Iao Valley — Local services in Maui

Iao Valley Review

During our recent trip to Maui, we took some time to explore Iao Valley, and it was an experience we'll never forget. Be sure to go online to make a reservation and pay a small entrance fee. We did this the morning of our visit, as we weren’t sure about our timing.

The valley is stunningly lush, with greenery that seems to envelop you as you walk through the trails. The sense of tranquility and connection to nature is immediate. The short, easy hike up to see the iconic needle offers great spots for pictures, and we managed to get a beautiful family photo.

We continued hiking to the upper river pond, passing an inviting spot along the way. Make sure to have close toes shoes for this hike. The path has roots all over and mud from the moisture of the area. So not for everyone. Along the way, we were fortunate to meet a kind local who offered us handpicked guavas—a lovely touch that made the hike even more special. The swim in the river pond was incredibly refreshing. I also found a Little Rock chair right in the middle of the stream. The cool, clear water was the perfect way to unwind after the hike. Sitting in the chilled water while listening to the soothing sounds of the stream was a moment of pure serenity. We had the whole place to ourselves since is was a ways up the trail.

One highlight was spotting a large freshwater crawdad, which added an unexpected bit of excitement to our day. The walk back through the dense greenery was just as enjoyable, providing plenty of opportunities for beautiful photos.

After our time in Iao Valley, we headed to Kihei for some sandwiches at 808 Deli. In hindsight, we should have brought them with us and had lunch at the upper cove. The sandwiches were delicious and a nice way to refuel after our adventure.

This visit to Iao Valley was one of the most peaceful and memorable parts of our trip. It’s a great way to experience the lush green landscape of Maui, especially if you’re staying in Kihei. Iao Valley is a must-see for anyone visiting Maui who wants to immerse themselves in the island's...

The Iao Valley is a great place to start your Maui adventure. It is surrounded by clouds and I believe the name means clouds supreme. This park has a good size of paid parking so you don’t have to worry about finding a spot. I would recommend to go there as early as you can in the morning because it’s less crowded and also the weather is cooler and you can enjoy the hike. Make sure you go through the left path which it leads you to a beautiful water front area where you can soak your feet in and enjoy the freshness of the water. We took a half way hike (I’m saying half way because I’m not sure how far it goes and if it’s safe to continue the trail, some part there is no trail and you have to find your way through). Please make sure you can navigate through otherwise there is a chance to get lost and it will take time for you to find the way back. I don’t recommend to take children under 5 on this trail but again it depends how far you...

Gorgeous views, some nice informative signs. The secret trail starts by the "do not enter" sign at the top of the stairs. The trail is narrow, steep and either very muddy or very dusty. Be very careful especially on the way down. We went in for 5-7 minutes, enjoyed the jungle and the turned back. The entire trail is apparently about 2h - and is rather HARD on AllTrails app.

Cost to enter is $10 per vehicle and $5 per person unless you are a resident. You can park illegally outside. We arrived at 09am and got the last available spot in the parking lot, when we left at 10 the road up the mountain were filled with illegally parked cars.

Illegally parked cars are dangerous to traffic and cause delays, so please don't (also, see the parking fee as supporting Hawaii). At the same time it is obvious that the parking lot is far to small given...