Molokai Mule Ride

This was a wonderful experience for me and my family. My dad hiked and my husband and mom and I muled down. Our day was very peaceful, and educational. I’m so glad we were able to do this together!

An absolute MUST. Even if you only come to Molokai to do this, it is worth it. The experience, seeing and being where saints walked is a gift in time.
The tour guides with the mules were wonderful. …skilled, funny, got me down and up unscathed.
Clare was knowledgeable and interesting. The lunch was simple but sufficient.
Thank you for an unforgettable experience.

This was our top favorite thing to do on Molokai! It is definitely a once in a lifetime experience! My husband and I chose to ride the mules vs hiking or flying and I’m happy with that choice. If you do hike down keep in mind it is the same trail the mules climb up and down (lots of poop!) Once everyone checks in you get a quick lesson on how to ride and then you’re paired with your mule. Mine was Smokey who was a little sassy but cute as all out. The mules really no help going up or down so if you’re hesitant no need to be! Once you get to the bottom, you’ll learn so much about the colony! When we go back to Molokai, I can’t wait to do it again! Thanks JR and team for an unforgettable experience!

What a great day! The ALOHA spirit of the staff, the views, the magnificent mules truly made for a wonderful experience. JR does an excellent job running the show! Each person on our ride was paired with the appropriate mule, and go love for Molokai and the history made the ride down very interesting. It is a bit scary, but the mules do most of the work.

I absolutely agree with everyone who’s commented that this is a once-​in-​a-​lifetime event. I came to the adventure never having ridden a mule (or horse) and moderately afraid of heights. The mule skinners knew this and did a great job of checking in throughout the ride. The mules were a very well-​trained bunch, moving at a pace that was probably no faster than an average hiker would hike on a hilly trail. They were very sure-​footed. Although they sometimes veered towards the sheer side of the trail, the mules did live up to the guide’s statement that they’re not suicidal. They’ve never lost a rider, btw. By switchback #2 (of 26), I was feeling surprisingly comfortable and able to enjoy the scenery and the ride. Honestly, I had been expecting to be terrified much of the ride, and I truly wasn’t. As for the cliffside trail, if you’ve ever hiked the Kalaulau trail on Kauai, this is certainly not worse and probably, in fact, less scary. And of course Kalaupapa and Kalawao were amazing, incredible places to visit.

Fantastic experience! This is one of those bucket list type adventures that you must do at least one time in your life. The tour guides are friendly, warm, experienced, eager and knowledgable. If you are uneasy about riding a horse or traveling along steep heights, this is a challenge to take, but well worth it in the end.
The opportunity to see the highest cliffs in the world and visit a place with so much history, dating back to 1833 is such a wonderful sight to see.
Once down the mountain you will also enjoy a 3 hour tour of Kalaupapa and Kalawao. These places are so remote you either hike, ride the mule of fly in. Its so amazing to see, smell and be in such history and learn the true stories.
Expect an experience you will never forget! Plus the tour guides and staff make you feel extremely special and loved.

Scary but fun i thought i was going to die the whole time if you are afraid of heights this is not for you if you are a thrill seeker go for it bring a sun hat

Amazing experience. It was very rustic and authentic… True to the beautiful spirit that is Molokai. It’s a family run business with the son and grandson of the late Buzzy Sproat continuing his legacy and aloha. The staff truly work hard to make the adventure fun and memorable. The mules are phenomenally adept to the trail and they work their butt off to get you down and back up the 20+ switchbacks safe and sound. These animals are gentle, smart, and very strong. The views, the history of Kalaupapa and Kalawao, and the wonderful people you meet along the way definitely leaves its mark on your soul! I highly recommend locals of Hawaii to experience this adventure and see a side of our home, Hawaii, that still resonates in the old, traditional ways that we should always respect and love. Plenty aloha to the Sproat ‘ohana for taking us on a completely memorable trek. I will be back!

