Green Sands ATV Ride, Big Island: off-road through emerald forest

Ride your own ATV down a green sand trail to the ocean cliffs

A small-group ATV ride on Big Island's green sand trail takes you through Hale Koa forest and an ancient Kiawe forest on CF Moto 600 Touring ATVs with automatic transmission and power steering, ending at ocean cliffs where turtles gather. The two-hour route includes a possible short hike, and all safety gear—helmets, goggles, dust masks and gloves—is provided. A live guide in English leads groups of 2 to 4 people through secluded off-road locations.

The Experience

Can you ride an ATV if you've never done it before? Yes—the CF Moto 600 Touring ATVs have automatic transmissions and power steering, so you're not managing a clutch or fighting the wheel on rough terrain. You'll start on the green sand trail, which cuts through the Hale Koa forest in an emerald-colored landscape that exists nowhere else on the island. The trail itself is the draw: the sand glints in sunlight, and the forest canopy closes in around you as you ride.

From there the route drops into an ancient Kiawe forest before opening up to ocean cliffs where sea turtles rest on the rocks below. The two-hour ride includes a short hike at the end, so you'll be on your feet as well as on the machine. You're in a group of 2 to 4 people, which means the pace stays manageable and the guide can watch the whole group without splitting focus. The operator provides DOT helmets, polarized goggles to cut the glare off the sand, dust masks and gloves—everything you need to stay protected on an off-road route.

A live guide in English leads the whole experience, so you'll know what you're looking at and why the landscape changes as you ride deeper into the island's interior. The ride is secluded by design: you're not on a main road or a tourist loop, so the forest and the cliffs feel removed from the rest of the island.

What’s included

• CF Moto 600 Touring ATVs with automatic transmission and power steering.
• DOT helmets, polarized goggles, dust masks and gloves.
• live guide in English.
• small group of 2 to 4 riders.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Big Island Southside Tours

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English throughout, so you can follow the commentary and ask questions as you ride. This works best for riders with at least a moderate level of fitness, since you're on the ATV for two hours and then hiking at the end—the combination of riding and walking is what makes the ocean cliffs reachable in a single outing.

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Top questions

What are the CF Moto ATVs like to ride if I've never been on one before?

The CF Moto 600 Touring ATVs have automatic transmissions and power steering, so you don't manage a clutch or fight the handlebars on rough ground. They're built for riders new to off-road riding as well as experienced ones.

What happens at the ocean cliffs at the end of the ride?

You'll ride out to cliffs overlooking the water where sea turtles gather on the rocks below. The route includes a short hike once you reach the cliffs, so you'll get off the ATV and walk the final stretch.

Is the green sand trail difficult to ride on?

The green sand trail is rugged but rideable on an ATV with automatic transmission. The sand is emerald-colored and sparkles in sunlight as you pass through the Hale Koa forest, and the terrain is the main feature of the route.

How many people ride together on this tour?

Groups stay small—between 2 and 4 people—so the guide can keep pace manageable and watch everyone throughout the two-hour ride.

What safety gear do I wear?

The operator provides DOT helmets, polarized goggles, dust masks and gloves. All gear is included in the ride.

Is a guide with me the whole time?

Yes, a live guide in English leads the entire two-hour route through the forest and out to the cliffs, explaining the landscape and the stops along the way.