Another beautiful coastal church on the back way to Hana drive is Huialoha Church. Safer and more dangerous parts of Road to Hana Jul 16, 2022, 5:27 PM Save Hi, We are planning a trip to Hana on Aug 7. The Road to Hana (aka the Hana Highway) does not dead-end, so instead of turning around, it is possible to keep driving. We are aware for some the road is a terrifying prospect and we are not trying to diminish that. Take a van or coach tour Having an air-conditioned vehicle with a driver/guide is really the best way to see Hana. MOUNT RUSHMORE SD In some ways, winding roads are beautiful and make for a peaceful drive while road tripping. The offer free wine tastings and are known for their pineapple wine. Drive Defensively, there may be idiots on the road but pre-empting them and driving n a defensive manner ensures you are less likely to get into trouble. Fortunately we had no issues but it was a windy, rainy drive and Im glad we did it but dont think we would do it again. It has 13 hairpins that will have you climbing from 5,617 feet above sea level to 6,677 feet above sea level in just three. Okay, once you pass this portion (the first 3-5 miles past Kipahulu), the road clears up nicely into a wide open terrain. Subscribe for Hawaii Travel Tips, my Latest Content and Much More. And please share my account with your friends that are headed to Hawaii! So if you have no problem with the highway spouting off you dont see the big issue isnt particularly helpful to those that do fear it! This is a tough and fairly common problem. This being said, travel at your own risk. If you are enjoying the sights and driving at a leisurely pace, be mindful enough to pull over and let local drivers pass. They all flow directly into each other, but they have their own mile markers, which are crucial navigation points on this beautiful rainforest drive. Hiking Shoes - If you want to hike. Despite what the name suggests, the town of Hana is not the destination; it's the drive itself. Check out our favorite Tours here. Google says its 47 mins but Im getting the idea google doesnt know how long these roads really take? Bottom line: read the actual fine print of your contract and know YOUR situation with your personal insurance and dont just go on hearsay. Remember if you push on you have to come back this way (or the scarier, riskier back route! 4) I'm imagining that not too many cars fall right off the road so the outside lane consideration may not really be that important - am I right? have no issue at all, but it is narrower, more exposed, and in places has no asphalt topcoat (Dirt Track). GRAND TETON WY The Hana Highway, or the "Road to Hana," is a 64-mile road along the northeast side of the island of Maui. It gets pretty windy! and 59 bridges, 46 of which are one lane. Instanbul is chaotic, cultured and full of life. Was it worse or better than your fears? Is safety as big a concern as some say or is it mostly just up to how nervous or confident a driver is? If you couldnt look out and see the ocean, youd probably think you were in parts of Texas or another western state. I know it may sound tempting but swimming under the falls is dangerous as rocks get unlodged and fall from the top of falls which can knock you in the head. The road to Hana is composed of three different roads highways 36, 360 and 31. paia town. (This is to say, they will say if something is scary, and the back road to Hana was not, to them.). You have the option of walking down to get much closer to the falls, but with the car situation not preferable, we chose not to. Or someone from the rural US where roads amble on for hundreds of miles with barely a bend would find the almost endless snaking of the road completely daunting. Maybe well do Kanapali only and then head out east? for the most part, it is wide enough for two small buses to pass each other with no issue. Ahhh, the backwards Road to Hana. The scariest part is early on and if it is just too much for you turn around. You want to go back the way you came, most likely, rather than going around the back way. Besides that, I just dont think youre going to make that much of a difference on the crowd levels at each stop by doing it in reverse. Before you embark on your adventure, you want to make sure you have a full tank of gas. On an island full of beautiful scenery, the Road to Hana is among Maui's most gorgeous attractions. However, it also comes with a fearsome reputation, and strikes fear into the hearts of many. That said, of course DO take care while you are driving the Road to Hana! The Shaka guide tours are great for independent explorers who want the freedom to explore on their own terms, but like to learn about the spots theyre visiting. Bring cash: most places on this part of the island dont except credit cards. What are your fears and doubts? And yes, I have driven the Road to Hana in reverse, but really only because I used to live upcountry in Kula and it was the quicker way to get to Hana from my house. Top Pick! ***Want to get FREE