I am a relative newbie to mountain biking. I am not into DH or freeriding but enjoy long bike (XC type) rides. Besides Kaena Point, where can you ride XC on Oahu? A previous post mentioned a Pupukea to Kahuku Motocross track trail? No more Waimea Mountain Bike park, Kualoa Ranch not having open to the public riding anymore maybe I just become a freakin roadie already? :(

I agree with IMBA's "C" grade. There seems to have been efforts to create Mountain Bike designated areas but they seem to have fallen through the cracks or closed since they may not have proven to be profitable or for environmental concerns. I really appreciate the efforts of local riders who donate their time to maintain trails and try to keep the sport alive on Oahu. It seems the Motocross riders have taken the trails over, and the noise and erosion they cause have persuaded the state to ban any type of riding on even more trails. The rainy weather the past year did not help (although we do need the rain. I am sure Board of Water Supply does)

Mahalos!
Gflash

I am a relative newbie to mountain biking. I am not into DH or freeriding but enjoy long bike (XC type) rides. Besides Kaena Point, where can you ride XC on Oahu? A previous post mentioned a Pupukea to Kahuku Motocross track trail? No more Waimea Mountain Bike park, Kualoa Ranch not having open to the public riding anymore maybe I just become a freakin roadie already? :(

I agree with IMBA's "C" grade. There seems to have been efforts to create Mountain Bike designated areas but they seem to have fallen through the cracks or closed since they may not have proven to be profitable or for environmental concerns. I really appreciate the efforts of local riders who donate their time to maintain trails and try to keep the sport alive on Oahu. It seems the Motocross riders have taken the trails over, and the noise and erosion they cause have persuaded the state to ban any type of riding on even more trails. The rainy weather the past year did not help (although we do need the rain. I am sure Board of Water Supply does)

Mahalos!
Gflash

Easiest way is to go to your local shop and talk to somethere that rides off-road. You'll find out what's good and what not. There's also a book called...."Mountain Biking in the Hawaiian Islands" or something along those lines. By John Alford. Green cover, large paperback size, goofy looking guy riding on the cover.

Oni

There is a resource for legal trails on State land.
http://www.hawaiitrails.org/island.asp?island=Oahu

Oni, Airwreck Thanks for the replies. I will check out the Mountain Biking in Hawaii Book. I saw it at Eki Cyclery. I will also check out the link to the Hawaii Trails website.

I recommend the Maunawili and Maunawili Ditch trails.

Yes it is too bad the ranch stopped offering occasional mt biking--it seems it's down to the annual 24 hr event.

Mililani is ok--but go w/ a group---it is posted land--you don't really wanna be caught out alone by prison security.

Mountain bike---- Texas=A-, Hawaii=D
Road Bike--------- Hawaii=A-, Texas=B
Just IMHO :D

It's all good.
I will be home from Iraq on the 20th--just in time to miss the 24 hrs of tantalus road event--see everyone very soon on the trails and roads.




I am a relative newbie to mountain biking. I am not into DH or freeriding but enjoy long bike (XC type) rides. Besides Kaena Point, where can you ride XC on Oahu? A previous post mentioned a Pupukea to Kahuku Motocross track trail? No more Waimea Mountain Bike park, Kualoa Ranch not having open to the public riding anymore maybe I just become a freakin roadie already? :(

I agree with IMBA's "C" grade. There seems to have been efforts to create Mountain Bike designated areas but they seem to have fallen through the cracks or closed since they may not have proven to be profitable or for environmental concerns. I really appreciate the efforts of local riders who donate their time to maintain trails and try to keep the sport alive on Oahu. It seems the Motocross riders have taken the trails over, and the noise and erosion they cause have persuaded the state to ban any type of riding on even more trails. The rainy weather the past year did not help (although we do need the rain. I am sure Board of Water Supply does)

Mahalos!
Gflash

24 hrs of tantalus road event.

What?
Sounds a little early for Ray to start training for Cycle to the Sun :p

I recommend the Maunawili and Maunawili Ditch trails.

Yes it is too bad the ranch stopped offering occasional mt biking--it seems it's down to the annual 24 hr event.

Mililani is ok--but go w/ a group---it is posted land--you don't really wanna be caught out alone by prison security.

