be accessed through the parking lot. From the parking lot, you can follow the clear signs to the east and west loops.

There are seven trails and three different skill areas that accommodate every riders’ abilities. Mountain biking in Makawao forest reserve features 35-45 mins uphill ride before you can get to a single track. Every single trail in the Makawao forest reserve is marked with red arrows to guide the riders. You will also find a number of riders on the tracks as well as hikers. You are always advised to carry a map since the forest trails can get confusing.

If you do not have a bike, don’t worry. You do not have to miss out on the fun. There are several bike rentals companies near the epic trails of Makawao forest reserves. The Krank cycles are one such rental company. Located 15 minutes from the sanctuary, the rental shop is a hub of enduro bikes. There is a collection of every bike you can think of. Their staff will recommend the best bike depending on your school level and the trail you want to take.

Haleakala bike company is also a viable option for renting mountain bikes. Their collection ranges from feet to hardtail models. What’s more, all their bikes are new! Hardtails are borrowed from $55 per day while the fleet bikes go for $45. What do you get? Every package includes a bike of your choice, car rack, rain/wind gear, backpack with tools, helmet, and car jack. The bag with tools comes in handy if you get a puncture since the trails can be slightly rough.

The bike trails in Makawao forest reserve tend to be muddy since they are often wet. Large roots can also cause havoc, especially when riding downhill. You should take caution to avoid injury.

Hiking

Makawao forest reserve is popular for hiking. Those who have been here say they prefer hiking in the Makawao than in any mountains they have been to. There are two great options for hikes: the Kahakapao loop trail and the Waihou springs forest. The Kahakapao trail is open to both bikers and hikers. It’s ideal for those who want to enjoy watching bikers zoom by as they hike. It entails a 5 miles trail characterized by birds chirping and nature.

The Waihou springs are only open to hikers. It is a much quieter and shorter route. The Waihou is a 2-mile trail that leads to the Olinda road. It’s a less challenging trail, which makes it suitable for the aged, or anyone who is not very sporty. The trail is, however, scenic. The beginning of the trail is just a walk-through woods of pine trees, but in the end, there is a 30-foot rock face. You can climb through the tunnels bored through the rocks. The rocks are perfect for photos.

The hiking experience in the Makawao forest reserve is made especially amazing b the serenity of this forest. You can enjoy shady walks through Maui’s collection of trees. The air also has a touch of chill, which comes in handy as you heat up during the hike. The strong smell of massive eucalyptus on the trails is sure to clear your sinuses.

Kahakapao loop trail

The Kahakapao trail is the longest of the trails in Makawao forest reserve. It is 10 km long and subdivides into the east loop and the west loop trails.

The Kahakapao east loop trail is the challenging of the two with an added level of difficulty due to the roots, tight switchback corners, and rough terrain. It is, however, shorter than the west loop but more challenging and technical. The east loop trail serves as a two-way traffic trail for mountain bike riders. The Kahakapao east loop takes the riders through beautiful pine and eucalyptus trees and their roots. The smell of the trees through the tropical plants and the flowers is to die for! Be ready for the real challenge as the east loop tends to be wetter than the west loop. It becomes unpassable during the rainy season.

Kahakapao west loop trail is longer than the east loop but simpler to navigate. It is suitable for beginners and intermediate riders as the trail is made of flat terrain. The west loop tends to be dry even during the rainy season. There are very few tree roots on the trail, therefore less technical. The west loop trail is just over 2miles long, connecting with the pineapple express and the renegade trail.

Renegade trail

The renegade trail is where mountain biking began. Its what we would call the throwback Thursday trail of Makawao forest reserve. The renegade trail is one of the few two-way traffic Makawao trails. The thing we love about renegade trail is that it’s challenging to climb as well as to descend. Do not attempt riding on this trail if you are not ready for a technical ride. There are a lot of camber roots, sharp corners, and narrow trail sections, which make the ride worth-while. You are not ready for this one! It is a suitable trail to invite a few friends for cross-country mountain biking.

Pineapple express trail

The pineapple express trail is also referred to as the downhill flow trail. The best thing about this trail is that it is ridable by everyone. The trail is a flow, making it easy for a five-year-old, an adult, or an old grandpa to have the same fun. The pineapple express is a two-mile, one-way traffic trail. Riders can only ride downhill.

The trail is also packed with tabletops, which can be rolled over by every rider of all capacity. The trail can be rolled by intermediate riders, beginners and even experts. It would be a walk in the park for experts, but it is still packed with fun. The trail can be fast when dry, but when it gets greasy and sticky when it gets wet.

Fong ridge trail access

The Fong ridge trail access is a service road parallel to the pineapple access. The trail presents challenges of its own, though it may not be as challenging as the other, we have mentioned. Riding up the Fong ridge trail access takes 20 mins less than punching up the Kahakapao east loop trail. That makes the Fong ridge a short but tough trail. To be able to conquer this trail, you will need to hire a long-travel mountain bike.

The ravine trails

The ravine trail gets its name because it borders a huge ravine along the trail. The renegade and Kahakapao west loop and ravine trails intersect to make the mountain biking even more thrilling. The trail features some technical berms and mini-rhythm sections. The trail empties into the Kahakapao trail at the end of the ride.

Tweener trail

You can never run out of trails in Makawao forest reserve. The tweener trail is part of a single-track trail that links the Kahakapao west loop with the mountain skills area and the Makawao parking lot. The trail is the shortest of all we have mentioned above. It is not a challenging track at all. It is more of a trail that you can use to finish your ride or access the Kahakapao west trail.

Conclusion

The Makawao forest reserve is a must-visit when you are touting Hawaii. It is not quite popular, but you will have the time of your life. The serenity of the forest makes it ideal for walks and mountain biking mostly. You can bring a group of friends or family with you. After you have visited the Makawao forest reserve, you can head to the old Wailuku to unwind after an overwhelmingly unforgettable experience!