flights to Hawaii? Any single track bridges or narrow one-car sections are marked with Give-way signs and road marking. The first of the road to Hana stops you'll come to is Paia town. For comparison, there was a mom and daughter duo that I met at the Maui hostel that I was staying at who did the back road to Hana, and they thought it was fine. My girlfriend. After growing up on these the road to Hana was no problem. The Road to Hana has 617 turns & 59 bridges, many only 1 lane. **Mama's Fish House. It is not hard to see why either, this stunning highway runs through pristine rainforest, past numerous world-class waterfalls, and has more jaw-dropping vistas per mile than any other piece of tarmac in the world. The Road to Hana is said to be one of the most dangerous roads in the world. The tarmac is smooth and well maintained. Ive written a whole slew of posts about the Road to Hana, but theres one question I get asked more than othersshould I drive the backside of the road to Hana? More posts about where to stay on Maui: Trying to figure out where to stay on Maui? This is the honey bee sanctuary. The road to Hana is one of Maui's two most famous sights. This snake-like road is 52 miles (84 km) long and runs from Kahului to Hana. the answer is an unequivocal YES! P.S. Maui's Road to Hana is one of the most famous (or infamous) drives in the world and in my opinion is the #1 don't miss thing to do on Maui. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114352716', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');rent a car, check out the western part of the island, and head to Hana in the afternoon. WHAT TO WEAR SNORKELING The Road to Hana is generally known for it's 52 miles of winding turns, liable to cause nausea and dizziness among even the most experienced road trip enthusiast, as well as it's 59 Lara Croft-esque stone bridges nestled in the thick Hawaiian jungle. Guoliang Tunnel ( China) As we made our way along the southern coast of Maui, we found the scenery to be beautiful and varied. There is little cell reception, you driving around an active(ish) volcano into the wilds of an already pretty remote island chain. Just indicate into one of the MANY pull-outs and let them by. Does the inside lane/outside lane play more into the safety of it than the road conditions themselves? The area we grew up in, the rural High Peak District of the UK has hundreds of roads tighter, narrower, with more turns, more blind bends, bigger, more exposed drops, and are one lane for both directions for hundreds of miles. This will leave you with a deeper understanding and connection to Hawaii. It's very isolated, no cell service and prohibited by all the major (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? But is the Road to Hana any more or less dangerous than other roads in Hawaii, the Mainland, or anywhere else in the world? (And maybe beyond!). Have a great time, and enjoy your visit to Hana and the rest of Maui. Does this add a lot to the drive, having the top down? Avengers Campus Disney California Adventure- Ultimate Guide, 10 Best Things To Do In Chicago, Illinois Our Guide to the Top Attractions in Chicago, Illinois. The first of many Road to Hana stops, the Twin Falls is situated in the Ho'olawa Valley. It won't take you 5 hours to get to Hana either. If you are in charge of the directions and finding the stops, that is one less thing to distract the driver and gives you something to do. And it truly is fabulous. My friend and I visited Maui in 2019 and neither of us was brave enough for the drive. Am I missing something youre trying to tell me? So if you REALLY know its just going to be too much and even the thought of it is keeping you up at night, Its time to let the pros do the driving. And, they also did do another one-lane road drive on Maui and for that drive, they DID think that the West Mauis back road was scary! (Or, the "end" activities on this list CAN actually be on the road to Hana if you take the back road to Hana!) However, the Road to Hana is not dangerous in and of itself, and for seasoned drivers, the trip should be a breeze. About the Road to Hana. The Jungle Canopy envelopes the road leading to mild claustrophobia and an uncomfortable sense of being consumed. In this article, we take a look at what causes the Roads Fearsome reputation, and ask honestly How Scary is the Road to Hana Really?. We hoped to stop at the garden of eden but it had a long line of cars so we kept going, we made a reservation at the black sand beach. Be sure to take your lunch and dont e xpect a bathroom break! (I think the back road may be closed to traffic anyway) That part of the road (going on from Hana towards Kula) is the part that is prone to washouts, etc. 4 The Road Is Winding. We intend to hike for 4 hours or so, and be back on the road at 11 or 11:30am, head to Koki Beach for some food truck food, and continue on to Wai'anapanapa for the black sand beach for a few hours, and be back on the road by 3pm to head back to OGG airport (with no