Bring bug spray! The trail is nicely shaded with lush green tree, ground coverage, and softened…read moredirt path. Although, that meant lots of mosquitos for the 5 min walk from the trail head to the stream. The stream during this season is dry and zero water. There were plenty of chicken and roosters running around. The sunlight peaking through the trees and branches created nice backdrop for pictures. Definitely would explore more if we ever come back.

The best place to snorkel at…read more There were so many fishes and different kinds also! It was my first official time snorkeling so it was a little spooky but man oh man, I had a blast. Didn't see ant sea turtles but did see a variety of fishes.

Beautiful, protected bay with reef that has many different fish and sea turtles. There is shade and…read moreplenty of things to see while snorkeling! No need for the big boat tours! Gorgeous spot.

This beach is wonderful but they now charge a whopping $47 to park! It almost costs as much as…read moretheir quick ticket price of $49 ish. Saw a turtle :)

The full Kapalua Coastal Trail is about 1.76 miles and can be divided into four sections (see map I…read moremarked : 1. Blue 2. Yellow 3. Red 4. Green). We stayed on the west side of Maui, only about a 10-minute drive to the trail's north end. Left around 11:30am but had to detour a bit due to road work. 1. Kapalua Coastal Trail - Kapalua Bay Public Beach Parking You can plug in Kapalua Bay Public Beach Parking on Google Maps, but free parking is very limited. We drove in circles around 11:50am and couldn't find a single spot! Paid parking nearby was $20, and some restaurants had valet for $10. A little pricey just for a short hike, so we kept looking for other options. 2. Free Parking - Cliff House This lot is inside the Montage Kapalua Bay resort, but only about 10 spaces are actually free. We got lucky after waiting 10+ minutes and snagged a spot. From here, heading left takes you toward the Kapalua Bay side, passing Cliff House, Namalu Bay viewpoint, and Kapalua Bay Beach. After looping back, we continued right toward the Dragon's Teeth Trail. 3. Dragon's Teeth Trail The entrance has a small free parking lot right next to the Ritz-Carlton. Again, spots are super limited, and by the time we got there around 2pm, it was completely full. The trail takes you past Ironwood Cliffs and Oneloa Beach before reaching Dragon's Teeth. 4. Makaluapuna Ridge Trail This section continues further past Dragon's Teeth, but we didn't do this part. **Tips from our walk (123): * Switch Google Maps to satellite view to spot small parking lots. * Free parking is scarce, just come earlier if you can. * Kapalua Bay Beach & Oneloa Beach sections are sandy and flat, good for swimming and easy walking. * Dragon's Teeth is rocky, sneakers are way better than sandals. * Bring water, hat, and sunglasses. Even though it was only mid-70s (F), there's zero shade, and I ended up with a sunburned scalp after 2+ hours because I skipped my hat. Overall, this trail is short and easy, but because it runs through luxury resorts and golf courses, expect crowds. Still, the coastal views are stunning and definitely worth adding to your Maui itinerary.

Easy hike, magnificent views , some well maintained paths, going thru expensive resorts,…read morespectacular snorkeling beaches, jagged rocky shores.... Love to hike every morning. Free Parking is hard to find, even $30 pay parking is limited.

Be smart and safe, bring a telephoto lens and view this from a safe distance. If there is a swell…read more(waves breaking against the cliff) don't go down there, a large wave could break over the cliff and pull you out to sea. The blowhole can trick you into thinking it's not doing much and then a huge explosion out of it will soak you and knock you down. Watch for a while from a distance to get a good idea of what is going on and if after 30 minutes you have an idea of the level it's going to go at and you can determine how close you can get safely. Still recommend keeping a good 50 yard distance at a minimum.

Beautiful but a very difficult to climb. Crazy that they now…read morecharge $17 to park! What a ripoff!

Visited alone and explored the area, did not feel comfortable going into the pools as I was the…read moreonly one there. Went back the next day with niece and boyfriend. The steep hike seemed easier but longer and steeper. The pools were teeming with fish and crabs, high tide was about and hour off. Looked around and dove into the deeper of the pools, the water was cool and the salt seemed filtered away. We hung out until the waves started cresting the outer walls. Very beautiful, please be respectful if you go; leave it a better, cleaner place than when you arrived.

