Waimoku Falls - Haleakalā National Park

Our February 2014 visit to the Kīpahulu District of Haleakalā National Park continued with a 4-mile round trip hike on the Pīpīwai Trail to Waimoku Falls.  The trail starts near the visitor center and quickly climbs to cross Hāna Highway.  It then skirts an open field before arriving at a viewpoint for Makahiku Falls about ½ mile from the start.  Unfortunately, there was not enough water in the creek to create a waterfall.  After gating through a fence, the next highlight is a huge banyan tree right beside the trail at about ¾ mile from the visitor center.  About one mile up the trail is a diversion dam for Pīpīwai Stream.  The trail continues up the valley until it crosses high above Pīpīwai Stream twice on sturdy fiberglass bridges.  Once across the stream, the trail plunges into the bamboo forest.  Long stretches of boardwalks through the bamboo forest allow for walking and enjoying the scenery.  While we were in the bamboo forest, a windstorm passed through creating a huge series of untuned bamboo wind chimes.  The eerie sounds created by the bamboo stalks banging against each other will not be forgotten soon.  Finally, the trail pops out of the bamboo forest along side the stream again and leads to a breathtaking view of the 400 foot high Waimoku Falls just before it rock hops across the stream.  From the visitor center to the falls, the trail climbs about 800 feet.

Trail map

Steps up to Hāna Highway

Trail conditions near the open field were very good

As we headed toward the forest, roots appeared across the trail

Additional roots and stairs

Overlook for 184 foot high Makahiku Falls

The damp upper part of Makahiku Falls

The Makahiku Falls basin is the upper end of 'Ohe'o Gulch

An unnamed waterfall spills down the far side of the Makahiku Falls gorge

A seven mile fence was built in the early 2000's in an effort to keep feral pigs and goats out of the rain forest

Banyan tree

The trail climbs out of the forest...

...before descending back into the forest

Dam on Pīpīwai Stream

Roots force us to look at the trail and not the scenery

The trail crosses Pīpīwai Stream on a sturdy fiberglass bridge

Small waterfalls on Pīpīwai Stream from the trail bridge

Upper waterfall and pool from the bridge

Another view of the trailside waterfalls

After crossing Pīpīwai Stream, the trail plunges into a bamboo forest

The blossom of a beautiful, but invasive, African tulip tree

The trail crosses back over Pīpīwai Stream on a second fiberglass bridge

A clearing on the edge of the bamboo forest

The bamboo forest is very dense

A boardwalk allows easy walking through a broad clearing in the bamboo forest

The bamboo forest continues beyond the end of the boardwalk

The trail continues to follow Pīpīwai Stream

The bamboo forest is replaces with a tropical rain forest

Waimoku Falls

Sunset

An entrance fee of  $10 provides a three-day pass to visit the park.  Other entrance options include an America the Beautiful Annual Pass for $80 for twelve months or a Senior Pass for a one-time fee of $10 for those age 62 or over.

The park website is http://www.nps.gov/hale/index.htm.