Everything you should know about Haleakalā National Park
The best sunrise spots, campsites, and hikes—our expert guide has everything you need to plan the ultimate trip to Hawai’i’s Haleakalā National Park.
At Haleakalā National Park on Maui, it’s easy to see how this giant shield volcano got its name, as the first embers of the sun glint in the sky across the crater from the summit. “Haleakalā” means “house of the sun,” where, according to legend, the demigod Maui snared the sun, releasing it only after it promised to move more slowly across the sky.
Rising 10,023 feet, the summit of this dormant volcano is almost always shrouded in clouds. Still, it dominates the landscape, forming the eastern bulwark of the island. The summit area was added to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park—yes, on a different island—in 1916; it became an official national park in 1961.
Eight years later, nearly 10,000 acres of Kīpahulu Valley, with its endangered native birds and fragile ecosystem, was purchased by The Nature Conservancy and transferred to the National Park Service for permanent protection.
Today, the park spans more than 30,000 acres from the summit to the coast, with landscapes ranging from otherworldly deserts to lush waterfalls and bamboo forests.
Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your visit.
Best times to visit Haleakalā National Park
Maui enjoys year-round sunshine and balmy temperatures, with minor seasonal changes. But there are subtle differences in weather and crowds throughout the year. The weather and temperature can be strikingly different depending on where you are in the park too, even though it ranges from sea-level coastlines to a summit above the clouds.
Most visitors to Hawaiʻi, including Maui, travel during school breaks making summer, spring, and winter the busiest seasons. Prices for airfare and hotels tend to be higher too. For fewer people and more affordable costs, plan to visit during off-peak times, like early spring and fall.
April to October is considered the dry season, when clear skies mean better conditions for hiking. Catching the sunrise—one of the most popular activities at the park—is best done in summer, when the sun peeks over the horizon a little later and the temperatures at the summit is ever-so-slightly warmer. (The summit of Haleakalā is about 30 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the coast and can range between freezing to 65 degrees.)
Where to find the best views in the park
The most stunning views of Haleakalā Crater—really a massive erosional valley formed by wind and rain over thousands of years—is at the summit. The overlook at Puʻu ʻUlaʻula (Red Hill), near the Haleakalā Visitor Center, is the highest point on the island and probably the most popular viewing spot in the park. (It’s indoors!)
On clear days, visitors are treated to panoramic views of the crater, the West Maui mountains, and other islands. A path outside leads to a garden of silver-leafed ʻāhinahina, a native plant found only at these altitudes on Maui.
The Haleakalā Visitor Center at the summit is also a great spot for viewing the crater, particularly at sunrise and sunset. The restrooms here are open 24/7.
About two miles from the visitor center, Kalahaku Overlook offers a simple structure for sweeping—and often less crowded—views of the volcanic landscape and Hawaiʻi Island in the distance.
A mile farther leads to the parking lot for Leleiwi Overlook. From here, a 10-minute hike rewards travelers with views all the way to Maui’s north shore through the Koʻolau Gap on clear days.
(See the beauty of all 63 U.S. national parks, in photos)
Where to find the best hiking trails
You could spend days exploring Haleakalā National Park by foot, traversing moon-like landscapes or gazing at waterfalls.
Hosmer Grove is an easy hike that delivers big rewards. The half-mile loop, which begins close to the park’s entrance, starts in a forest of non-native lodgepole pines from the U.S., messmate eucalyptus from Australia, and sugi pine from Japan. The trail then enters a native forest of koa and ʻōhiʻa trees, ʻaʻaliʻi shrubs, and pilo and māmane plants. Lucky hikers may even glimpse birds like the crimson ʻapanane, curve-beaked ʻiʻiwi, and lemon-hued ʻalauahio endemic to West Maui.
More experienced hikers can traverse the 11-mile Keoneheʻeheʻe, or Sliding Sands Trail, considered one of the best day hikes on Maui. The winding road leads down to the crater floor and, about halfway down, the renowned Pele’s Paint Pot, an area of volcanic cinder in shades of red, orange, and yellow.
About 5.5 miles from the start of Sliding Sands, you can connect to the two-mile Halemauʻu Trail, which climbs out of the crater on 20 switchbacks. A popular destination on this part of the hike is a natural land bridge commonly referred to as “Rainbow Bridge” for the multicolored halo that forms as the clouds make their way up the valley to the left. The climb back out at altitude is challenging, so take your time.
The four-mile, out-and-back Pīpīwai Trail in the Kīpahuku District of the park—near Hānā—is the quintessential Hawaiʻi hike, with swimming holes, bamboo forests, native trees, and waterfalls.
(See these photos of the world’s most beautiful waterfalls.)
