Vacationing in Maui? Put Biking Down Mt. Haleakala On Your To Do List

You arrived yesterday for a 10 day vacation in paradise. Maui, Hawaii. Beautiful beaches, mountains, breath-taking views, and relaxation. So why in the world are you sitting in a dark parking lot in front of your condo at 2:30am? You just went to bed 4 hours ago. What could compel you to be sitting in the dark in the wee morning hours? There is only one thing, sunrise on Mount Haleakala followed by a 38 mile bike ride down the Haleakala Volcano.

This is a must see, must do attraction when you visit Maui, if you are reasonably fit and can follow directions. So, do your research and find a reputable bike tour company. I suggest you take the guided tour down the mountain and NOT the self-guided tour. The guided tour will pace you correctly down the steep mountain and provide a level of expertise and security that you will be glad you had in the long run. I suggest you start your search here Bicycle Tours on the island of Maui - CLICK HERE!

After you are picked up by the tour company you will journey to the company headquarters. There you will watch a brief safety video and have the opportunity to grab a cup of coffee before you begin your journey up the mountain. Once you begin up the mountain you will be provided additional information about the tour by your guides. Things like: where to go to get the best view of the sunrise or where to stand to avoid some of the wind. Oh, I forgot to tell you. You are going up to 10,000 feet elevation and it is going to be chilly. Dress in layers and as you progress down the mountain on your ride you can remove the outer layers. This will allow you to stay comfortable during your ride.

When you reach the top go over to the visitor's center and wait for the sunrise. You will actually be above the clouds and should have a spectacular view. The crater is huge and was actually used by NASA back in the 60's for astronaut training.

As you begin your ride (by the way you pedal a total of less than 400 yards in this 38 mile trip) it will be chilly, but the views you will experience make the trip worth your while. You will view wide valleys, beautiful vegetation, eucalyptus forest, cattle, and of course ocean views that are out of this world. You will end up passing through the town of Paia and stopping at the beachfront just outside of town. The guides will load you bikes back into the trailer and you will be home in time for lunch.