29 Switchbacks Down Haleakala: a Guided Ride from 6,500 Feet to Sea Level

Maui Mountain Riders has been running this descent for over 30 years, and unlike the self-guided options the group rides with a guide who knows what it is passing. The van goes up first, through Makawao and Kula and onto the slopes of Haleakala Ranch, with commentary the whole way. The riding starts at 6,500 feet at the entrance to Haleakala National Park. Below that come the 29 switchbacks, and on a clear morning the road gives views of both coasts on the way down. The ride ends in Paia Town on the North Shore. There is a stop in Makawao, the paniolo town on the mountain slopes, where the Hawaiian cowboy tradition is still the town's own. Check-in is 7:30am at the Maui Mountain Riders office at 497 Baldwin Avenue in Paia, and getting there is your own arrangement. The return is between 11:30 and midday, though the season moves that. Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.