“Amazing ride down Haleakala! Well organized, great gear, and we loved going at our own pace.”
Verified Review
This 5-hour adventure starts in Paia, where you’ll receive your gear and a safety briefing before a scenic 45-minute van ascent to 6,500 ft at the entrance to Haleakalā National Park. Switch to a front-suspension mountain bike and ride 98% downhill along switchbacks, with sweeping views of Haleakalā’s slopes, the West Maui mountains, and the island’s coastline. Self-guided and supported by a sweep van and roadside assistance, you’re free to stop in local towns like Makawao, take photos, grab a snack, and ride at your own pace—just return your bike to Paia by 1:30 pm.
GUEST REQUIREMENTS
For ages 15+
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Easy, downhill ride
WHAT TO BRING
Light layers (it’s cool at 6,500 ft), Closed-toe shoes (required), sun protection
CANCELLATION POLICY
Changes or cancellations must be made 48 hours prior.
WHAT GUESTS ARE SAYING
4.8★ from 930+ reviews on TripAdvisor
Riders say Maui Sunriders nails the balance between adventure and freedom. Many praise how easy the downhill ride is for confident cyclists — mostly coasting, gentle curves, big sky views, and small towns to explore along the way. Guests highlight the detailed safety briefing and quality gear, plus how nice it feels to ride independently without a big group crowding local roads. The freedom to stop for coffee, fresh banana bread, or just a moment to breathe in the eucalyptus is what keeps travelers coming back.
This classic Maui ride is all about freedom — coast 23 miles downhill from the cool slopes of Haleakalā’s 6,500-foot staging area back to sea level in laid-back Paia town. After checking in at the Maui Sunriders bike shop, you’ll gear up with a full-face helmet, rain/wind gear, gloves, and a single-speed mountain bike designed for easy descending. A narrated van tour takes you up the same winding road you’ll soon ride down, with local stories and roadside tips from your guide.
Once at the launch point just outside Haleakalā National Park, you’re on your own schedule: stop for banana bread, fresh coffee, lavender fields, or just the views — there’s no big group to follow and no pressure to rush. The ride is 98% downhill with gentle curves, open skies, and wide shoulders. It’s quiet, scenic, and easy for confident cyclists who know how to handle brakes on a steady descent.
Important Information:
Duration: ~5 hours total (includes van shuttle and ride time)
Bike Ride Time: Start around 10:30 AM; return bikes by 1:30 PM
Meeting Point: Maui Sunriders Bike Shop, 71 Baldwin Ave, Paia, HI 96779
Check-In: 8:45 AM for gear fitting and safety briefing
Minimum Age: 15 years old, minimum height 4′11″, max weight 300 lbs
Requirements: Riders must be experienced and confident cyclists comfortable sharing winding roads with cars. Not suitable for beginners or expecting mothers.
Safety: Helmets, gloves, rain/wind gear, lock, and roadside assistance provided.
What to Bring: Closed-toe shoes (required), light layers for mountain temps, sunglasses, sunscreen, cash for local stops, camera/phone, and gratuity if you’d like to tip the crew.
Meals: Not included — bring cash for breakfast, snacks, or shopping at roadside stops.Maui Sunriders Bike Company is a long-loved local outfitter based in Paia, known for pioneering Maui’s self-guided Haleakalā downhill ride. Their team pairs decades of island knowledge with thoughtful road safety coaching, so guests can ride at their own pace — stopping for lavender fields, roadside fruit stands, or sweeping crater views on the way down. This isn’t about chasing a guide: it’s about cruising solo from cool mountain slopes to sea breezes, with local roadside assistance always on standby.
Location: Maui Sunriders Bike Shop, 71 Baldwin Ave, Paia, HI 96779
Check-In: Arrive by 8:45 AM. After gear fitting and a safety briefing, you’ll hop in the van for the drive to the staging area at 6,500 ft. The average bike start time is 10:30 AM and bikes must be returned by 1:30 PM.No Refunds within 48 HOURS FROM THE CHECK-IN TIME OF THE ACTIVITY a reservation cannot be cancelled, and the full amount of the cost of the tour will be charged.
Reservations made inside the 48 hours prior to the start of the activity cannot be cancelled, and the full amount will be charged to the credit card account on file, regardless of the client's participation in the activity, or not.
For Parties of Eight (8) or more the cancellation policy time is 72 hours.
NO SHOWS will be charged the full amount of the cost of the tour. No exceptions.
Maui Sunriders Bike Co. reserves the right to cancel a tour, without notice, due to SEVERE weather conditions, lack of participation or mechanical failure. If this occurs, Maui Sunriders will give you an opportunity to re-schedule or a full refund.
Terms & Conditions
Phone and online reservations are our principal booking systems. When upon a reservations a customer submits a credit card account number it is mutually understood and agreed that his/her reservation is confirmed, and at check-in time his/her space will be guaranteed.
Absolutely NO BEGINNERS
No PREGNANT WOMEN!
No youth under the age of 15 (per new Maui County Laws)
MINORS (under 18) must be accompanied by an adult
Bike Manufacturers weight limit is 300lbs. / 122.5kg.
If you haven't been on a bike in over 10 YEARS, we highly suggest you re-consider this bike ride. This isn't a ride to re-familiarize yourself with biking, you should be confident and comfortable riding a bike.
Bikes must be returned by 1:30pm (per new Maui County Laws)
FOLIO TRAVELOGUE
Haleakalā Downhill Bike Tour: A Self-Guided Ride from Mountain to Sea Through Upcountry Maui
I love that feeling when the van tops the switchbacks and drops you off at 6,500 ft—warm breeze at your back, the air crisp and clear, and Haleakalā’s slopes stretching below. After a gear check and map briefing at the Maui Sunriders shop in Paia, the real adventure begins.
The ride is 98% downhill, mercifully almost no pedaling—just a front-suspension mountain bike, windbreaker gear, and disc brakes in hand. Each turn delivers another spectacular vista: distant island peaks, farmland terraces, patches of lavender and eucalyptus, and an ocean horizon that seems impossibly far below.
"Riding 98% downhill isn’t just easy—it’s an invitation to soak in Maui’s beauty at your own pace."
What makes the Haleakalā downhill bike tour special is the freedom. No rigid group pace. I paused twice: once to sip iced coffee in Makawao’s sunny town center, chatting with artisan vendors; another to capture a light-dappled canyon vista. When I clipped back in, the road unfurled smoothly toward Paia.
And when I reached the bike shop right at 1:30 pm, sun warmed and legs buzzing with endorphins, I realized this wasn’t just a ride. It was a perfectly paced journey through Maui’s shifting landscapes—from volcanic heights to coastal calm—in my own rhythm.
