Canyon Downhill Bike Ride

Waimea Canyon Downhill Bike Ride runs through Keko Adventure Tours. Rated 4.9 across 705 reviews. Runs 4 hours (approx.). From $173.82.

Check park access before you go. Stops inside state parks (Waimea Canyon, Koke'e, Wailua River and Secret Falls) follow current DLNR notices and can be closed. Check the booking page for which stops are running on your date.

Overview

This ride is really two tours folded into one. You meet in Hanapepe, climb by van through Waimea Canyon and Kokee state parks with stops several reviewers describe for views and photos, then coast back down on a hybrid bike along paved public roads, covering a downhill stretch one reviewer measured at 11.7 miles. The whole thing runs about 4 hours and ends where it started.

Keko Adventure Tours supplies the bike, helmet and gloves, water and local juice, and covers the state park entry fees. An experienced local guide leads the group, and the cap is 10 travelers. Despite the canyon setting, this is not mountain biking: it is road riding downhill on winding asphalt, at a moderate group pace, with traffic to watch for.

It suits confident riders from age 14 who meet the size limits and can handle speed on a long descent. Reviewers describe the ride as fairly easy as long as you follow the guide's line, and one said anyone can do it. It is a poor fit for pregnant travelers, anyone with back or heart problems, or riders who would be uneasy sharing a public road with cars.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet in HanapepeCheck in at Paco's Tacos, 4505 Puolo Rd, Hanapepe. There is no hotel pickup or drop off.
2. Van ride up the canyonThe group drives up through Waimea Canyon and Kokee state parks, with commentary from the guide along the way.
3. Viewpoint stops and short walkSeveral stops on the way up for canyon views, photos and a short hike, as reviewers repeatedly mention.
4. Downhill bike rideRide hybrid bikes down paved public roads at a moderate group pace, with safety guidance from the guide.
5. Refreshments and finishThe ride ends back at the meeting point in Hanapepe, with water and local juice provided.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape whether this tour is a good match, from shoe rules to the weather the canyon can throw at you.

• Closed-toe shoes only. The operator requires closed-toe shoes and states there are no exceptions. Sandals and water shoes are not permitted. Bring sunglasses, sunscreen and a rain jacket, none of which are provided.
• Pace and fitness. Riders need moderate fitness and must be comfortable coasting downhill on winding public roads with occasional oncoming traffic. One reviewer found the speed a bit scary going down but still very fun, and said the ride is manageable if you follow the guide's line.
• Group size. The tour caps at 10 travelers. Reviewers describe a group that stays together, with guides adjusting to different comfort levels and keeping everyone at a workable pace.
• Layer for the ride. The listing lists a rain jacket as something to bring yourself, and it is not provided.
• Photo stops. Several reviewers say the guides build in time for photos at stops on the way up, and more than one mentions guides taking pictures of the group.
• Food and drink. Bottled water and local juice are included, and one review mentions refreshments at the end of the ride.

Common issues. There is no hotel pickup or drop off; everyone makes their own way to Hanapepe. The ride happens on public asphalt roads with traffic, and one reviewer found the downhill speed a bit scary at first, so it is not for nervous riders. The operator excludes pregnant travelers, people with back or heart problems, and anyone outside the stated age, weight and height limits, and the tour is not wheelchair accessible. Weather matters too: the experience requires good conditions, and if it is cancelled for weather or low numbers you are offered a different date or a full refund.

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