This trip was GREAT! Buzzy lead us down and each of the mules has their own nature. Thank goodness Tita (Hawaiian for sister) was a great mule! Okay, a bit stubborn (expected) and feisty, but not sure why she LOVED hugging the edge of the trail?! Again — GREAT ADVENTURE!
The views are the best, the 26 switchbacks are a countdown to an incredible place, and even for a novice, this is a «not to be missed trip»! Buzzy’s wife makes an incredible lunch — she makes sure it is FRESH — as the sandwich is build it yourself and everything is included. Whole wheat bread, ham, cheese, lettuce and spread — mayo or mustard. I was impressed — fresh and tasty, with a view to die for!
Buzzy was our tour guide — the Damien Tour guy had a family emergency — and Buzzy’s «fill in» was incredible! He told us a lot about life in the settlement, in a very respectful, historical and relevant manner. We stopped at some great places, saw a very interesting response to a very difficult medical paradox, and after doing a lot of research on the settlement, I felt it was a very moving and spiritual experience.
The NPS stamp is at the bookstore and the brochure is there as well. The only NPS sign (without the arrowhead, as I think it fell off) is at the airport.

My husband and I went to maui last summer and booked the mule ride to the kalupapa park. It was a once in a lifetime experience. I had no idea what it would be like as far as terrain etc. I have ridden horses for almost 40 years, but this was a totally different experience. My mule Stripe was amazing he was leopard appy/​mule he was young and very forward. I was happy he was my guide up and down the mountain. What a mountain it was. The views were out of this world 26 steep switch backs with cliffs. I was honestly a little anxious, but once I had the feel for the ride it was ok. Not many people get to experience this view. Then there was the park it was so interesting and I would suggest anyone who goes to maui to defiantly do this tour. The town does not have much to offer so you may want to bring a snack, but the tour provides a nice bag lunch. A must do I promise you will love it!

Kind of a mixed bag.
The facts:
— it’s kinda expensive; $ 62 to hike, $ 190 for a mule ride; $ 300 to fly, all plus $ 7 for lunch
— steep trail, but certainly hikable. I’m 53 and did it in 90 min. Each way. Sore the day after, though. Different muscles each way, a good workout.
The good:
— beautiful views
— rare sights
— interesting portion of our recent history where folks were treated awfully
— our tour guide (Buzzy Sproat) had a lot of relevant, first-​hand history, and his wife makes a delicious ham sandwich. Two stars for Buzzy alone, one for the rest of the tour.
The bad:
— complete misunderstanding of what customer service means. Very little information delivered up front (except they sure know how to work the credit card machine without fail), and the tour is s-​l-​o-​w. I understand quaint, and relaxing, and all that, but honestly, I think they were just trying to fill time to make it worth the $$.
— the town is a ramshackle affair; everything is rotted and half falling down. There are twisted remains of a building that burned down years ago, so either restore the site, or clean up the junk!
In summary– I’d do it again, but I’d check my expectations at the top of the hill.

So worth it! This might have been the highlight of an already awesome trip! It was a bit scary at first … but as the others have indicted incredible, incredible, unforgettable views…
Wonderful tour too. Absolutely recommend this to anyone who visits Molokai!

