Did you know you don’t have to leave the United States to get yourself that magical experience of being surrounded by a bamboo forest?
Yes, that`s true – there are some great hikes waiting for you without crossing the borders. All of the places on this list will give you a different experience – from absolutely wild tropical bamboo forest in Hawaii to well kept botanical gardens as well as bamboo nurseries.
The first four bamboo forests I will mention are located in Hawaii but scroll further for some unexpected US mainland treasures in California, Oregon, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.
Good luck planning your next trip!
Bamboo Forest on Maui’s Pipiwai Trail, Hawaii
The majestic bamboo forest in Haleakalā National Park is located in Maui, Hawaii. The National Park is most famous for being the home of an impressive volcano crater and is called after the volcano. Haleakala is a dormant shield volcano with one of the world’s largest volcanic craters (7. 5 miles). The volcano last erupted in the 1790s.
Luckily for you, there`s so much more to see there, including an impressively majestic and expansive bamboo forest and several huge waterfalls.
Wonderfull lush colors, sounds of bamboos in the wind and surprising exits to amazing waterfalls will make this one of the most impressive hikes in your life.
Manoa Falls Trail, Hawaii
Manoa Falls Trails is another hike that leads you through a bamboo forest in Hawaii. It is a short and well-maintained hiking trail on the island of Oahu. suitable for all levels of hiking skills.
The trail ends at a graveled viewing area from which the public may view the waterfall and poo
Go there for sensational views – the trail will lead you up the mountain through a lush jungle and a gorgeous bamboo forest before reaching a magnificent waterfall.
At the bottom of the hill, you will be spoiling your eyes with spectacular tropical arboretum full of palms, heliconias, bromeliads, aroids.
Allerton Botanical Garden, Hawaii
The botanical garden covers impressive 80 acres on island Kaua, Hawaii.
The focus in Allerton is on landscape design and lets you see a wide diversity of carefully planned rainforest trees, tropical fruit trees, palms, and cut-flowers. However, for the bamboo lovers, the most exciting part to explore in the garden will ve the glorious grove of swaying golden bamboo.
The Makaleha Hike on Kaua’i, Hawaii
Makaleha Trail is a 2.8 mile is a rather difficult hike. The trail is accessible year-round but be ready that this is not a simple walk in a park. This is a wild bamboo forest and while officially the hike is not too long, it is advised to only go on it if you are experienced hiker.
If you are ready to step out in the wilderness you will find yourself surrounded with a rich diversity of plants and birds, see 6 waterfalls and be immersed in a dense bamboo forest.
Be careful not to wander off too far from the river as it can lead to getting lost in the bamboo.
Bamboo Giant Nursery, California
While technically Bamboo Giant Nursery, located in Aptos, California, is not a Bamboo forest, it is an enormous bamboo garden that covers acres of various bamboo plants. You can walk around there while admiring more than a hundred varieties of bamboo they grow.
And the best part – of course, you can buy any bamboo that you happen to fall in love with unlike in a natural bamboo forest.
Bamboo Garden Nursery, Oregon
Bamboo Garden Nursery just outside Portland, Oregon, is another great place to visit in the United States if you love the sight of different bamboos. The nursery has over 20 acres of bamboo plantings and has a reputation of having the largest collection of temperate bamboo in North America.
The nursery is open to visitors but it best if you contact them before and make an appointment for a tour before you hop into a car. The nursery is very popular thus busy.
Wilderness Park Bamboo Forest, Alabama
This is so different from what you would expect from Alabama, that hiking through the Wilderness Park in Prattville, you may feel like entering a completely different world.
The park has a fascinating history.
The legend goes that the bamboo first arrived in Prattville sometime during the 1940s before the land belonged to the city of Prattville. The previous owner had received exotic bamboo seeds in the mail and apparently had them planted. Now there is a 26- acre Wilderness park covered with a bamboo forest. Many areas of this park have bamboo stalks as tall as 60 feet, and with a trunk diameter of 6 inches.
It was also used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War for training purposes.
Koreshan State Park, Florida
Koreshan State Park has a fascinating story of origin. Its located in the last settlement of an interesting religious group called Koreshans.
During the time the religious group lived there, they introduced many non-native plants from all over the world. Among those were Japanese bamboo. Some say the bamboo was donated to Koreshans by the famous inventor Thomas Edison.
Over time bamboo has taken over much of the parks hiking trail, along the River Estero, forming quite a large bamboo forest. Bamboo is also found in large clumps around the historic Koreshan settlement.
A nice place both to enjoy the beautiful natural sights and feed your curiosity about the history of the settlement.
East Palisades Trail, Georgia
A hike through the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area’s East Palisades trail is going to give you a variety of experiences for a great weekend getaway with family or friends.
East Palisades trail gives you a chance to walk through a bamboo forest with that’s towering up to 30 feet high. Some say this bamboo forest would be the destination if pandas would escape from Atlanta Zoo.
Besides the bamboo forest, you will find sandy beaches for dogs to splash around in the water, numerous bridges crossing creeks rushing to the Chattahoochee River, an old-fashioned swimming hole, and ruins of a building foundation – something for almost everyone.
Featured image by whines20, Flickr, CC BY-ND 2.0