We came here to potentially get in the pools, but after reading some of the warnings online and…read moreseeing the pools, which were magnificent, we opted out. We also had our kids with us so that was a game changer. Parking was easy at the trailhead and there weren't a lot of people here. There is a sign at the beginning honoring a man who died here and asking people not to go in the pools. It is about a 5 minute walk to the cliff where you can first see the pools. If you choose to walk down, it is probably another 10 minutes and the terrain isn't too terrible. The pools are indeed right on the ocean, with water from the ocean splashing into them and then pulling back out. It did not too violent when we were there and there were about 10 people swimming and diving into them, so they must be pretty deep. We stood and watched and took in the view for about 15 minutes and then went on our way.

We tackled the Mahana Ridge Trail on a warm, humid morning, starting just above D.T. Fleming Beach…read more At first, the trail seemed approachable--lush trees, a slight incline, sounds of birds--but that calm quickly gave way to a true backcountry challenge. As we climbed, the path became narrower, steeper, and in some sections, so overgrown we were basically bushwhacking. Mud clung to our sneakers, spiderwebs greeted our faces, and parts of the trail felt like they hadn't seen a hiker in weeks. It was tough, but also strangely meditative. There's a real sense of solitude out there--just you, the forest, and whatever's rustling in the leaves nearby. The terrain shifted constantly. We moved through wild guava trees, thick ferns, and eventually into a grove of towering Cook pines. Reaching the Maunalei Arboretum felt like arriving in a different world. Some of the trees had roots taller than we were, and there were entire stretches of ground that felt like walking on a trampoline--just a thin mesh of tight, spongy roots stretched across the forest floor. It was one of the most unique environments we've ever hiked through. Now, full honesty: after hours on the trail, we were wiped--and the thought of retracing our steps all the way back down didn't exactly spark joy. So, we took a little shortcut: a road that winds down through a private neighborhood. It saved time, saved our legs, and got us to the beach that much faster. No regrets. If you're planning to hike Mahana Ridge, start early--you'll want to beat the heat and make the most of daylight. Sneakers worked fine for us, even with the muddy sections, though expect them to get dirty. Long sleeves and pants are smart for protecting against the overgrowth, and downloading a trail map ahead of time is a must, since you'll lose signal and some junctions aren't clearly marked. Be ready for a workout--this isn't a casual stroll, but a full-on forest adventure. Mahana Ridge was challenging, sweaty, and at times borderline ridiculous--but also unforgettable. It's not the kind of hike where the payoff is one big view at the end. It's the kind where the journey is the reward: the silence, the wild terrain, the spongy roots, and the occasional thrill of wondering, "Are we still on the trail?" And finding out... no you are not.

Finally had the chance to do Mahana Ridge Trail over on West Maui earlier in July 2024 and it is…read moredefinitely a nice scenic hike, though not too difficult at the same time. Much of it is in the shade, which does help but still best to try to start early in the day, as it can get really hot later on. There were other hikers on the trail, so it did not feel too lonely. The trailhead is at D.T. Fleming Beach, and you will want to park in the designated parking lot but will have to pay for an all-day pass through scanning a QR code or going to the stated website on the signs. There are points where you can see Kapalua and the golf courses as well as other parts of the West Maui Mountains. The stretch with the guava trees can be a bit treacherous at times because of the muddy conditions and all the berries that have fallen on the ground. Some of the signage is hard to read or follow at times. I got up to the loop point where you can clearly see Napili, Kapalua as well as the West Maui Mountains, Lana'i, and Moloka'i in the distance. Then turned around at that point, and the hike took about 4-1/2 hours roundtrip.

Despite several trips worth of explorations to guidebook suggested spots throughout Maui, this is…read moreone of my favorite places that I've come across and this one by chance. After following the Kapalua coastal trail around the north side of the Montage resort, we found a dirt trail through the coastal grass that wraps around to Namalu Bay. This spot is commonly referred to as "Cliff House" due to the actual Cliff House which is an event venue, available for rent, that overlooks the Bay from a cliff above. The trail to Namalu Bay offers spectacular views of gorgeous ocean and rock pools created from old lava flow. Once at the Bay itself, you will experience abnormally clear water that is a mixture of stunning shades of blues and greens. There is no beach here and the amount of open space to just hangout is somewhat limited and on rocks or a few concrete slabs remnant of some previous man made structure of sorts. Despite some limitations, just the view only makes it worth it for me. The real draw however is the opportunity to do some cliff diving and swimming in the bay. The trek down to the water from the cliffs really isn't bad at all. There are a series of steps that have been created in the rocks, several wide ledges where you can step aside and a very helpful ladder at the bottom for access in and out of the water. The water is very deep and for the most part clear of any subsurface obstacles making for several optimal spots for diving. The dive spots I saw range from as little as an 8' or so dive upwards to probably the 30' or so range. Just remember to checkout any potential dive spot for yourself to assess any potential risks. The water itself is clear and during my visits, remained calm to to the fact that it's a protected bay with a landmass wrapping well around three sides. It is a very idealistic place for swimming, relaxing in the water and enjoying the views. While the snorkeling provided great views overall, I only saw a handful of small and unmemorable fish during the 10-15 minutes I spent. I'm sure writing a review does not help, but the fact that this spot was not crowded (weekend or weekday) was another big plus. I would say the range was five to fifteen people here at any given time during my visits.