Mountain bike---- Texas=A-, Hawaii=D
Road Bike--------- Hawaii=A-, Texas=B
Just IMHO :D

It's all good.
I will be home from Iraq on the 20th--just in time to miss the 24 hrs of tantalus road event--see everyone very soon on the trails and roads.

I have read about the Maunawili Trail in the Mountain Biking in Hawaii book by John Alford. Where is the Maunawili Ditch trail in relation to the Maunawili trail? I also seen in another post about a trail (a 4wd road actually) that goes all the way from Pupukea to Kahuku? I think I saw one of your previous posts about this trail/4wd road also. How is this that trail. Exactly the kind of long ride I would enjoy! Keep up the good work in Iraq!

Gflash

[QUOTE=Gflash]I have read about the Maunawili Trail in the Mountain Biking in Hawaii book by John Alford. Where is the Maunawili Ditch trail in relation to the Maunawili trail? I also seen in another post about a trail (a 4wd road actually) that goes all the way from Pupukea to Kahuku? I think I saw one of your previous posts about this trail/4wd road also. How is this that trail. Exactly the kind of long ride I would enjoy! Keep up the good work in Iraq!

The Ditch trail trailhead is on the fireroad which leads up to the Maunawili trail at the Waimanalo end and it's a fun, mellow trail. There are some side trails that parallel the ditch trail which are lots of fun too. The Ditch trail is not listed in Alford's book but here is a link to the Na Ala Hele description:

http://www.hawaiitrails.org/trail.asp?TrailID=OA+15+090&island=Oahu

Watch out for equestrians on the Ditch trail system, especially on weekends.

A fun XC ride in this area is to park at the trailhead described in the link above, do an out-and-back on the Maunawili trail (go as far as you want), then come back and play around on the Ditch trail and side trails. Some of these side trails will take you over to Old Kalanianiole Rd. Go explore and have fun; you'll be stoked.

I have read about the Maunawili Trail in the Mountain Biking in Hawaii book by John Alford. Where is the Maunawili Ditch trail in relation to the Maunawili trail? I also seen in another post about a trail (a 4wd road actually) that goes all the way from Pupukea to Kahuku? I think I saw one of your previous posts about this trail/4wd road also. How is this that trail. Exactly the kind of long ride I would enjoy! Keep up the good work in Iraq!

Gflash
The Ditch is a lot of fun. Watch out for horses and there used to be a feral bull loose. The time my friends and I saw him, it was a toss up who could get out of the area faster. This was probably five or six years ago, so he might be dead or domesticated by now.

And don't make eye contact with any of "the boys" stripping cars along Old Kalanianole. Seriously.

I don't know what the official name of the Pupukea trail is. It's easy to find. Go look it up in the Alford book or at the online site someone on this thread recommended. I've banged my head once or twice so don't trust my directions implicitly.

Option 1) Park by the fire station at the bottom of the hill and ride it up! Great warm up. Sing a song out loud and annoy your riding buddies. Get dropped by that woman who lives up there and has thighs the size of my chest.

Option 2) Turn by the Foodland in Pupukea (across from Sharks Cover) and follow the road till you can't anymore. Park (hope you didn't leave anything in your car). And hop on the jeep road past the green gate (there's a boy scout camp on the left side. Woe be to the rider that's out there during or soon after a hike of uku-billion boy scouts). Ride the jeep road for a smidgen. You'll see one of the trail markers on the left as the jeep road starts to climb. Turn left here. Follow the trail. Up and down, up and down, in and out, up and out. Etc. Last time there were some large trees felled across the trail. And the occasionally hiker. And carry the bike across the stream crossings

At some point you'll get to a fire road. It's at the top of a "holycrapisthishilldoneyetthisis theworstenergysuckinggrassintheworldI'mgoingtoeith erpukeordie" hill climb. Gradual, but it sucks.

Right turn at this fork leads to these choices.

1) Turn right on the fire road, climb up. Ride. Drop down. Fork. Right takes you back (on the jeep road) to the original jeep road.
Left takes you to a fence and from what I've been told, the road there leads into Helemano or East Range. Never tried it.

