The Kapalua Coastal Trail is one of Maui’s most beautiful beach walks! Stretching from Kapalua Bay to D.T. Fleming Park, the pathway will take you on a fun and adventurous island stroll. Join us for a leisurely walk along the stunning ocean and West Coast beaches of Maui.
How to Get to the Kapalua Coastal Trail Maui
One of the best parts about the Kapalua Coastal Trail is that you can start from multiple places. There is parking at several different locations along the pathway at most major beaches.
Be sure to check out the prices of rental cars before your visit. Most people start at Kapalua Beach Maui, then walk the trail to the end and back.
Kapalua Coastal Trail Parking
In peak season the parking can be tough near Kapalua Beach. We recommend getting there as early as possible to secure a spot.
Once you get close to Kapalua Beach, you’ll see signs for parking. Most lots charge $10 for the day. However, you have to leave by 2 or 3pm, so be sure to double-check the times.
You can always head out to the free parking zone if you can’t find a spot at Kapalua in Maui Other lots include Kapalua Parking, the Dragon’s Teeth Access Trail, or DT Fleming Park along the trail.
About the Kapalua Coastal Trail
In total, the Kapalua Coastal Trail is 1.76 miles, which makes it around 3.5 miles round trip. The pathway is mostly flat so this will be an easy day of walking.
Still, you may want to wear shoes over flip-flops. There are some sections that a paved, rocky, and even a wooden planked boardwalk.
Also, make sure to bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and a hat. This is especially important if you’re doing the walk in the heat of the afternoon!
We loved beach hopping all the way down the Kapalua Coastal Trail, while checking out some of Maui’s luxurious hotels.
Kapalua Beach in Maui
The official trail starts at Kapalua Beach. This is just one of endless beaches in Maui that every traveler will love!
Honestly, when we first saw Kapalua, we couldn’t believe our eyes. White sand and crystal clear water was surrounded by gorgeous palm trees.
It’s truly the type of beach that you come to Hawaii for! Kapalua Beach was pretty crowded the day we were there.
Yet, this didn’t bother us much ,as we spent most of our time in the water anyway. We even saw a sea turtle swimming right next to us near the shore.
Views at Oneloa Beach
Once you’ve had your fill of Kapalua in Maui, head up the trail to Oneloa Beach. A slight incline takes you past the ultra-luxurious Montage Kapalua Bay hotel and then up and over the rock cliffs.
From here, walk out along the large rocks where you’ll get your first view of Oneloa Beach. While the Kapalua Beach Maui is very calm, you’ll find Oneloa is the complete opposite!
If you love playing in the waves, then this will be your favorite beach on the Kapalua Coastal Trail. With limited parking in the area, this beach also feels very remote and secluded.
Makaluapuna Point & Dragon Teeth Trail
Just past Oneloa Beach, is a short trail that leads out to Makaluapuna Point. The walk down will only take a few minutes.
The rock formations here are jagged and are supposed to resemble Dragon Teeth.I guess you can decide for yourself!
There is parking at the Dragon Teeth Trail as well if you want to just a nice view and don’t have time for the entire Kapalua Coastal Trail.
Ending at D.T. Fleming Park
The final stop on the Kapalua Coastal Trail Maui is D. T. Fleming Beach Park. To get to the beach, you’ll stroll through the grounds of the Ritz-Carlton Maui.
Once you make it to the end, the forest leads down to the soft sands. It was so nice to be able to grab a seat in the shade after walking the 2 miles.
This is also a great spot to have a picnic or a snack. Much like Oneloa Beach, there are also plenty of waves to splash around in.
After another swim, we made the walk back to the start of the trail. We loved this pathway and it reminded us of the beautiful Wailea Beach Walk on the other side of the island. Both take you along Maui’s luxury hotels and by some of its finest beaches!
More Maui Hikes: Don’t miss more of the best hikes on Maui! Some of our favorites include the Waihee Ridge Trail, Bamboo Forest, or easy Hoapili Trail through the lava fields.
Have any questions on the Kapalua Coastal Trail or want to share your own experience? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
Sadly no access exists for wheelchair users. Such a perfect opportunity to allow wheelchair users to experience the ocean air and beauty was missed. We tried everything- even trying possible access via hotel and restaurants. Major disappointment.
As per the U.S. Census Bureau, mobility is the most common disability among older Americans. 61 million adults live with a disability in the U.S. out of which, 13.7% have mobility disability with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Also, in 2016, there were 3.3 million wheelchair users in the U.S., with 1.825 million of those users aged 65 years and above. This number is predicted to grow every year, with an expected 2 million new wheelchair users per year.
Author
Sorry to hear that! Hopefully, they put some wheelchair access in someday soon.
If the Kapalua beach parking lot is full, is there an area that I can park on the side of the road to get to Kapalua beach starting point?
Author
Hey Chris,
It looked like there was some street parking around the actual lot but very limited. We definitely recommend getting there early to get a spot! Have fun (-: