This legendary climb begins in the city of Hilo and ascends to the summit of Mauna Kea. It's a breathtaking 13,800-foot climb into the clouds, a challenging 42-mile undertaking.
Leaving Hilo's streets, you transition onto Kumana Drive, which merges into Saddle Road, or Hawaii Route 200. This scenic highway, a twisting two-lane road connecting the east to the west, takes you through a stunning array of landscapes: verdant rainforests, lava fields, desert-like plains, rolling grasslands, and ocean views.
The saddle marks the point where you rise into the clouds. The last ten miles are a moon-like terrain where you'll find telescope and viewpoints.
The summit's thin air and the road's steepness create a brutal final push, demanding every last bit of your energy!