2) Left turn leads you into Kahuku. Many hill climbs and insane descents later. A very rutted jeep road. At the end of another insane climb, you'll come to a coral gravel paved road. Turn left and you'll be on the outskirts of the MX park. At this point, follow this left hand fork and have fun. Kahuku is full of little trails. Easy to get lost. Easy to have fun. Weekends has MX bikes all over. Weekdays has military around (and bikers aren't allowed here during the week).

You'll have to ride out of the MX park and back on to Kam Highway. Now you have to deal with Option 1 or Option 2. After this long ride, it really, really sucks humping it back up the hill to the top to get your car. Much better to do it at the beginning. Now get in the car, go into Haleiwa and grind!


Oni is hoping to ride this weekend.

Its easy to jump on the mililani trails from PC industrial park. There is a trail after about 300M it goes down thru a creek and then up to plenty of cross country.

My favorite is peacock flats, once you get to the top its pretty much cross country.

Cheers,
bill

I am a relative newbie to mountain biking. I am not into DH or freeriding but enjoy long bike (XC type) rides. Besides Kaena Point, where can you ride XC on Oahu? A previous post mentioned a Pupukea to Kahuku Motocross track trail? No more Waimea Mountain Bike park, Kualoa Ranch not having open to the public riding anymore maybe I just become a freakin roadie already? :(

I agree with IMBA's "C" grade. There seems to have been efforts to create Mountain Bike designated areas but they seem to have fallen through the cracks or closed since they may not have proven to be profitable or for environmental concerns. I really appreciate the efforts of local riders who donate their time to maintain trails and try to keep the sport alive on Oahu. It seems the Motocross riders have taken the trails over, and the noise and erosion they cause have persuaded the state to ban any type of riding on even more trails. The rainy weather the past year did not help (although we do need the rain. I am sure Board of Water Supply does)

Mahalos!
Gflash


How bout Aiea Loop trail, or Manana, or Peacock Flats, or Royal Summit, or Kuliouou, or Laie Falls or Mililani, or Helemanu, or Maunawili Demonstration Trail, or Tantalus (Bandit Trail) to name a few...........

Rode Aiea Loop trail last October. Was more hike-a-bike than ride. Fallen trees, thick mud, etc. At that time my mountain biking skills were not ready yet for a trail of that type. Since we have had an unusual amount of rain these past few months, I have been hitting the road a lot. Hopefully I can hit some trails to improve my off-road skills. I figure if I ride some of the more "beginner" trails and get to ride better, I will be able to handle something like Aiea Loop trail in the future. Always liked Kaena Pt for the scenary and root free trails where you can go pretty fast but I realize I will need to try out the more technical trails to improve skills No Pain, No Gain! Thanks for the recommedations. Keep them coming if possible,

Gflash

Peacock flats!! The ride up I've done 2X. Once on my own on a mt bike--that was hard enough but I made it. The other time I was with Dan ("George") and on our road bikes--and the gearing just wasn't enough. I remember the trails and forest rd up top looks awesome though--I need to check it out again.



Its easy to jump on the mililani trails from PC industrial park. There is a trail after about 300M it goes down thru a creek and then up to plenty of cross country.

My favorite is peacock flats, once you get to the top its pretty much cross country.

Cheers,
bill

Definately agree--park at the foodland and ride up---many times I skip the technical short singletrack all together and just do the fire roads---which is hard enough with all the ruts on the one section--ending up through the moto park and back on Kam to foodland.

Last time I did this I noticed the moto park laid gravel on the main roads through camp---too bad--I guess to enforce their 8 mph speed limit or whatever.

Anyway this is a nice 20-25 mile workout.

...
Option 1) Park by the fire station at the bottom of the hill and ride it up! Great warm up. Sing a song out loud and annoy your riding buddies. Get dropped by that woman who lives up there and has thighs the size of my chest.

Option 2) Turn by the Foodland in Pupukea (across from Sharks Cover) and follow the road till you can't anymore. Park (hope you didn't leave anything in your car). And hop on the jeep road past the green gate (there's a boy scout camp on the left side. Woe be to the rider that's out there during or soon after a hike of uku-billion boy scouts). Ride the jeep road for a smidgen. You'll see one of the trail markers on the left as the jeep road starts to climb. Turn left here. Follow the trail. Up and down, up and down, in and out, up and out. Etc. Last time there were some large trees felled across the trail. And the occasionally hiker. And carry the bike across the stream crossings

At some point you'll get to a fire road. It's at the top of a "holycrapisthishilldoneyetthisis theworstenergysuckinggrassintheworldI'mgoingtoeith erpukeordie" hill climb. Gradual, but it sucks.

