Polipoli State Park

I read about Polipoli State Park (officially Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area, near Haleakala Crater ) in Maui Revealed, which my brother-in-law gave to me in Maui as a Christmas gift. I had meant to buy this book years ago but for whatever reason never got around to doing it.


























Wouldn’t you find it hard to believe if someone told you they had hiked in an actual redwood forest in Maui? I certainly would have, until my recent visit to Maui’s Polipoli State Park. Click here for driving directions located near the bottom of this page.

This photo (above) shows the entrance to the 1.7 mile Redwood Trail. (The hike to the redwoods is about 25 minutes.) Outside the photo on the left is a green cabin. Note that bikes are not allowed on this trail.

I made the mistake of starting down the trail at about 5:45 am on January 1, 2007 (shorter days in the winter months/sun comes up later). Not much light out at this time of morning.

As you can see from the photo (right) it was beginning to get lighter, but the trees in the forest blocked much of the sunlight at that early morning time, making it somewhat difficult to see the trail.

I didn't think to bring a flashlight and soon after starting on the trail with less than optimal light, I inadvertently veered off of it to the left, and started down the mountain between the trees. All the time I was thinking, this doesn't look much like a used trail...if it's a trail at all, but it's sure beautiful.

After about 15 minutes of this, I decided I wasn't on the trail, and I returned to the head of Redwood Trail.

So at about 6:15 am, I started down the trail again, and by this point I could actually see the trail beyond the first few steps.

The smell of the forest was wonderful and refreshing, and it was so peaceful and quiet. I didn't see a single person on the trails that morning. The solitude was welcome.

These roots stuck out of the ground on many stretches of the trail, so take heed.

I ended up running about a third of the approximately 5 miles that I hiked that morning, without tripping on one of them.


I couldn't help but notice the beautiful green ferns along many parts of the trail.

Most of trees in Polipoli State Park are pine, cypress, eucalyptus and ash.

I hiked down about 0.8 miles of the Redwood Trail, and decided to take the tie (instead of going to the end of the 1.7 mile Redwood Trail). The 0.5 mile tie trail is marked with a sign, and it connects to the Plum Trail.

The redwood forest was located along the tie section of the trail.


After about 20-25 minutes of hiking, I came into the Sequoia/redwood section of the forest (left). Some of these trees are over 100 feet tall and a few are nearly six feet wide at the base!

In one small section of the trail I saw that some of the Sequoias were numbered with florescent orange paint. I counted 25 or so like this, and wasn't sure if these were marked for cutting down(!) or for some other reason....





Another view looking straight up into the redwoods.

What also struck me was the straightness of the redwood trunks as contrasted to the non-Sequoia trees located in other parts of the forest.

I continued walking the tie, and out of the redwoods, until I reached the end of the tie.

At the end of the tie, you can turn left onto Plum Trail (marked by a sign). From this point, Plum Trail is 1.1 miles to Haleakala Ridge Trail. This section of Plum Trail ascends in elevation from about 5500 feet to around 5900 feet.

You will make a left onto Haleakala Ridge Trail. Again, it's marked by a sign. (Plum Trail continues after that, but it is not well defined.)

This photo (above) was taken on Haleakala Ridge Trail, and was some of the first direct sunlight I saw that morning.

This shot (and the next three) were taken on Waipoli Road on my way back to the condo, looking northwest. You can see part of West Maui Mountain, and in the distance you can see Lanai.

This view from Waipoli Road is looking north. On the left in the distance, obscured by the clouds, is West Maui Mountain. And to the right is Kahului and surrounding cities.

I'm hoping during our next Maui trip to do some additional hiking in Polipoli State Park on some of the other trails.

Directions to Polipoli State Park
From Kahului, take Hana Highway 36 east a couple of miles, and then make a right onto Haleakala Highway 37. You will then drive about 14 miles. At about 7 ½ miles you’ll see a left turnoff onto the northern end of Highway 377. Don’t turn left here (this takes you to Haleakala Crater).

Instead, continue driving another 6 miles and make a left turn onto the southern end of Highway 377. On Highway 377 drive a little over ¼ mile, then make a right turn onto Waipoli Road.

There are several signs warning you to watch out for cattle. The first 6 miles of Waipoli Road is paved road, and the last 4 miles is unpaved, but very drivable (you won’t need a four wheel drive) with some really great views of West Maui Mountain and the valley in-between.

Near the end of 10 miles, take the right fork, and you will end up in a parking lot. Park your vehicle and walk a short distance back up the road to the Redwood Trail. Have fun!

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