Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area

At 6200 feet elevation in Kula Forest Reserve, 9.7 miles upland from Kula on Waipoli Road off Kekaulike Avenue (Highway 377) 4-wheel drive vehicle recommended.

10.0 acres

• The Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area is part of the 21,000-acre Kahikinui Forest Reserve on the slope of Haleakala. 
• The park occupies the slope of Haleakala, which does not have a paved road reaching to the top and thus the crater.  
• However, there is a trail blazed through the park that does reach up to the crater.  
• This road can be treacherous (and is strictly a four wheel drive-only expedition), and at times, the forest service will block off the last two miles of the road, which lead to the crater.
• The elevation in the park ranges from 5,300 to 6,200 feet above sea level.  
• The climate is generally humid and misty (as this is approximately the cloud level for the eastern side of Maui).  
• Another interesting feature of the park is the smell. 
• The park was originally a deforested area (originally containing Koa, Mamane, and Ohia) which was reforested in the 1930s with Pine, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Ash, and Sequoia/Redwood trees).  
• As none of these trees are native to Maui or any of the other islands of Hawaii, the park has a distinctly alien smell to it.
• The main attractions of the park are the off-road trails, hiking trails, and hunting for boar, pheasant, and goat. 
• There are at least two picnic areas in the park, as well. 
• Lastly, there is a single cabin available through the Hawaii Division of State Parks.
• Camping and lodging (one cabin) within the fog belt of Kula forest.  
• 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, Kaho'olawe, Moloka'i and Lana'i in clear weather.  
• Pig and seasonal bird hunting.  
• Nights are generally cold; winter nights frequently have below freezing temperatures.  
• No campground showers.