The mule ride was great. The mules were fun, the guys were professional and talkative, and the views were out of this world.
Now that that is out of the way, I have the craziest story to share about my particular mule ride that is too weird not to share with the world. The way down the cliffs was great, this interesting encounter occurred on the way back up the cliffs after the tour of Kalaupapa Town. I was part of a group of ten. All ten of us were part of a mule line walking on the well maintained path. I was in the number five spot on the mule line and was having a great time. I came around a corner and notice one of the mules with an older lady on it starting to wander off the path so the mule could eat some grass. They were stopping for bites to eat the entire way down, so this was not out of the ordinary. Apparently the woman didn’t like the way the mule was walking off the path so she screamed a blood curdling scream. This scream caused to the horse to get overly startled and it took off running into the brush and trees that surrounded the trail!
At first I was concerned that this particular mule was on a war path on its own. But when I watched the women literally do nothing but sit there while the horse took off running, I no longer felt bad for her. We were clearly taught by the staff how to make the horses stop, turn right or left, go, and turn around. She did not do any of these things to influence the mule except scream and she has no one but herself to blame for the startled mule.
Back to the mule in the brush and trees. After the mule took off running, the woman was drug through some branches and bushes and was almost decapitated by a tree branch. The branch was caught around her neck and her head was not going anywhere while her body was being led away by the panicked mule. After her head snapped out of the vice grip of the tree branch, she was taken for a little more of a run before she fell off. Now at this time, I figured the scary incident was over. O how wrong I was.
After the woman fell off the mule, he decided to start running toward my mule and other mules in the group! Luckily, I was able to turn my mule around and escaped unscathed. Other members of the group were not so lucky as their mules were startled by the other excited mule and we had ourselves a full mule stampede going up the hill. Four mules were now running away up the hill while the poor woman was still laying on the ground and the staff were trying to take control of the situation. It was pure mayhem.
The workers finally got the mules under control and got the woman bandaged up enough to make the rest of the trip up the sheer beach cliff to the stables. We all thought we were in the clear. Little did we know nature would add insult to injury and laugh at us in the form of very heavy rain. It rained for the last 45 minutes up the hill and didn’t stop until after were were finished with the day.
Overall, this trip was very exciting and so worth the money. I would highly recommend doing the mule ride. You may even walk away with a cool story to tell that you will never forget for the rest of your life.
NOTE: Those who are fortunate enough to ride Smoky, be ready to stop for frequent snack breaks.

What an experience – I’m so glad I did this! First you ride a mule down a sheer cliff face, which is totally terrifying. I was afraid that I would fall off of my mule and tumble down the cliff. Even so, the view is phenomenal: blue ocean, green trees. At one point, you are riding through a section of the forest where all the treetrunks are bleached white – it looks like a witch’s home from a fairy tale. It’s unforgettable. Then, after 26 switchbacks, you arrive at Kalaupapa. You tour the site of the former leprosy colony, where a small number of people with Hansen’s disease still reside to this day. Our tour guide, Norman, was great – he make the history come alive. Then you eat lunch and hop back on your mule. It’s strange, but the mules climb the cliff more quickly than they descend it… I guess they want to go home!
I would definitely recommend the mule ride over the hike. If you are hiking, remember 1) it is a really hard climb; and 2) this tiny trail is filled with mules everyday. There is a lot of mule poo. I can’t imagine the hike would be all that pleasant, but the mule ride is great.
Also, I would book far in advance, because the mule rides fill up quickly. And as soon as you book your spot, also call Alamo (the only car rental service on the island) and reserve a car. I called weeks ahead, but all the cars were already sold out. If there are no cars available, you have to use the taxi service on the island. And it is expensive. More expensive than a cab in New York!

I did the mule ride tour on 10÷24÷11 and I am no longer afraid of heights. The staff are friendly even to the tourists. The mules are trained and have gone up and down the trails over thousands times per mule guider! We are told there are no suicidal mules which one of my friends were worried. The mules already know what to do just like they are on auto pilot you just need to trust them and hang on! I recommend you call in advance to reserve a spot because it is first come first serve basis and people do show up without any reservation. There are 3 guiders (that’s what I call them) that comes with us and they make sure mules keep moving cause they stop and along the trail but mare sure all goes well. Cons, if you are extremely terrified of heights and have a bad back this is not for you. Going down is hard because there’s alot of stopping and leaning back in the saddle so you don’t go forward! The mule I rode loves the edges near the cliff but if you want to conquer your fear of heights this is perfect to try because going back was better! I plan to go back and ride the mule again and relax on the island!

Disclaimer: I didn’t ride the mule, I hiked (unfortunately).
You have the choice, to ride or hike.
Mules are super sturdy, move up and down the mountain pretty quickly. Receive a quick session on how to be a «mule rider.» Mule riders have guides on the trail with them, hikers are on their own.
They provide lunch.
Tour of Kaluapapa 3.5 hour.
Great staff. Easy to find.
Kamaaiana message me for the extra scoops.