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Top Hikes

Hiking within Haleakalā National Park is pretty incredible and beautiful, especially the sunrise and sunset hikes.  They national park has over 80 miles of trails.  The area is fragile, please only hike on marked trails. Hiking groups are limited to 12 people. If your group is larger than 12 you will need to split into two or more groups and separate each group by 30 minutes on the trail.  For more information on the trails, go to the NPS website.

If you are planning on hiking around summit, be prepared for hard hikes and cold weather.  Carry many layers of clothing. The temperature will range between 30 to 65 degrees F (-1 to +18 degrees C), and can reach below freezing at any time with the wind-chill factor.  We understand you are in Hawaii but the weather can change quickly in the high altitudes.  It is hard to climatize in Hawaii but you will deal with lack of oxygen.  Trails are strenuous in the Summit Area.  Wear good boots, lava can be sharp.

Our top three hikes.

We would highly recommended hiking to Pele's Paint Pot.I t is an area of vibrant cinders where bright orange and red cinders mix with splashes of green to form an incredible palate of colors. The area is named after the Hawaiian volcano goddess Pele. Two trailheads will go to the spot, Sliding Sands and the Halemau'u Trail.  Details below.

Halemau'u Trail is approximately 9.5 miles (15.3 kilometers) long and is known for its tough elevation gain and a trail that hugs the cliffs of the crater. The trailhead for the Halemau'u Trail is located at the Haleakala Visitor Center. The trail has an elevation gain of approximately 1,850 feet (564 m).

Sliding Sands Trail is approximately 11.5 miles (18.5 kilometers) long and takes most visitors around 7 hours to complete. The trail begins in the Haleakala Visitors Center and passes through the Halali'i cinder cone, where Pele's Paint Pot is located. The trail has an elevation gain of approximately 2,500 feet (762 m).

Pipiwai Trail is approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) long and is known for its majestic waterfalls and bamboo forest. The trailhead for the Pipiwai Trail is located at the Kipahulu Visitor Center. The trail has an elevation gain of approximately 650 feet (198 m).

Campgrounds and Cabins

Staying in a Haleakalā National Park campground is different that staying in one on the mainland.  First of all, you are limted to three nights.  Also, there are no overnight camping in vehicles, only tents.  You may only stay overnight in designated campgrounds.  You can book reservations at reservations.gov.  

Hosmer Grove Campground is located in the summit district of the park and is approximately 7,000 feet (2,134 meters) above sea level. The campground is situated in a forest of redwood trees and offers 11 campsites with picnic tables, grills, and restrooms.

 Kipahulu Campground is located in the coastal district of the park at approximately sea level. The campground is situated near the ocean and offers 10 campsites with picnic tables, grills, and restrooms.

 Backpacking Campgrounds

There are two campgrounds available to backpackings.  Make sure you reserve a site well in advance at recreation.gov.

Hōlua Campground is located near Ko'olau Gap. The campground is reached by hiking approximately 3.7 miles (6 km) down the Halemau'u Trail or 7.4 miles (12 km) from the Keoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands) Trailhead. The campsite offers 11 campsites with picnic tables, grills, and restrooms. Each single campsite allows a maximum of five people and two tents. Group campsites allow for a maximum of ten people and four tents. The campsite has pit toilets and seasonally non-potable water available nearby. The water must be filtered or treated before drinking.

Palikū Campground is on the east end of the Wilderness valley. It is at an elevation of 6.380 feet (1.945 m). Rain is common at the campsite. It is located near Ko'olau Gap and is accessible only by trail. The campground is reached via a strenuous 9.3 mile (15 km) one-way hike on the Keoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands) Trail or 10.4 miles (17 km) one-way hike on the Halemauʻu Trail. The campsite offers 3 campsites with picnic tables, grills, and restrooms. Each single campsite allows a maximum of five people and two tents. Group campsites allow for a maximum of ten people and four tents. The campsite has pit toilets and seasonally non-potable water available nearby. The water must be filtered or treated before drinking.

Cabins

There are three historic cabins within the crater which are accessible only by trail- Kapalaoa, Palikū, and Hōlua. All reservations for cabins must be made on recreation.gov.  These cabins are rustic.  More information can be found at NPS link.  

Hōlua Cabin is located at 6,940 ft (2,115 m) is nestled at the base of the crater wall in the shrubland near Koʻolau Gap. This is the cabin reached by the shortest hike. Hōlua is 3.7 mi (6 km) one way down the Halemauʻu trail or 7.4 mi one way (12 km) from the Keoneheʻeheʻe (sliding sands) trailhead. Visitors staying at Hōlua can enjoy day hikes further into the crater.

Palikū Cabin located at 6,380 ft (1,945 m) is on the east end of the wilderness valley at the base of a rain forest cliff. This cabin is reached via a strenuous 9.3 mi (15 km) one way hike on the Keoneheʻeheʻe (sliding sands) Trail or 10.4 mi (17 km) one way hike on the Halemauʻu Trail.

Kapalaoa Cabin located at 7,250 ft (2,210 m) is perched near the Kaupo Gap on the southern end of the wilderness valley. This cabin is reached via a 5.6 mi (2.7 km) hike via Keoneheʻeheʻe (sliding sands) Trail or 7.2 mi (11.6 km) hike on the Halemauʻu Trail. Pit toilets and water is available near the cabins. All water is non-potable and must be filtered or treated before drinking. During times of drought (summer months) water must be packed in. Each cabin has a wood-burning stove, propane stove, and twelve padded bunks.

Sunrise and Sunsets

We have not done it ourselves, but the word is that the sunrise and sunsets are very spectular within the park.  Below is some more information and we have included the link to the NPS website for more information.

To view the sunrise at Haleakalā National Park, you will need to make a reservation ahead of time at recreation.gov. Reservations can be made online up to 60 days. These tickets are released at 7:00 am HST. A portion of reservations for any given day will be released 2 days (48 hours) in advance. A visitor may only purchase one sunrise reservation per three-day period. Upon arrival, please have the reservation holder present with valid ID, reservation confirmation email, and your park pass or a way to purchase one. Please note that calling the park directly, or visiting in-person, will not result in a reservation. Reservations will not be refunded or exchanged due to weather. Sunrise tours are available from 3:00 AM to 7:00 AM. The drive time between the entrance gate and the summit is about 30 minutes. Parking is restricted to designated lots only. Parking lots will close when full. For a more solitary experience, visit Leleiwi or Kalahaku overlooks.

Sunset at the summit of Haleakalā has become increasingly popular. There are no reservations required to enter the park for sunset, but visitors should plan ahead and be prepared for their evening trip to the summit. Visitors can watch sunset from the Haleakalā Visitor Center parking lot.  Be prepared.  Parking fills up fast. Spots at the summit are limited! Plan to arrive with extra time to find a spot, and investigate several options so you have backup sunset viewing locations. Parking lots will close when they are filled to capacity. Keep in mind that sunset is beautiful throughout the park and even throughout the island. Dress warmly. The high elevation of the summit can be dozens of degrees colder than the beaches at sea level. The summit can also be windy and wet, so bring your layers.