Bamboo Forest (Na'ili'ili Haele) Trail
The Bamboo Forest (Na'ili'ili Haele) Trail in Maui County, Hawaii is an easy 0.3 mile out-and-back hike that leads into a thick bamboo forest and the Na'ili'ili Waterfalls along the Hana Highway.TRAIL CLOSED: Please note that this trail is permanently closed and is technically on private property. The trail entrances and surrounding area along the road are closed off by a metal fence as of June 2019, but this was not the case when I hiked this trail in August, 2018. The trail was open to the pubic until tourists died on the property and caused the trail to close. Do not attempt to hike this trail or enter the property - if you do, you are illegally trespassing. This trail is still on the site for prosperity's sake, but is not meant to encourage hikers to venture here.
This trail recording ends at a chasm crossing before heading back to parking. This bamboo forest is a neat stop along the road to Hana for those who have not hiked through bamboo before.
The trail is difficult to follow and leads to multiple dead-ends and small cliff ledge lookouts - beware that these cliff ledges are extremely steep and the thick bamboo makes them difficult to see.
If you follow the trail downhill, you'll likely follow a muddy stream that flows into a chasm. When you reach the chasm, you'll find a wooden board you can use to cross it to follow the trail further.
Since we did not hike beyond the chasm area, feel free to read more about how to reach the waterfalls here.
Lookout Points: Depending on where you follow the trail, you may find a lookout point or two. Beware of the steep cliff ledges near the lookouts.
Safety: Please be aware that this trail, while labeled 'easy', can be dangerous. The trail is very slippery and often very wet - you could slip and fall down the hill into the pit/chasm, and there have been stories about broken legs and even deaths. If you just want to see a neat bamboo forest, do not attempt to cross the chasm and turn back to parking.
Respecting the Land
Hawaiian land is considered sacred to native Hawaiians and many locals, so please stay on-trail, take nothing but photos, and leave nothing but footprints. Respect the locals - don't stay for long and have a backup hike planned in case the parking lot is full.
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