5 Activities at Haleakala National Park in Maui

There’s something amazing about reaching the summit of a mountain. But it’s even cooler when you reach the summit of an entire island. Haleakala National Park towers above the Hawaiian island of Maui. Locals and tourists enjoy exploring the extinct volcanic crater at an elevation of 10,000 feet. I’ve driven to the summit twice, both at different times of the day and in different seasons. But the majestic beauty of the landscapes does not disappoint.

Haleakala National Park has two main areas – The Haleakala summit and the Kipahulu Area on the southeast coast of Maui. This article focused on the summit, but I’ve dedicated one section below to the Kipahulu Area.

SIDE NOTE: Haleakala means “House of the Sun” in Hawaiian.

If you’re planning a trip to Maui, a private tour or self-guided drive to the summit is a must. Here are five activities with accompanying travel tips to help you maximize your experience.

Before Heading to the Summit

Hawaii is synonymous with swimsuits, sundresses, shorts and t-shirts. But that’s what you wear when your hanging out at sea level. If you’re venturing up to 10,000 feet, you’ll want to dress for cold, windy weather. The temperature went from 80 degrees on the beaches of Kanaapali to about 50 degrees at the summit of Haleakala. Shorts and a t-shirt won’t cut it. So tip #1: Dress warm – trust me.

How often do you get to drive from sea level to 10,000 feet in under two hours? Have some fun with it. Stop in at a grocery story and buy a bag of chips. Any brand or bag of chips will do the trick. Then place it in your back seat and start your ascent. You’ll notice the higher you go, the bigger the bag gets. I’ve had a bad of Lays Salt n Vinegar chips make it all the way to the top without bursting. But our bag of Maui-brand Salt n Vinegar chips popped at 8,500 feet. Tip #2: Buy chips and enjoy watching science in action.

There are no gas stations on the mountain. You’ll want to fill up in town before you start the 1.5 hour drive to the summit. While the locals are really nice, you don’t want to end up out of gas on the side of the road. You’ve got better things to do while on vacation in Maui. Tip #3: Fill up your gas tank before ascending.

Catch the Sunset from Above the Clouds

Many people think sunrise at the top of Haleakala is the best way to start your day. Unfortunately, EVERYONE things that, so everyone heads up to watch sunrise. But I’m going to make a point that sunset is just as amazing. But if you’re wanting to watch the sunrise anyway, read the section below for details on that.

Depending on the time of year you’re visiting Maui, plan to arrive at the summit two or three hours before the scheduled sunset. That allows you time to do some hiking, see the colors of the crater when the sun’s lighting it up and grab a spot for the sunset. Because the closer it gets to sunset, the more people there will be al vying for a great viewpoint.

I encourage all visitors to respect the area and not venture off the trails just because you want a solo spot for the show. There are plants at Haleakala that don’t exist anywhere else in the world. Don’t mess with them!

See the Milky Way and Stars in all their Glory

After you’ve enjoyed the beauty of the setting sun, don’t rush back down the mountain. Hang out for an hour or so as the sun makes it’s way behind the Earth. Watch the skies above as the stars start to come out. Eventually, as your eyes adjust and the light from the sun fades, the Milky Way will be visible as well. Take advantage of the high elevation, low light pollution and being above the clouds.

If you need some tips on how to photograph the night sky, I’ve got an entire article about it on my photography blog.

During our most recent trip, my intent was to photograph the stars at night from the top of Haleakala. Sadly, the relatively quick change in elevation and some heavy snorkeling from earlier in the day kicked my heart out of rhythm. I have atrial fibrillation and am occasionally surprised when my heart decides to go from the nice rhythmic beats to a sporadic pace. It takes my breath away (not in a good way) and I have to take it easy – along with some medication – to kick it back into rhythm.

I had left my medication back at the hotel and we determined it was best to head back to the hotel rather than hanging out on the summit to photograph the stars. I was super bummed… but my health took priority. I guess it just means I need to go back to Maui yet again. Bummer! 😉

Hike Inside the Volcanic Crater of Haleakala

From the Haleakala Visitor Center at the summit, there are two trailheads. Pa Ka’oao is a short .2 mile trail takes you to the top of an overlook for some great views of the Haleakala crater. This is one everyone should do.

