Last updated on June 16th, 2026
The Pipiwai Trail is one of our favorite hikes on Maui! And we’re sharing everything to know before you hike it.
We’ve been to Maui three times and after exploring the entire island, one of our can’t miss hikes is the Pipiwai Trail in Haleakalā National Park. This short hike packs quite the punch!
In just 1.8 miles (one way) you will get to experience mountain views, a bamboo forest, and multiple waterfalls, including the star of the show, Waimoku Falls at 400 feet tall. It’s easily one of our favorite national park hikes (and we’ve been to over 50 of them)! So much so that we have done it twice over the years.
And in this guide we’re sharing everything to know before attempting this hike, including how to get there, what to expect along the way, safety tips, and more.
Looking for more things to do on Maui?
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- Read all of our Hawaii travel guides
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Pipiwai Trail to Waimoku Falls Map & Stats
Distance (round trip): 3.6 miles
Elevation gain: 849 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail conditions & recent reviews
We personally think this is a relatively easy hike. However, with uneven hiking surfaces, muggy weather, possible mud, and a decent amount of elevation gain, it may be a bit tougher depending on the conditions you get and your hiking experience. But overall, we think it’s doable for many ages and abilities!
Before embarking on your adventure, please review the Leave No Trace principles to ensure you leave every place better than you found it, so that others can enjoy these beautiful places for many years to come!
These seven principles include planning ahead and preparing, hiking and camping on durable surfaces, disposing of waste properly (pack out what you pack in!), understanding campfire rules and always fully extinguishing your fires, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of other visitors.
What to expect along the Pipiwai Trail to Waimoku Falls
Trailhead & parking
The Pipiwai Trail is located in Haleakalā National Park’s Kīpahulu District, at the end of the Road to Hana. And at only 3.6 miles round trip, it makes for a totally doable day hike when driving the Road to Hana. In fact, it’s one of our personal favorite stops along the drive!
To start the hike, you will want to park in this parking lot. Here you’ll find flushing toilets and water fill up. Make sure to utilize these before you hit the trail, as it’s your only chance!
Once you’re ready to go, you will look for the trailhead to the left of the visitor center. This will take you to the Pipiwai Trail, as well as ‘Ohe’o Gulch, which we also highly recommend adding on. There will be a junction for the two trails shortly after you start the hike. To do the Pipiwai Trail first, you will want to go to the left!
From here, you will reach the Hana Highway and will need to cross the road to officially start the Pipiwai Trail!
First mile of the hike
The first mile of the Pipiwai Trail is loaded with cool things to see! First, you’ll start out in the forest (not the bamboo kind), with so many birds chirping. About half a mile into the hike the forest will open up a bit to give you some beautiful views of the mountains and Makihiku Falls off in the distance.
As you continue, you’ll pass under the canopy of a massive, sprawling, banyan tree. This tree is over 100 years old and its branches span 60 feet. It is extremely impressive and awe inspiring to stand under! However, one damper on this experience is how many people felt the need to carve their names in the tree. Please do not do this! It goes against Leave No Trace principles.
Shortly after the banyan tree, you will come across a bridge that goes over a gorge with the Palikea Stream rushing through over multiple levels, with small waterfalls tumbling over. There are two total bridges and in between them, you’ll get your first glimpse of the bamboo forest you’ll be entering soon.
Bamboo Forest
About one mile into the hike, the bamboo forest begins! The bamboo forest is filled with tall stalks of bamboo that sway in the wind and make this super cool crackling sound.
There are multiple sections of the bamboo forest, spanning about 0.5 miles, with some sections having a rocky trail (watch your step!) and others having wooden boardwalks.
We have visited other bamboo forests around the world, like Kyoto’s famous Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. But this easily beats it!
Waimoku Falls
Right after you leave the bamboo forest you’ll get your first glimpse of Waimoku Falls. You’re almost there! But before you get to the viewpoint of the falls, you have one final hurdle, a creek crossing.