Hands-down, the best hike I have ever went on in my life and I have been on plenty of hikes…read more There's a waterfall somewhere along the way and there are beautiful views of the ocean and beaches all around. Gorgeous is an understatement, but please make sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen. You will need it. Enjoy!

Beautiful views!! It is a hard climb, but doable if you're in good shape…read more Driving there - Highly recommend driving from the west side. Driving from the east side, there were one-way narrow roads over cliffs. Leaving from the west side was easy-peasy. Parking - Keep an eye out for a red sign that says 'Camp Maluhia'. First lot is overflow, keep driving past gates to main lot where trailhead is located. Hike from overflow parking lot to trailhead is about 1.2 miles each way. Hike incline - First 1/4 mile of asphalt was the steepest. Next mile was incline but not too bad. Last mile was steeper incline. Hike views - If you go on a cloudier sunny day like we did, there were AMAZING views up until the last 0.5 miles. The overlook at the very end was above clouds so we couldn't see anything. Shoes - I don't recommend wearing sandals or flip flops, because it is pretty rocky and steep. No large rock climbing. I got by wearing casual tennis shoes, but running/hiking shoes are best. There were no stream crossings, so no need to worry about feet getting wet.

We had to reschedule our hike day..due to the Kona low and the office staff were more than helpful…read more This is not our first hike with Hike Maui... we've come to Maui for the past 50 years..37 times to be exact... and Hike Maui is our go to during the past 20 years when we want to get out into the rainforest. We have taken three of their "Morning Walks" with our grandkids and it's a perfect introduction to hiking. Honestly we've had three different ...wonderful.. experiences. It's not strenuous and you're taken back to some private land that you'd not have access to if you just drove up and parked (if you found a parking spot) and hiked back in. We were lucky to have the lovely, fun, and knowledgeable guide named Randolyn ..aka Ran. She was the perfect blend of kind, patient and engaging with the grandkids, and very helpful with us old folks! On the drive on the way home she advised a few newbies to the island where some great places to eat were... they greatly appreciated her ideas! She had the most pleasant demeanor.... :) If you want a fun morning walk, call Hike Maui

I wasn't sure what to expect. Michael was a priceless guide to the natural world and he is a great…read morehost and calming presence. I was worried it would be hot, but I was never hot or cold because there's shade and swimming. The hike was pretty challenging due to uneven terrain, mud, loose rocks, and creek crossing but easy in terms of distance and pace. This was the highlight of my trip.

This beach is located near the end of the Kapalua coastal trail in extreme northern Maui…read more We had driven 1 hour from Kihei to Kapalua Bay for snorkeling on Thursday November 7, 2024. Afterwards we drove over to Dragon's teeth to hike down to Makaluapuna Point, where we watched huge waves crash against the rocky shoreline. Walked 10 minutes past the Ritz Carlton, Kapalua to DT Fleming Beach Park. Only 3 miles from Kapalua Bay, one of the best snorkeling spots on the island. However, no snorkeling here today, as high waves rolling into the long beach. Red flag warning sign says 'Danger, no swimming'. Another sign says 'Warning, Dangerous shorebreak'. Picnic tables and rest rooms, with outdoor showers available to wash away the sand. There are about 20 free public parking spots, but all were taken by 10am, including a number of food trucks, and surf board rental trucks. Across the street is a parking lot of several dozen spots, with only three filled. Nonresidents have to pay and register at this parking lot, through www.parklinq.com, entering zone 210. On Thursday November 7 2024 they only offer all day parking 7am to 8pm for a flat fee of $26. Hawaii residents may register to park for free. The good thing is that this $26 fee enables you to park on the same day at the impossibly crowded Kapalua Beach parking lot 3 miles away.

Nice beach with some good amount of shade. Though with shade it meant that there were leaf, twigs…read moreand small cones on the beach that kids didn't like when they stepped on it and hurt their little tender feet. Sand was semi soft and smooth, definitely not as smooth and soft as Kaanapali Beach. Waves can be big depending on day and time.