By:
Submission
Camping and lodging (one cabin) within the fog belt of the Kula Forest Reserve at 6200 foot elevation. Extensive trail system in the forest reserve, including through a forest reminiscent of the conifer forests of the Pacific Northwest coast.
Sweeping views of Central and West Maui, Kahoʻolawe, Molokaʻi and Lanaʻi in clear weather.
Pig and seasonal bird hunting. Hikers should wear bright colored clothing – hunters may be in the area. Nights are generally cold; winter nights frequently have below freezing temperatures. No campground showers. (10.0 acres). PLEASE NOTE: The Polipoli Cabin cannot be reserved through our online system. Visitors must walk-in or call the Maui District office for reservations.
9.7 miles upland from Kula on Waipoli Road off Kekaulike Avenue (Highway 377)
*4-wheel Drive Vehicle Required*
Residents = $20 Per Night, Per Campsite
Non-Residents = $30 Per Night, Per Campsite
CABIN
Residents = $70 Per Night
Non-Residents = $100 Per Night
Beautiful forest area that is well worth the trip. The road was ok in our rented SUV but it could be dangerous in the rain. Tread carefully.
Beautiful. Cloudy while we were there, but the loop hike still had some good views and was very refreshing. We took the Polipoli trail around and turned at the Tie trail. Overall not too hard, make sure to bring water though.
I didn't actually make it to the park. You have to have fwd to go the last three miles. The drive was amazing, though. I could smell the eucalyptus up there and I couldn't on the road to Hana the same day.
This is incredible. We found this somewhat inadvertently. I was curious for 'off road trails' as we ended up renting a Jeep instead of a car. The road up starts paved and is steep but fun, with glorious views of the isthmus. As you ascend through the clouds, the pavement ends and it literally feels like you're driving thru the Adirondacks. Pines, dirt road, winding mountain side.. buuuut then unlike the 'dacks, this place has height. I consider myself a reasonably experienced driver, and am aware of what a rental Wrangler JL on all-seasons is capable of. We popped it into 4wd for one section of about 60ft, primarily to not roost the tires into the already-trenched trail. No biggie tho. Above/beyond a point, things are not marked. The main trail gate beyond one section was closed, but we took the other path. This was further adventurous, but got a little unsure of the trails well above tree-line, at a red arrow on a pole. Technically I think that was one end of the skyline trail. We encountered some fine folk on Enduro bikes, and headed back down. Excellent time.
Beautiful park with some amazing trails. Be aware that 4 wheel drive is required to drive to this park and that many rental companies will not allow you to, so I recommend checking with whoever you rent from first if you plan to try to go up.
This park has a single toilet and a couple of covered sitting areas for facilities. There are no grills or water, so if you plan on staying the night make sure that you bring food that you don't have to cook or have a propane cooker.
It also gets pretty cold up there at night. We stayed the night in June and it was in the low 50s when we woke up, so make sure you bring clothes and bedding to keep you warm because you will have a bad time trying to sleep otherwise.