stops) for 5pm to catch our 7pm flight. We did have some locals honking at other cars, we made it a habit to just pull over and let others by which made it a better experience. It includes 59 bridges during . Is the Road to Hana Worth it? PEARL HARBOR HI According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Hana Highway - Road to Hana: Road to Hana Day Trip (From C$293.76) Small Group Road to Hana Adventure Tour with Pickup (From C$293.76) Small-Group Road to Hana Luxury Tour (From C$472.71) Famous Road to Hana Mercedes van with Waterfalls, Black Sand Beach & Lunch (From C . You will need to allow more time than you have. I did not want to drive this most scary and dangerous part, and I walked part of the back road to Hana. Most people will drive the Road to Hana as an out-and-back, starting the day by driving past the town of Paia, and then drive to the town of Hana or the Kipahulu district of Haleakala National Park. Three Bears Falls. So take the time to research the road in advance and be . And we have some questions that we're hoping you lovely folk can help answer: The last gas station until you get to Hana is right next to Grandmas Coffee House which is one of the best breakfast spots on Maui. Make sure your partner is aware of your fears and explain they may not be entirely rational but still real. ROAD TRIP AMERICA While most of the road has been repaved in the last twenty years, Hawaii Route 200 still has a dangerous reputation. There is almost nothing about the drive that causes anxiety in us. GRAND CANYON AZ : @kapenamorgan Itll avoid the uncomfortable situation of figuring out how youre going to squeeze past (or backing up) once youre on them. Its a cumulative thing that adding in the fairly stressful driving conditions can tip people over the edge to the point the drive is just no longer fun. Most folks begin their road to Hana drive from the town Paia on Highway 36 which ends after mile marker 16. We personally have no issues at all but the fear is very real in many people and cant be dismissed. 1. Mostly this stems from rumors (I like to call it an urban legend, hmm maybe Ill call it a jungle legend lol) about it being illegal to take rental cars back this way. Want to read more? About 40 minutes into your drive youll spot the Kihikinui wind turbines. **Ho'okipa Beach Park. 9. Plus youre on a cliff side and at some points without a guard rail. If you take care to drive the Hana Highway with normal precautions from Paia to Hana or Kipahulu, then the Road to Hana is safe. You can read Road to Hana tour reviews on getyourguide. Besides the black sand beach at Waianapanapa State Park, this really is the crown jewel of the Road to Hana. This is why we find it a little odd so many are utterly petrified of the road. Oh, and 5 pm is really pushing it for a 7 pm (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? 3 Bears Upper Waikani Falls (MM 19) Another quick stop on the side of the road a must stop on the road to hana. I'll add, no, the late afternoon shouldn't be an especially dangerous time to drive the road (but it will take longer than 2 hours from the start of the RTH, let alone Kaanapali); you absolutely don't need a 4X4 (I prefer smaller (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? : @kapenamorgan, What to expect driving the backside road to Hana. Well over 50 in total and most of the single lane for both directions. What is scary to some is nothing to others. The first is one we dont advise. The Highway is very popular, and the narrow. in most places, the road is wide enough for two tour buses to pass. It really is a unique experience, its totally different in the rain too, hopefully the waterfalls were in full flow they can dry up a little in the summer. The road leads you through flourishing rainforests, flowing waterfalls, plunging pools and dramatic seascapes. The Road to Hana is not undiscovered anymore and there are just people everywhere. In about the same amount of time as it would take you to go back the way you came, you can see a side of Maui many miss. Report inappropriate content dusty56438 Saint Cloud. Fewer tourists lodge here than in other Maui locales, and in the morning it is quiet and peaceful. You cant enjoy the drive with a angry local right up your back side, let them be on their way and you can relax! We highy recommend doing a tour with large windows, an experienced local guide, and only going to safe, legal, epic spots! Now lets get to the exciting part the best stops along the backside road to Hana! Take the moral high ground and just drive in a way that ensures YOUR safety! IDAHO Need a coffee or fresh fruit after your refreshing waterfall plunge? Also you can't enter the Park to hike the Pipiwai Trail until 9 am. We read that sunset is around 7pm so we're thinking this is safe. My post captions are full of travel tips and I have a ton of story highlights and videos with great info. Manawainui Gulch. The average visitor is not going to think twice about the number of people they encounter