Maui Volcano Slingshot Drive: Self-Guided Summit Review
Thinking about doing the Maui volcano summit drive, maybe, in a Polaris Slingshot? It’s almost like an open-air thrill ride combined, in a way, with a super scenic adventure. This review gets you ready for exactly what to expect so that you know it’s the awesome experience everybody talks about. I’ll run through what to keep in your mind so that you get your preparations right and even some suggestions so that your ride is top-notch.
What Makes the Slingshot Stand Out?
First up, so, what even is a Slingshot, right? It looks just a little like the lovechild, right, of a motorcycle plus a sports car. With those two wheels upfront and that single one in back, it’s sort of completely unlike anything else that you see cruising the streets, to be honest. The completely open cockpit really means, that you feel absolutely everything— the sunshine, so, the wind, and every little twist of that road. Because it’s low to the ground, it gives you an enhanced sense of speed which just dials that fun up a notch. Also, the visibility? You see basically everything around you way easier, especially if you’re, say, heading upcountry where everything’s all spread out.
And, when you take all of that into consideration, it just makes things better for a drive such as heading up Haleakala. The sights, it’s almost as if they get even grander. Imagine cruising up a volcano, the warm Hawaiian breeze very nearly caressing your face, nothing much between you and those views dropping away, seriously. So that you know, many tourists feel that the Slingshot boosts the feel, very much turning it into something that feels way, way more extraordinary.
Prepping for the Climb
Driving to Haleakala, it can be a lot. Is that maybe 10,000 feet kinda lot. If you think it’s just gonna be island weather? Yeah, probably not. So, layers of clothes. Maybe a jacket so that you are really comfy when it’s super chilly up there. Basically, too, those clouds can move pretty fast and the temperature’s nearly always cooler than you anticipate, that it tends to surprise folks that don’t pack smart. I always throw in sunglasses, for instance, since that glare around the summit could be super intense. And sure, it’s almost as if sunscreen is a total must, basically especially with the top down most all of the time.
I guess altitude is something that slips a few people’s mind as well. People sometimes do find themselves kind of winded way up at that summit. Don’t overdo things. When you just let your body take its time as it acclimates and, more or less hydrate quite often, usually you’ll miss all that wooziness. Then again, too it’s almost easy to want to jump out straightaway and also go scampering for a viewpoint, just pace it all a little bit more at the start.
It’s usually a very solid idea just to sort your Slingshot rental out beforehand. When you do some comparisons, then, you are more or less able to snag fair prices and ensure the thing that you need is awaiting you. Investigate add-ons for GPS so that you don’t end up making detours in the wilds. Double check you’ve that helmet and eyewear combo for a safe drive, because there are a few providers who throw these in the price of the hire.
On the Road: Experiencing the Drive
I mean, driving a Slingshot really needs some focus, as a matter of fact. Just so you’re up to speed, they are way unlike your average ride. What that all boils down to is handling, basically the fact that they tend to corner kind of sharpish, which needs some getting accustomed to. Drive defensively as a rule, particularly across tight stretches and be mindful of bikes. Basically because they can wind through hills and what looks like nowhere a lot. When, on top of that, you see residents heading somewhere, show the area a bit of respect plus they give it back!
Once out onto the road, I do find there’s lots that gets your eyes, I mean those landscape changes, very nearly, become a spectacle of their very own. Starting out from lush tropical fields, so, you slowly snake through cooler upcountry. When you gain altitude? Those trees, they get much smaller before becoming what’s seemingly these desolate volcano landscapes near to the top. Bring a fantastic camera, because you know it just begs to be Instagrammed.
Plan your trip around daylight or when that sunset goes down on top of Haleakala so that you end up with that view – sure that thing sticks in your mind for keeps! Yet ensure it’s far enough ahead that way there is adequate time to get you all down before complete dark. Upcountry can be dark. When you are dealing with corners on a Slingshot, which might be somewhat tricky for people. Safety tips – if that view catches the eye? Absolutely locate one spot for stopping.
Making Pit Stops: Spots You Can’t Miss
Kula Lodge can be such a good location when you stop en-route. It is really quite famous for sights of pretty upcountry plus also delicious fare. Usually I grab coffee. If maybe I feel peckish, I eat, but what I really want is the views there because wow! It means it’s a calm halt plus there is stuff to shoot picture wise from a unique angle.
Then again, too it’s almost as if there are the lavender farms of Ali’i Kula, if you’ve that moment, usually this proves interesting. Then again it could just be if you love purple! The scenery smells, the aroma tends to be so heady plus it offers nice picture spots.
Just to sort your timetable effectively you would want to think of just how very long it all probably consumes. If you simply make some drive straight to, very nearly, Haleakala and back; it’ll most probably still have taken around 3 hrs, to be honest. Usually, that adds up when one spends lots of time somewhere such as stops along that way. Thus you are not caught away due, I think, to darkness during one descent that happens. I generally would want an entire morning maybe afternoon set out, if the plan looks a bit like this.
What to Consider
Well, those things which I’m certain to bring along, when you are off toward one’s summit excursion is warm apparel pieces. The climate will basically transform greatly, because just one altitude gets you quite high!
I always will check toward any weather when there are places such as the volcano summit. Just due to fog rolling through I mean everything’s very nearly concealed for hours possibly. It happens that often! Check beforehand! Maybe wait before until one appears confident in what weather occurs.
And, when alls mentioned too, too it’s almost important one really does show some appreciation, toward which Maui gives! Be kind by following instructions plus not scattering waste.
Consider that that Haleakala entryway fee has gotten sorted, just to eliminate those delays one has. That would be dealt, really, by getting those bookings prior, right there online so.
Safety always should go way before that want when things seem scary; in certain points do not just drive. One needs all pleasures possible – also return, yet healthy. Safety can start just through respecting whatever things those Slingshot can be through what things climate causes during driving.
Final Verdict: Is the Slingshot Drive Worth It?
Thus when taking everything I previously highlighted to accounts, driving just the Maui volcano toward its summit through any Slingshot can bring an experience absolutely, worth doing provided one anticipates one’s adventure in some kind of clever kind of direction plus stay cautious. It will bring thrills in droves mixed in some landscape that you probably won’t even get again easily elsewhere. Sure which brings an unrepeatable taste through Maui and there are memories just waiting so! It is such the great means one usually looks back with great feelings really!
Key Pointers
- Get some layered garments, because some summit happens chilling way back then often.
- Investigate just any type those forecasts before leaving toward driving high and see if there any views blocked with fog possibly!
- Spend only small periods with acclimating towards how one is very feeling by altitude toward just top summit!
- Plan around daylight several hours while accounting some downtime during points during such outing – this happens really important to miss anything coming around whenever things happen way dark whenever going down during late date back downwards.