Cycle down Haleakalā Volcano, Maui, Hawaii

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Watching the sun rise over the lip of a volcano’s crater and then descending a picturesque mountainside on the seat of a bicycle sounds like the stuff of which dreams are made. But it’s not just a dream; the experience is possible on the Hawaiian Island of Maui. Excursion operators begin gathering the hearty souls that have booked the adventure just after 2:30 a.m. in vans pulling trailers loaded with the specially prepared bicycles. The goal is to arrive at the top of Haleakala (3,055 meters) in East Maui’s upcountry while it’s still dark in order to watch the sunrise spectacle from the unmatched vantage point on the edge of the volcano before making the 43 kilometer downhill ride. Early in the morning this part of the island can be quite chilly by Hawaii’s standards and participants may quickly become engulfed in a passing rain shower so the tour operators typically outfit the riders with jackets, gloves and rain suits to accompany the mandatory helmets. The ride is over well paved roads and not particularly rigorous although riders need to have their wits about them as the winding trail with plenty of hairpin turns at speeds approaching 35 kilometers per hour takes the participants through green valleys, verdant farm land and rugged cattle country with the clear blue sea all the while visible below. The record ascent is just under an hour but the experience is best enjoyed at a much more leisurely pace to best enjoy the unmatched scenery. The typical ride is about 3 hours, beginning to end, where the vans and trailers are waiting at the bottom of Haleakala to return the riders to their hotels and timeshares. For those visitors to Maui wanting a more adventurous trip the option is available to rent a mountain bike from any number of providers and traverse mountainside trails that may be more appealing to mountain bike enthusiasts. Your trip of a lifetime to Maui, Hawaii can include the adventure of biking down the Haleakala Volcano after watching the brilliant sunrise from the mountain’s peak. Make sure you add this excursion to your list and make time in your itinerary to include this unforgettable experience. It will be worth every minute you budget.

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