along this road unless they were truly thinking they would be the ONLY ones driving to Hana. As always, I would never recommend a product or service that I didn't truely believe in. This is also the scary part of the Road to Hana. Also through yourself into the Navigation. GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS TN NC HAWAII EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS Just before mile marker 15 is the Maui-Grown Market and Deli (tel. Parking can be bad later in the day, but this stop is worth it. The second English expressway on our list, this scenic road was recognized by the United Kingdom's Road Safety Foundation as one of country's most dangerous roads in 2010. In the end, was it all worth it for YOU? We are sure you will love it, if your husband is a confident driver he will have no issues at all. Need to stay under a fixed budget? The most iconic part of Bayburt-of Road is called Dereba Turns. Period. What makes it so dangerousIts a road! My go-to airline is Southwest (seriously, I ONLY fly Southwest) so I use this Southwest Rapid Rewards card to rack up points every time I fly. The Pipiwai Trailis a moderate hike that is 4 miles out and back. GULF ISLANDS FL Everything we have said above is solely aimed at the section between Paia and Kipahula, beyond that, the road changes immeasurably! I guess the Internet has opened up so much more information and opinions (hello blog!) And most of all, for the most part, speeds, are LOW! This three-part waterfall is often called the Three Bear Falls for the Papa Bear-, Mamma Bear-, and Baby Bear-size cascades of water. One of the leading causes of accidental deaths anywhere in the world is Road Traffic Accidents. We've been researching the attractions on the Hana Highway since 2002 when the highway first made a major and incredibly positive impression on us. In general I did not find the main part of the Road to Hana to be particularly dangerous or scary. 3 hrs from the airport. YELLOWSTONE WY It is a road like no other and should be right at the top of your Maui to-do list IF you can stomach it. Right: Driving the back road to Hana is where you will find roads that can be dangerous or scary! The Best Stops on the Road to Hana Early Stops Most of the big waterfalls and impressive black sand beaches are later on in the drive, so for the first hour or so, just enjoy the road and get as far along as you can to keep the crowds way behind you, especially if your objective is to do the Pipiwai Stream Trail Hike: The road is tricky to drive and requires care, but this is very obvious to anyone driving the road and as long as sensible precautions are taken, such as, you know, slowing down for corners, more so for blind narrow bends and giving way at the one-way sections, obeying the speed limits and generally just not being a braindead moron, there really is nothing about the road to make it unsafe. Most visitors tend to zip to and from Hana with a checklist of sights to photograph. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Canada. The first lookout on the left is Koki Beach overlook but you can skip this and continue to Hamoa Beach further ahead. This is the wrong way to do it. The trailhead is located after the bridge on your left. 5. Or is falling off the road to our deaths a serious consideration? EVERGLADES FL I promise all the bumpy and narrow road conditions are worth it because we havent even reached the highlights of this trip yet. UTAH The Surface is pretty well maintained but is often wet, slippery, and covered in jungle debris. Road To Hana (Maui) - Toughest Section DrMKC 739 subscribers 56K views 7 years ago This is the dashcam video of the toughest 30 minutes on the famous Road to Hana in Maui. Really just understanding that the Road is actually perfectly serviceable and 99% of the fear is in your mind can help overcome that fear. Dont miss it! 10) Lastly, is it wiser to hire a local driver to pick us up and drop us off at each location? While to fully overcome the fear requires repeated exposure we find with the right attitude, a good amount of care and respect for the road, and a little can-do attitude many people find the Road FAR less intimidating than they originally feared. more! Your other option is to turn around and drive back the way you came or continue around the island on the Hana Highway a.k.a. We will land in the morning, rent a car, check out the western part of the island, and head to Hana in the afternoon. Important Note* The first one and a half hour stretch of the back road to Hana is usually forbidden by rental car companies and is stated in the rental car agreements. What we wanted to do in the west was bathe in the waters of Kanapali (which we hear is a world class beach) and maybe (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Carretera a los Yungas ( Bolivia) Locally known as the 'route of death', this Bolivian road is 80 km long and considered by many as the world's most dangerous road. 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