The Twin Falls trail is a short hike along Maui’s famous Road to Hana. The out and back trail is popular for its pair of waterfalls and lush tropical landscape.

Twin Falls Hiking Trail Guide – Maui

One of the most popular things to do when visiting Maui is to take the scenic drive along the Hana Highway. This long, narrow, and winding road offers breathtaking views of Maui’s lush eastern side of the island. The drive is full of coastal views, tropical forests, and waterfalls galore. Twin Falls is one such viewpoint along what is more commonly known as the Road to Hana, a small town on the east coast of Maui. 

Twin Falls is a short out and back hike nestled within the Ko’olau Forest Reserve. The trail is very popular for its ease of access as well as a popular farm stand that sits at the beginning of the trailhead. Twin falls features a pair of waterfalls along this hike. The nearest waterfall is right at the beginning of the trailhead. The first fall features a pair of segmented waterfalls about fifteen feet in height separated by rock in between. Depending on the flow, both falls may not be flowing. Further up along the trail is a punchbowl waterfall nearly double the height.

Both waterfalls reside within the Ho’olawa Valley and are fed by the Ho’olawa stream. Much of the flow is either spring fed and from runoff in the higher elevations of Haleakala. Each waterfall has a swimming hole at the bottom of it where locals and tourists enjoy the cool water. This portion of the island receives copious amounts of rainfall and can be closed in unsafe conditions when the flow is too strong.

Access to these waterfalls is on private land that was opened for public use. The land is owned and operated by Wailele Farm. In order to honor to honor the traditional uses of the valley for which the falls are in, they opened up access to the public to allow for inspiration for all. There is no fee for use. Donations are appreciated and go towards paying for portable toilets and maintenance in the area including trails. I encourage you to stop by the Wailele Farm stand at the entrance to the property to lend your support.

On A Personal Note:

This is a great hike to use as an opportunity to get out and stretch your legs for a bit along the Hana Highway. My wife and I actually did this hike after watching the sunrise on Haleakala. The location of the waterfalls puts it in a convenient location about one hour north of the national park. We did this hike then experienced the first few miles of the Road to Hana on the way back to the Ka’anapali area. On a second day we caught the back half of the Road to Hana.

Looking for something else to do nearby? Check out the Rainbow Bridge trail in Haleakala National Park. This short hike features expansive views overlooking Haleakala Crater.

Sources:
1. N.a. “The History Of The Aina (Land)”. Twin Falls at Wailele Farm. https://www.twinfallsmaui.net/the-history-of-the-aina-land/.  2017. Accessed 12 June 2021.

  • Overall Difficulty 45% 45%
  • Overall Views 80% 80%
Twin Falls Trail Quick Facts:
  • Max elevation: 850 feet
  • Elevation Gain: 328 Feet
  • Estimated Distance: 1.8 miles
  • My Actual Distance: 1.7 miles.
  • Estimated Time: 1 – 1.5 hours.
  • My Time: 44 minutes moving; 1 hour 17 minutes total.
Twin Falls Trail Directions:

Open in maps. The Twin Falls trail is located along the Road to Hana near mile marker number two. There is a small dirt parking lot that does fill up on a regular basis. The good news is that there is a lot of turnover here so just be patient. The best way to spot that your at Twin Falls is by the large farm stand and twin falls sign along the highway. The Hana Highway is a narrow two lane road so please be courteous and drive safe. Don’t forget that people call this place their home.

Twin Falls Trail Pictures:

Who The Twin Falls Hike Is For:

Novice Hikers: This is a great trail for new hikers or those looking for a short trail. For those experienced hikers used to longer trails, this hike is a great way to get out and stretch your legs along the long Road to Hana.

Advanced Hikers: This is a short trail with nice views but it is not difficult. 

Expert Hikers: Same. Both advanced and expert hikers would enjoy adding this trail to other short hikes within the area. 

It’s always a good idea to be aware of what type of hiking level you’re at.

Best Time Of Year To Hike The Twin Falls Trail:

Generally speaking, there is no bad time of year to hike this trail. Temperatures and weather are pretty consistent throughout the year with mild fluctuations between winter and summer. This portion of the island does receive a lot of annual rainfall. There can be no rain where the trail is located and rain in the higher elevations that cause flash flooding where the trail is. Rain and drizzle are common here. Please be aware of the weather conditions in the area.

It’s always a great idea to check the weather before a hike.

Twin Falls Trail Conditions:

The Twin Falls trail is in good condition. It is maintained by the property owners of Wailele Farm. The trail starts out just past the farm stand on a clearly marked gravel road. The first waterfall is just off the highway to the left of the trail. The second plunging waterfall is about one mile in at the end of the trail. Follow the gravel road until the very end. At about 0.7 miles in the gravel road ends and the trail sharply veers off to the left. Follow the trail to the end where the second waterfall is. There are a couple of stream crossings along the way. Don’t be afraid to get your shoes wet. Rocks in the water are slippery so use caution. If the water levels are rising avoid crossing the stream.