Big Island Mountain Biking: Anna Ranch & Kohala Trails

Ride Up 1,200 Feet Through Anna Ranch's Volcanic Slopes

You ride a high-end full-suspension mountain bike up volcanic terrain on private Anna Ranch land, climbing 1,200 feet through pastures and past lava rocks while your local guide shares the ranch's history. The two-hour loop includes a snack break at a stream overlook and descends back to the homestead. Bike, helmet, hydration and energy bars are provided. Groups stay under twelve riders.

Step-by-step itinerary

Guided mountain bike ride on ranch

• Attend safety orientation
• Select mountain bike and helmet
• Hear history of Anna Ranch
• Cycle through green pastures
• Climb 1,200 feet past Kohakohau Stream
• Enjoy views of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa
• Pause for snack and hydration
• Descend past lava rocks and open fields
• Return to ranch to finish tour

The experience

You push off from the homestead and the ground shifts under your tires almost immediately: volcanic soil, packed and loose at once, with the Kohala Mountains rising ahead. The trail climbs steadily through pastures that open up as you gain elevation, and your guide (a Big Island native who knows the ranch's history) sets the pace so the group of twelve stays together without feeling rushed. Two hours sounds short until you're halfway up, breathing hard, and the views start to crack open: Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa rising in the distance, the stream you started near now a thread below.

The Anna Ranch mountain biking experience takes you across 100 acres of private land that belonged to Anna Lindsey Perry-Fiske, an original Big Island cowgirl whose story your guide weaves in as you ride. You're on a full-suspension, high-end bike (sized to fit you at the start), so the volcanic terrain (lava rocks, open fields, the occasional technical section) feels manageable even if you're not a regular rider. Around the 1,200-foot mark, you stop at a snack spot near the Kohakohau Stream, where the sound of water and the scale of the landscape make you understand why this place mattered to the people who worked it.

The descent is faster, looser, and the kind of thing that makes you remember why you came. You roll back down past more lava, across fields that seem to stretch forever, and finish back at the ranch. The whole ride (climb, snack break, descent) fits into two hours, which means you're not exhausted but you've definitely worked. Your guide hands you a helmet, spare tube, and pump at the start. Hydration and energy bars come with you on the trail. Groups stay small (capped at twelve), so it never feels crowded, and the morning or afternoon slot you choose determines when you start.

What’s included

• Your ride includes a high-end full-suspension mountain bike fitted to your size, helmet, spare tube, and pump.
• You'll get hydration drinks and energy bars during the ride, plus rain gear if the weather turns.
• A local Big Island guide leads the group and shares the history of Anna Ranch and the island throughout the two hours.

Information

Lasts 2h, runs every day at 10:00, from US$ 235 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Under 12: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Physically demandingNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Big Island Bike Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you're fit enough for a steady climb and want to ride volcanic terrain with a small group and a guide who knows the Big Island's history: the private ranch setting and the 1,200-foot elevation gain are what make the ride feel remote and challenging in two hours.

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Top questions

How hard is the Big Island mountain biking ride?

The climb is steady and gains 1,200 feet over two hours. You need a high level of physical fitness and good cardiovascular health. The guide sets a pace the group can manage, but it's not a casual ride.

What's included in the Anna Ranch bike tour?

High-end full-suspension mountain bike, helmet, hydration drinks, energy bars, spare tube, pump, and a local guide. Rain gear is provided if needed.

How many people go on the ride?

Groups are limited to 12 riders maximum, so it stays small and manageable.

Can I choose a morning or afternoon time?

Yes, you can select either a morning or afternoon start time when you book.

Is there a minimum age?

The minimum age is 8 years old.

What if I'm not an experienced mountain biker?

The guide will fit you with an appropriately-sized bike and set a pace the group can follow. You need good fitness and cardiovascular health, but you don't need prior mountain biking experience.

What's the elevation gain like?

You climb 1,200 feet (365 meters) on the way up, then descend on the return. The trail is on volcanic terrain with lava rocks and open fields.

Is the Anna Ranch ride on the Big Island's main tourist route?

No, it's on private ranch land near Waimea, away from the main tourist areas. You'll see Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and Hualalai from the upper sections.