One thing to be very mindful of is that if it begins raining during your hike, this creek can rise pretty quickly. We have read reports where people have gotten stuck by the waterfall because the creek became too dangerous to cross back over. So please keep an eye on the weather! During our most recent hike, we were able to mostly step on rocks and stay dry, but if it’s flowing a bit more, you may have to get your feet wet.
Once you get across the creek, you reach the viewpoint of the 400 foot tall Waimoku Falls. You are NOT allowed to hike to the base of the falls, so please follow the rules. But even from the viewpoint you still get a great view of the falls. It’s so tall that you will have to crane your neck to see it!
Bonus: ‘Ohe’o Gulch
After leaving the Waimoku Falls viewpoint, you will hike back the same way you came. Once you get close to the trailhead, we suggest making a detour to visit the ‘Ohe’o Gulch. ‘Ohe’o means “something special” in Hawaiian and we can’t think of a more fitting name.
Here you’ll find waterfalls and cascading pools of water that lead out to the ocean. It’s a stunning scene! However, one very important thing to know is that you are no longer allowed to swim here. But even without swimming in the pools, the waterfalls, lush terrain, and dramatic coastal views are still well worth visiting for!
Things to know before hiking the Pipiwai Trail to Waimoku Falls
Driving the Road to Hana
The Pipiwai Trail is located at the end of the main part of the Road to Hana. So to get here, it’s a bit of a journey! If you drove directly from the start of the drive to the Pipiwai Trail, it would be a little over a 2.5 hour drive. But in our opinion, it’s well worth it, especially since there are so many other fun stops along the Road to Hana!
Haleakalā National Park entrance fee
There is a $30 (per vehicle) entrance fee to visit Haleakalā National Park. This covers you for 3 days in the park, so we suggest visiting both the Kīpahulu and Summit districts within that timeframe to avoid paying twice!
If you have the America the Beautiful pass, you will get in for free. So make sure to add it to your Maui packing list!
Start early or go late
This is one of the most popular hikes on Maui, so it can get busy! Mid-day is when this hike will likely be the busiest due to Road to Hana daytrippers not typically reaching this hike until around noon. So for more solitude, we suggest going early or late!
The first time we did this hike, we hiked later in the afternoon and didn’t encounter that many people. However, this was in 2018, before the 2020 surge in National Park interest.
On our most recent visit, we hiked this trail right after sunrise (thanks to staying at the Wai’anapanapa State Park Cabins the night before!) and saw just two other people on the hike to the waterfall. It was getting a tad busier on the hike back, but there were still many stretches without any people.
Dogs are not allowed
Because this hike is located in Haleakalā National Park, dogs are not allowed. So if you happen to have your dog with you on Maui, they will need to sit this one out.
What to pack for the Pipiwai Trail to Waimoku Falls
Besides the 10 essentials, which we recommend bringing on any outdoor adventure, plus general hiking gear, there are a few key things you’ll want to bring when hiking the Pipiwai Trail.
Good hiking shoes
Leave the flip flops behind and make sure to wear good hiking shoes! This hike can often be very muddy, so you’ll want some good grip. We love our Altra trail runners (Adam’s, Kathryn’s), which are lightweight and dry fast if they get wet.
Rain protection
This hike is located on the rainier side of Maui, so make sure to pack some rain protection! While a full-on rain jacket (Adam’s, Kathryn’s) would work, you may get too hot. A lightweight windbreaker (Adam’s, Kathryn’s) may be more comfortable! Or you can just let it rain on you, which may feel refreshing.
And don’t forget a pack cover for your backpack!
Water
Bringing lots of water is also super important, as this hike is very warm and muggy. You can fill up at the visitor center before hiking and we suggest bringing a Camelbak to store a lot of water at once. Electrolytes, like LMNT, were also crucial for us due to the sun and altitude.
Sun protection
While much of the hike is in the trees, we still suggest bringing sun protection, like a sun hoodie, sunscreen, and a hat. This will be especially helpful if you visit ‘Ohe’o Gulch afterwards and for other stops along the Road to Hana.
Bug spray
This trail can sometimes have quite a few mosquitoes, so make sure to bring some bug spray! We suggest bringing a small travel size bug spray from home, versus buying on the island. That way, you can take it back home if you don’t use it all.
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