Haleakala Crater Bike Tours?

MauiBride2008

This is the only thing we have not done in Maui is go to Haleakala Crater and are planning on checking it out our first morning there.  Has anyone done the bike tour or just visit the top?  If you have biked, what company did you use to book your bike tour?

lelekay

We used Haleakala Bike Company (www.bikemaui.com).  After doing some research, it was the only company MH (who is a bike geek) would go with based on their bikes and the brakes on the bikes (disc brakes, and believe me, the brakes are the most important part!).  Also, I believe they are the only (or at least one of the few) companies that brings you to the top, gives you directions, then lets you go at your own pace back to the shop at the bottom.  Most of the companies make you go down in a pack.  Some people migh prefer that, but we wanted to go on our own. We stopped at a little cafe and had breakfast before returning the bikes to the shop.  We did their "Sunrise Tour."  Well worth it!

MauiBride2008

Sounds great!  Thanks for the great suggestion!  I think we might just book it.  I haven't really found too many companies other than this one so thank you for validating that for me

kaesha

Didn't a lot of the companies get closed down because of the accidents?

An even cooler way to see the sunrise (and the most amazing stars) is to camp out in Haleakala's crater - they have 3 cabins you can book through their parks website.

lelekay

kaesha:

Didn't a lot of the companies get closed down because of the accidents?

No, they just can't bike from all the way at the top anymore.   They still bring you to the top for the sunrise, then the van brings you back down a short way to the bike launching site.  They just deemed the top part unsafe, since there are no/few rails, and it is very steep and there are a lot of hairpin turns.

kaesha

Ahhhh. I remembered something had happened, just not what!

M&M's_Maui

Like Leah, we also used the Haleakala Bike Company and had a great experience with them.  After the sunrise, our driver/tourguide even took us up a little higher than the main visitor viewing area (I don't think they all do this though).  We got some great pics!  They prepped us on our bikes right outside the park and let us go down the mountain at our own pace (which was why we chose to go with them). It was great.  We took our time going down: we stopped by a restaurant and had lunch, stopped at a few places on the side to take pictures.  I really liked not having to go with the group.  You have to pay attention on the way up Haleakala Crater though 'cause they give you the directions on how to get back to their store (using landmarks) in the van. But it was pretty simple and we found our way back easily.  Have fun!  Catching the sunrise at Haleakala is my favorite experience in Maui!  It's just breathtaking!