Review Date
March 29, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: moosehead ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Primarily jungle singletrack with some doubletrack on main jeep road. Way cool rain forest riding with added tech from slick roots, rock, and reggae with plenty of downed tree and log crossings. Spectacular plants, giant ferns, and huge eucalyptus trees.

Felt like either the jungle would swallow you whole, or a man-eating wild pig would come out of the deep. Higher 2,000' elevation and dense forest canopy provided cooler riding temps in the low to mid 60 degree range. Well worth the effort to make the ride.

This trail system feels much bigger than it is due to the incredible rain forest and jungle riding. Wet conditions also add difficulty, especially to roots and downed trees. The trails are all worthy of riding in both directions. Camp sites, rental cabins, and showers available within the park.

Recommended Route:
Park up near cabins and look for trail sign. Enter trail system directly behind trail sign and either head straight up jeep trail to the top and loop down the Perimeter Horse Trail or the Gulch Rim Trail and back up again with a few short links in between. Only about 7 miles of current trails and a total of 500' elevation gain, but multiple loops are possible and encouraged.

Review Date
May 25, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: super88 ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
About two miles east of Honoka'a, on the Big Island of Hawaii is the Kalopa Native Forest. This small state recreation area packs a fairly good bit of nice, flowing single track into a pretty small area. Currently containing about 6 miles of mixed-use, well-canopied trail, the area also features a nice open pavilion with plenty of parking and modern bathroom facilities. Little bit of everything here, fast and smooth, few rocks, few roots, handful of fallen trees, and pretty much everything is ridable.

Recommended Route:
Ride past the pavilion area and cabins to the posted trail map/kiosk. Facing the the map the 0.7 mile Nature Trail loop is to your right. After a quick lap there return to the map and find the entrance to the main trail network immediately to the left of the kiosk. Stay right and ride up the Old Jeep Road- it's actually rugged double track now (at best). Continue past any side trails to the pasture gate at the top. Turn right on the Perimeter Horse Trail. After about two fun miles of winding single track it re-joins the Old Jeep Road, turn right here and return to the top. This time turn left at the pasture gate and join the Kapola Gulch Rim Trail, continue past Silk Oak, Blue Gum trails to Robusta Lane. Robusta lane will intersect the Perimeter Horse Trail. Turn left here, up a couple of switchbacks and continue across the Old Jeep Road, riding the other way UP Perimeter Horse Trail to the pasture gate. I favor bombing down the Old Jeep Road all the way to the car here, but choose your own adventure...

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Can't say, don't live in Hawaii!