Haleakala Trail & Visitor Guide
Haleakala · United States · About 33,265 acres (134.6 sq km) on the island of Maui, Hawaii. The park spans two units: the Summit District and the coastal Kipahulu District.
Why Visit Haleakala
Haleakala, meaning 'House of the Sun' in Hawaiian, is a dormant shield volcano that forms more than 75% of Maui. The summit crater — technically an erosional depression — is 7 miles long, 2 miles wide, and 2,600 feet deep, with cinder cones dotting its floor in a landscape resembling Mars. The park extends from the summit to the coast at Kipahulu, where the Pools of Oheo cascade through tropical forest to the sea.
Free Haleakala Audio Guide with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free, self-guided Haleakala audio guide. It narrates trails, viewpoints, geology, and wildlife as you explore — Sunrise at the summit, Sliding Sands Trail, Pipiwai Trail, plus quieter spots like Haleakala silversword and Halemau'u Trail. No guide, no schedule, works offline.
explore by interest
Signature Trails
- Keonehe'ehe'e (Sliding Sands) TrailAbout 11 miles round trip to the valley floor and back; shorter turnarounds possible · Strenuous
Descends from the visitor center into the crater past cinder cones and colored ash; most people turn around partway because the climb back out is hard at altitude
- Halemau'u TrailAbout 7.4 miles round trip to Holua · Strenuous
Switchbacks down a cliff face to the crater floor; often paired with Sliding Sands for a one-way through-hike using a car shuttle
- Pipiwai Trail (Kipahulu District)4 miles round trip · Moderate
Climbs past Makahiku Falls and a bamboo forest to 400-foot Waimoku Falls
- Kuloa Point Loop (Kipahulu District)0.5 mile round trip · Easy
Overlooks the Pools of 'Ohe'o ('Seven Sacred Pools') and the coastline; swimming is frequently closed due to flash flood risk
- Pa Ka'oao (White Hill) Trail0.4 mile round trip · Easy
Short climb near the summit visitor center for crater and sunrise views
Must-See in Haleakala
- •Sunrise at the summit — watching the sun rise above the clouds from 10,023 feet, a sacred Hawaiian experience
- •Sliding Sands Trail — a 5.3-mile descent into the crater through cinder fields with volcanic cones
- •Pipiwai Trail — a 4-mile round trip through a bamboo forest to the 400-foot Waimoku Falls at Kipahulu
- •Hosmer's Grove — a 0.5-mile nature loop through native and introduced forest at 6,800 feet
Best Viewpoints
- •Pu'u'ula'ula (Haleakala Summit) Overlook at 10,023 ft, the highest point on Maui
- •Haleakala Visitor Center (9,740 ft) crater rim, the main sunrise viewing spot
- •Kalahaku Overlook on the summit road
- •Leleiwi Overlook on the summit road
- •Kuloa Point in the Kipahulu District for coastal and Pools of 'Ohe'o views
Quieter Corners of Haleakala
- •Haleakala silversword — a rare plant found only on this volcano, living up to 90 years before flowering once and dying
- •Halemau'u Trail — a 3.8-mile descent into the crater through switchbacks with views of cinder cones and the Ko'olau Gap
Wildlife You May See
Entrance Fee
$30 per private vehicle, valid 3 days, covering both the Summit and Kipahulu districts. $25 per motorcycle, $15 per person on foot or bike. A Haleakala annual pass is $55. The America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) is accepted. Sunrise entry to the summit requires a separate $1 reservation booked through Recreation.gov, in addition to the entrance fee.
Getting There
The Summit District is reached via Haleakala Highway (Routes 37, 377, then 378) from Kahului; the drive to the summit takes about 1.5 to 2 hours and climbs to 10,023 ft on a winding road. The Kipahulu District is on the southeast coast near Hana, about 1 to 1.5 hours past Hana on the Hana Highway (Route 31/360); the two districts are NOT connected by road inside the park. Nearest airport is Kahului (OGG).
Where to Stay
No lodges or hotels inside the park. Two drive-up campgrounds: Hosmer Grove (Summit District, free, no reservations) and Kipahulu Campground (coastal, fee, no water). Backcountry options include Holua, Kapalaoa, and Paliku wilderness cabins (reservation and lottery required) and crater tent campsites by permit. Most visitors stay in Kahului, Kihei, Wailea, Paia, or Hana on Maui.
Best Time
Open year-round, 24 hours a day. Sunrise viewing requires an advance reservation. Drier months are roughly April through October; winter brings more rain and occasional snow at the summit. Check weather before driving up, as the summit can be clouded in.
Safety
The top hazard is altitude: the summit reaches 10,023 ft, where thin air, cold (temperatures can drop to freezing with wind), and rapid weather changes cause altitude sickness and hypothermia even in summer. Bring warm layers regardless of the beach weather below. A reservation is required to enter the summit for sunrise (3:00 a.m.-7:00 a.m.), booked in advance through Recreation.gov. In the Kipahulu District, the Pools of 'Ohe'o are subject to flash floods and are often closed to swimming. Drive the summit road in low gear on descent to avoid overheating brakes.
Scenic Drives
- •Haleakala Highway (Route 378) from the park entrance to the summit, climbing about 3,000 ft over roughly 11 miles of switchbacks
- •Hana Highway (Routes 360/31) to reach the Kipahulu District, a winding coastal road with many one-lane bridges
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