Sliding Sands (Keonehe’ehe’e) Trail takes you into and across the crater and connects you to a whole network of trails. In fact, there are more than 30 miles of trails within the wilderness area of Haleakala National Park. You’ll need to bring plenty of water with you as you venture into the area – just like any other time you go hiking. Check out the park map to see how the trails connect, then find the one that works for your interests.

TRAVEL TIP: Dress warm at the summit or you’ll freeze! Trust me.

The .25-mile nature trail (Leleiwi Overlook) is something you’ll pass on your drive up the mountain. Hosmer Grove is another one of those areas worth stopping at as part of your scenic drive to the summit.

RELATED POST: Soar above the West Maui Mountains with Kapalua Zip Lines Adventure Tour

Next time I make it to the island of Maui, I’ll focus on dedicating more time to hiking and exploring this network of trails. Because the colors of the land found inside this extinct volcanic crater are out of this world. It would be amazing to explore it more – just gotta make sure my heart is in good shape to do this.

Catch Sunrise – and Bike Down from the Summit

As mentioned, sunrise is a very popular time to visit Haleakala. This popularity has led to a reservation requirement to visit the park between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. These reservations can be made online up to sixty (60) days in advance of your visit. There are a small number of tickets made available two days in advance, but it’s a risky move if you have your heart set on watching sunrise.

In spite of the popularity and need for reservations, there’s also the 1.5-hour drive to the summit. So if you want to watch sunrise, you’ll have to start your day super early so you can reach the summit. That’s why I prefer to visit for sunset instead of sunrise.

There are some tour companies that take you to the summit and provide a bicycle for you to ride back down after watching sunrise.

Get all the details from the Haleakala National Park website so you can book the right tickets and have all the current details.

Camp at Haleakala National Park

I think it would be fun to camp near the summit of a volcano – especially since the volcano is extinct. There are three different was to enjoy overnight stays at Haleakala National Park. Regardless of the method you choose, keep in mind that rain is almost always possible and the temperatures range from 40 degrees to 70 degrees year round.

Hosmer Grove Campground

Located at about 7,000 feet, Hosmer Grove Campground is a small tent area inside Haleakala National Park. Reservations are required, and they’re limited to three nights within a 30-day period. One benefit – camping here includes a pass to watch the sunrise from the summit. There are only six sites, and as you can see from the photo above, they are essentially in one large open field. Pit toilets are available near the parking area.

Stay at a Historic Cabin Inside the Crater

Inside the Haleakala Crater are three historic cabins that are open for reservations, which can be made up to sixty (60) days in advance. Cabins are limited to four people for a maximum of three nights. Accessing the cabins requires a hike, ranging from 4 miles to nearly 10 miles each way (depending on which of the three cabins you reserve). Cost is $75 per reservation. Learn more about the wilderness cabins at Haleakala National Park.

Wilderness Camping

If you want to camp in a tent inside the crater, that’s an option. There are two designated wilderness tent areas, and reservations are required. The two sites are only accessible by trail and require a hike of 4 or 11 miles, depending on which one you reserve and the trailhead you choose to start from. Learn more about wilderness camping at Haleakala National Park.

Visit the KipaHulu Area of Haleakala National park

Located 12 miles south from Hana is the KipaHulu Area of Haleakala National Park. Well below the summit of the volcano is this lush green area with streams, waterfalls, hiking and more. Swimming in the seven pools of water is not recommended because of safety concerns (flash floods).

There are some options to camp, but there are few resources nearby, so you’ll definitely need to plan ahead if you’re visiting this remote area of the island.

Hiking is a popular activity in KipaHulu. Hike 2 miles round trip to the overlook of Makahiku Falls by taking the Pīpīwai Trail. You can continue beyond that to Waimoku Falls, another 1.5 miles up the trail. If you choose to hike all the way to Waimoku Falls, it’s four miles round trip – so bring plenty of water, snacks, sunscreen, etc. Enjoy walking through the bamboo forest along the Pīpīwai Trail.

The Details

Address: Haleakala Hwy, Kula, HI 96790.

Cost: $30 entry fee for single vehicles is good for three days. $25 for motorcycles or $15 for individual walk-ins/cyclists/hikers.  

Hours: The park is open 24 hours a day. The KĪPAHULU DISTRICT of the park is only open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

How Long to Spend at Haleakala: You can spend an hour or two at the summit to experience the landscapes, watch sunrise or sunset. You can also spend several hours to multiple days camping and exploring things throughout the park.

Website: https://www.nps.gov/hale/index.htm

Phone: (808) 572-4400

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