The best spots to see wildlife
Over 90 percent of Hawaiʻi’s native terrestrial species are found nowhere else in the world. Haleakalā National Park is home to over 300 plant species endemic to Hawaiʻi, including the endangered ʻahinahina (silversword), which you can see at the Puʻu ʻUlaʻula Overlook, Kalahaku Overlook, and along Keoneheʻeheʻe, or Sliding Sands Trail. In the wet forests in the Kīpahulu District, see native ʻōhiʻa and koa trees and palapalai ferns.
Haleakalā is home to several native birds, such as the nēnē (Hawaiian Goose), the ʻuaʻu (Hawaiian petrel), and six native forest birds, including the kiwikiu (Maui parrotbill) and ʻākohekohe (crested honeycreeper), both critically endangered. One of the best places to see these forest birds is along the Hosmer Grove trail. Best to go in the early mornings when these birds are flitting about.
Endemic insects include the Hawaiian wolf spider, which hang out at wilderness camps within the crater and along the Pā Kaʻoao Trail. The Haleakalā flightless moth often crawls around at elevations above 6,000 feet, while the nalo meli maoli, or Hawaiian yellow-faced bee, so named for the daub of pale yellow on its black face, buzzes around blooming ʻahinahina.
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Expert recommendations & tips
Most visitors pass Kalahaku Overlook on their way to the summit, but this overlook provides a fantastic view of the crater any time of day—especially at sunrise or at night when stars shimmer at their brightest. The structure at the overlook is in the same spot as a house built by architect Charles W. Dickey. Look out for native black-and-white seabird, the ‘ua‘u, that often nest here.
Things to do in Haleakalā National Park
One of the most popular activities at the park is witnessing the sunrise. You can book a tour with an outfitter—these start at $200 per person—or you can make the trek yourself. Reservations are required and can be made online up to 60 days in advance on Recreation.gov. Tickets are released at 7 a.m. HST daily and are notoriously difficult to obtain. They cost $1 plus entrance fees and can’t be used on any other day.
There are several viewing areas at the summit. Those closest to the visitor center, including the covered Puʻu ʻUlaʻula Overlook, tend to fill up quickly. For fewer people, try the Leleiwi Overlook, about three miles from the visitor center and a 10-minute walk from the parking lot. The sweeping sunrise views here were once described by Mark Twain as “the most sublime spectacle I have ever witnessed.”
Try to arrive at the Haleakalā Visitor Center no later than a half hour before the sun rises—earlier for the best spot. In the summer, the sun rises as early as 5:38 a.m., in the winter as late as 6:55 a.m. Remember: It’s an hour drive from Kahului, 90 minutes from Kīhei, and two hours from Kāʻanapali.
Sunset views are often overlooked and don’t require a reservation—or an early-morning alarm. The golden hour view is great from nearly anywhere in the park, but the summit overlooks are prime spots.
(10 spots with some of Hawaii’s most stunning views.)
One of the best-kept secrets at Haleakalā National Park is stargazing, which you can easily add to a sunset visit while waiting for traffic to die down. Thanks to the above-the-clouds elevation, the atmosphere is often clearer and light pollution is minimal, allowing for optimal conditions to view the stars.
Maui Stargazing offers sunset and stargazing tours starting at $250 per person and guided by astronomy experts. See the Milky Way, star clusters, and other galaxies through a 12-inch aperture Dobsonian telescope. (The company even provides winter jackets and snowboard pants.)
With over 30 miles of trails just in the summit area alone, Haleakalā National Park has a trek for every hiker. Some, like the path to Leleiwi Overlook, take 10 minutes; others, like Keoneheʻeheʻe, or Sliding Sands Trail, can take all day.
Trails are strenuous in the summit area due to the high elevation. Altitude sickness can happen, and those with heart or respiratory conditions or women who are pregnant should consult with their doctors before visiting and hiking here. Hikers should prepare for wide temperature changes from the summit to the crater floor to the coast. Bring sun protection, cold-weather clothing, rain gear, food, water, and sturdy shoes.
(How the world’s greatest trailbuilders create the perfect hike.)
The Kaupō Gap Trail may begin on the eastern side of Haleakalā Crater, near the park’s Palikū cabin and campground, but it’s outside park boundaries so it’s not maintained by the National Park Service. Hikers have gotten injured along this rugged and unimproved trail, so NPS recommends visitors stick to crater trails.
Best things to do for families
Aside from nature hikes like Hosmer Grove, kids will love the experience of viewing sunrise at the summit. (They may not like the early wake-up time for sunrise, but they’ll never forget the experience.) It’s not every day they’ll get to see the start of the day atop a massive dormant volcano, watching the ever-changing swirls of color and light play across the clouds and crater floor. It’s fun to get bundled up in blankets and sweatshirts, with travel mugs of hot chocolate and an entire day ahead.
Hike Maui runs a seven-hour tour of Haleakalā Crater for hikers starting at age 8. The four-mile trek includes stops at cinder cones and ʻahinahina, led by an experienced guide providing insight and interesting tidbits that kids will enjoy.