Right turn at this fork leads to these choices.

1) Turn right on the fire road, climb up. Ride. Drop down. Fork. Right takes you back (on the jeep road) to the original jeep road.
Left takes you to a fence and from what I've been told, the road there leads into Helemano or East Range. Never tried it.

2) Left turn leads you into Kahuku. Many hill climbs and insane descents later. A very rutted jeep road. At the end of another insane climb, you'll come to a coral gravel paved road. Turn left and you'll be on the outskirts of the MX park. At this point, follow this left hand fork and have fun. Kahuku is full of little trails. Easy to get lost. Easy to have fun. Weekends has MX bikes all over. Weekdays has military around (and bikers aren't allowed here during the week).

You'll have to ride out of the MX park and back on to Kam Highway. Now you have to deal with Option 1 or Option 2. After this long ride, it really, really sucks humping it back up the hill to the top to get your car. Much better to do it at the beginning. Now get in the car, go into Haleiwa and grind!


Oni is hoping to ride this weekend.

Rode Aiea Loop trail last October. Was more hike-a-bike than ride. Fallen trees, thick mud, etc. At that time my mountain biking skills were not ready yet for a trail of that type. Since we have had an unusual amount of rain these past few months, I have been hitting the road a lot. Hopefully I can hit some trails to improve my off-road skills. I figure if I ride some of the more "beginner" trails and get to ride better, I will be able to handle something like Aiea Loop trail in the future. Always liked Kaena Pt for the scenary and root free trails where you can go pretty fast but I realize I will need to try out the more technical trails to improve skills No Pain, No Gain! Thanks for the recommedations. Keep them coming if possible,

Gflash

Rode it Saturday in the morning. There was only mud in a couple of places. Rare for up there. There are still some major trees down, and you have to get off of your bike and climb around it, but it was nice.

Stumpjumper 808, how are you doing this?

Its easy to jump on the mililani trails from PC industrial park. There is a trail after about 300M it goes down thru a creek and then up to plenty of cross country.

I've come out thru the park a bunch, down the dirt road that has the old water pipes laid alongside it. Then under the freeway and back to Costco. But I've never tried going in that way.

Oni

Stumpjumper 808, how are you doing this?

Its easy to jump on the mililani trails from PC industrial park. There is a trail after about 300M it goes down thru a creek and then up to plenty of cross country.

I've come out thru the park a bunch, down the dirt road that has the old water pipes laid alongside it. Then under the freeway and back to Costco. But I've never tried going in that way.
Oni
Once you pull onto the road for pc industrial area, theres no bldgs for a few hundred meters but there is an open gate (west side of rd) and usually a few containers parked on the road nearby. It drops down across a stream and then joins up with dirt roads going up to Waiau or straight up towards the hills.
Near where I live so when I am to lazy to go to the NS, it works out OK.

Cheers

[I don't know what the official name of the Pupukea trail is. It's easy to find. Go look it up in the Alford book or at the online site someone on this thread recommended. I've banged my head once or twice so don't trust my directions implicitly.

2) Left turn leads you into Kahuku. Many hill climbs and insane descents later. A very rutted jeep road. At the end of another insane climb, you'll come to a coral gravel paved road. Turn left and you'll be on the outskirts of the MX park. At this point, follow this left hand fork and have fun. Kahuku is full of little trails. Easy to get lost. Easy to have fun. Weekends has MX bikes all over. Weekdays has military around (and bikers aren't allowed here during the week).

QUOTE]

I did this ride once durring the week. I may not have known any better or didn't care, can't remember which. But I made it all the way to the gate that leads to the dirt parking area above kahuku. I was slowing down to dismount and get over the gate when I heard a voice say "you really are not supposed to be back here." I looked all around and finaly said "uh, who said that?" I heard, "over here." I followed the voice and there was a guy in full camo, with a big old gun. That camo works! I was kinda startled after riding alone for so long. I just appologized, hopped the gate and got the heck out of there. Fun ride though. :)