The best traffic-free bike rides around Mauna Kea

Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and challenging experiences one can have on a bicycle and in the middle of the ocean! Setting off early in the morning from the quiet beach to reach the 4,207-meter summit of Mauna Kea is an immense satisfaction. The first part, from the city of Hilo up to a few kilometers before the Visitor Center at 2,700 meters, is relatively easy but also a bit monotonous. However, about a kilometer after taking the Mauna Kea Access Road, the gradient starts to rise steeply, often reaching double digits. Once you arrive at the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station, after the mandatory stop at the Ranger Checkpoint, you can enjoy a well-deserved break and stock up on water before facing the toughest section of the entire climb. Immediately after the VIS begins a long stretch of unpaved road with sharp gradients and a surface that often offers little grip, putting even the strongest legs to the test. After this grueling segment, the ascent continues on asphalt again, but the slopes remain steep and the altitude begins to take its toll, making the final conquest of the summit truly a feat within a feat. Once you reach the long-awaited summit sign, you can finally take a deep breath of relief and admire—with a huge smile—the breathtaking view that awaits you. I traveled 31 hours to conquer this gem, and every bit of effort was more than worth it!

A superb experience. The highest point should not be climbed out of respect for the local religions.

The water on the upstream side runs through an old lava tube. I'm told (but haven't seen myself) that when the water isn't too rough, you can carefully hike upstream through the tube to see two waterfalls. There's good parking for several cars just past the bridge in the direction away from Hilo (towards Pepeekeo).

The Kawainui Stream Bridge has become a little attraction around this rainforest because some people like to jump from the bridge into the water. Warning: Jumping off the bridge can be dangerous, as the river level can change and it can become too shallow. Jumping is not recommended.

Kawainui Stream is flowing down from the Hilo Watershead, leaving pools of water along the mountain. At this point there is a wood bridge suspended over the water. The most unique thing is the mouth of the stream next to the bridge as it looks like water is rushing out of a black hole bored in the jungle.

Located on the north flank of Mauna Loa Volcano, this observatory is 11,135 feet above sea level (almost 3,000 feet lower than neighboring Mauna Kea). This research facility has been used since the 1950's and provides panoramic views of all the surrounding volcanic land. You'd think the buildings would have to pump in oxygen to ensure the 8 staff that operate the facility are not oxygen deprived.

Mauna Kea is a unworldly climb that is on the bucketlist of many cyclists and self-proclaimed explorers. Many people ride from Hilo, but you can also park at the base of the mountain to shave off a bit of the filler miles. The mid section of the climb is gravel which is more than doable on a road bike, although many people utilize gravel bikes since you also typically have lower gearing. With the summit being at just under 14,000 feet, please ensure you do your research and preperation. Going from sealevel to 14k feet can get a lot of people in trouble.

Hāmākua Forest Reserve Jeep road navigates its way through very dense forest. The trail itself is pretty bumpy with a leaf floor, similar to a Pacific Northwest trail in the fall. A mountain bike or something with some 26x2.2+ tires would be ideal. This trail is best left to dry conditions due to the mud that can form.