Older kids may enjoy biking down the slopes of Haleakalā. Maui Sunriders Bike Co. offers a mid-morning downhill hike adventure that starts at 6,500 feet. Cruise through wide-open ranchlands with panoramic views, and cool mountain air. It may seem dangerous, but you can go at your own pace, breezing down to the charming surf town of Pāiʻa. Riders must be at least 15 years old.
Kids will love stargazing atop Haleakalā, especially through the lens of a telescope. Maui Stargazing provides the transportation, scopes, experts, and even winter clothing for a memorable night under the dark skies.
Like all national parks, Haleakalā offers Junior Ranger activity books to help kids connect with the park and its unique natural environment and history.
(These are the best stargazing sites in North America)
Where to stay
Inside the park
There are two campsites and three wilderness cabins within Haleakalā National Park. Staying overnight within the park is only allowed in a designated camping area, and reservations are required. Both the Summit and Kīpahulu districts offer frontcountry, drive-up camping.
Hosmer Grove’s campsite is a short drive from the Summit District entrance, sitting at 7,000 feet in a cloud belt. That means misty mornings and chilly evenings. (Nighttime temps can drop to near freezing.) There are six designated sites with picnic tables, grills, access to potable water, and pit toilets in the parking lot. (It’s also the only wheelchair-accessible campground in the park.) Campsites cost $20 per night, with a three-night cap.
The campground at Kīpahulu offers a different camping experience. Perched on ocean cliffs, you’ll wake up to crashing waves and sunshine. (There’s no beach access here.) There are 20 sites total, including five walk-in sites, 15 drive-in sites, and one group drive-in site. All have picnic tables, but only drive-up sites have charcoal grills. It’s a short walk to ʻOheʻo Gulch and the start of the Pīpīwai Trail. A campsite reservation costs $8.
The three cabins—Kapalaoa, Palikū, and Hōlua—are located in wilderness-designated areas reachable by hiking trail. Each have 12 padded bunks. Reservations are required for all cabins up to six months in advance and cost $75 per night, with a three-night cap.
(Going camping? Don’t forget these eco-friendly tips.)
Outside the park
Other non-camp accommodations near the park include Hāna-Maui Resort, a Destination by Hyatt Hotel, and the only hotel in Hāna. This upscale resort sprawls across 75 oceanfront acres with guest rooms, suites, and bungalows, on-site restaurants, two pools, and a spa.
About a half-hour drive from the park entrance, Kula Lodge and Restaurant has five cabin-like cottages with ocean views and surrounded by gardens. About 40 minutes away, Lumeria Maui offers 24 rooms in a historic building in Haʻikū, with a wellness-focused spa, a saline pool, and a farm-to-table restaurant.
What else you need to know
Entrances: Haleakalā National Park is located on the eastern side of Maui. The park entrance is about 28 miles from Kahului Airport. To reach the summit of Haleakalā , follow sequentially, HI 36, 37, 377, and 378. The 38-mile route is well marked, but the last chance to buy food and gas is at Pukalani or Makawao. Continue on the switchback road through miles of lush mountain rangeland to the park's northwest entrance. Allow up to two hours.
For the 62-mile drive to Kīpahulu, allow up to three-and-a-half hours. Take HI 36 from Kahului around the northeastern side of the island to the town of Hāna. The Road to Hāna, which becomes HI 360, is famous for its narrow, tortuous course along 1,000-foot sea cliffs, into deep gorges. This drive affords many views of waterfalls and cascade pools, but few places to access them. Proceed past Hāna on HI 31 for about 12 miles. Follow signs to the park entrance and parking lot.
Entrance fees: $30 per vehicle (up to 14 passengers); $25 per motorcycle; $15 per person entering by foot or bicycle. Passes are valid for seven days.
Sunrise reservations: Reservations can be made online up to 60 days in advance of your sunrise visit on Recreation.gov and are only valid for the day reserved. These tickets are released at 7 a.m. HST daily and are notoriously difficult to obtain. A portion of reservations for any given day will be released two days (48 hours) in advance. A visitor may only purchase one sunrise reservation per three-day period. Upon arrival, the reservation holder must show a valid ID, reservation confirmation email, and parking pass (or purchase one). Tickets cost $1, plus the park’s entrance fees.
Are pets allowed: As with most state and national parks in Hawaiʻi, pets are allowed in Haleakalā National Park but with strict limitations to protect the fragile ecosystems. Dogs on leashes are permitted on paved pathways, roads, and drive-up campgrounds, except for Hosmer Grove. Pets are not allowed on any hiking trail, in wilderness areas, or in visitor centers.
How accessible is the park?
All visitor centers and the Hosmer Grove picnic area and campgrounds are wheelchair accessible. A steep ramp provides wheelchair access, with assistance, to the Puʻu ʻUlaʻula Overlook. Accessible restrooms are located at all visitor centers, the Kalahaku Overlook and Hosmer Grove. Haleakalā National Park trails are not paved or suitable for wheelchairs.
