Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area facts for kids

A beautiful view of Kihei, Maalaea, and the windy side of Maui from the park entrance.

The Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area is a special state park in Hawaiʻi, United States. You can find it on the island of Maui, about ten miles from a town called Kula. It sits high up on the side of the huge volcano, Haleakalā.

Sometimes the air in the park can be very humid, like a cloud.

This park covers about 10 acres of land. It's part of the much larger Kula Forest Reserve, which is about 21,000 acres. Polipoli is located very high up, around 6,200 feet (about 1,890 meters) above sea level. Because it's so high, the park often reaches into the mountain's "fog belt." This means it can be very cloudy and misty. The weather here can get quite cold, and temperatures can even drop below freezing at night. The ground is also quite rough, so it's a good idea to use a four-wheel drive vehicle to get around.

Exploring the Park's Trails

Very tall trees that are not originally from Hawaii grow here, especially higher up.

Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area has four main trails for visitors to explore.

Haleakalā Ridge Trail

The Haleakalā Ridge Trail leads into the recreation area. On this trail, you'll see different types of land. There are areas with small bushes, open grassy spots, and forests. The ground is often made of cinder, which are small, rocky pieces from a volcano.

Plum Trail

Next to the Haleakalā Ridge Trail is the Plum Trail. This trail is special because it has many plum trees and other kinds of trees planted along it.

Polipoli Trail

The Polipoli Trail starts right inside the recreation area. As you walk along this path, you'll see many different types of conifer trees. Conifers are trees that have needles and cones, like pine trees.

Redwood Trail

The Redwood Trail is a popular spot for mountain biking. Here, you can see giant redwood trees. These trees are known for being very tall. You can also find an old ranger's cabin along this trail.

Trees of Polipoli

Originally, this area was covered in thick forests. These forests had native Hawaiian trees like koa (Acacia koa), māmane (Sophora chrysophylla), and ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha).

However, when the park was first created, most of these trees were gone. So, in the 1930s, new trees were planted to bring the forest back. These new trees included different kinds of pines, eucalyptus, tropical ash, cypress, China-fir, and coast redwood trees.

Fun Activities at the Park

There are several exciting things you can do at Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area.

Off-Roading

You can enjoy off-roading, which means driving a vehicle on rough, unpaved trails. This is a great way to explore the park's challenging terrain.

Hiking

If you love walking, the park offers many opportunities for hiking. You can explore the different trails and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Hunting

Some visitors also come to the park for hunting. This activity helps manage the populations of wild boar and feral goats in the area.