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Haleakalā National Park

the USA🇺🇸 | national parksHaleakalā National ParkCrater rim, summit sunrise, silverswords, Kīpahulu falls | things to do and best time to go

Explore Great Smoky MountainsExplore Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park

Backpacking in Haleakalā
👍 Recommendednational park ranked #14
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 20, 2026

Haleakalā is a volcano on Maui, and most of the park sits far from the sunrise crowds: the Kīpahulu coast is a separate district with no road connecting it to the summit inside the park. The park lies in the state of Hawaiʻi in the United States, southeast of Kahului. My first look from the summit rim was a crater so wide and rust-colored it looked like Mars with a parking lot. Sunrise requires a reservation, and arriving without one means driving two hours to stare at a gate, so book ahead. Unlike Mauna Kea on the Big Island, you can drive to the top without 4WD.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #14 national park in the USAWhy visitors keep coming back

Haleakalā National Park rewards people who like to plan their own days. The Sliding Sands trail drops you into a crater with no vendors and no shuttle, only cinder cones and silversword plants that bloom once and die. Backcountry cabins and campsites on the crater floor let you sleep inside the volcano, which no tour bus does. Down at Kīpahulu, you can swim and walk through bamboo at your own pace. Independent travelers get the better deal here, since guided sunrise bike rides mostly cover the same road you can drive yourself, and the trails are free of crowds once you walk an hour from the parking lot.

💡 HighlightsDon't-miss highlights and experiences

  1. Summit sunrise at Haleakalā Visitor Center area: The park’s signature experience, watching clouds fill the crater below you from about 10,000 feet. Reservations are needed.
  2. Pu‘u ‘Ula‘ula (Red Hill) Overlook: The highest point on the park road, at 10,023 feet, with wide views across the crater and, on clear days, other islands.
  3. Leleiwi Overlook: Short walk to a rim view where you may see your shadow ringed by a rainbow, known as the Brocken spectre.
  4. Sliding Sands Trail (Keonehe‘ehe‘e): A trek down through colorful cinder fields into the crater floor.
  5. Hosmer Grove: A forest walk where native birds such as the ʻapapane and ʻiʻiwi feed among the trees.
  6. Silversword plants: Rare ʻāhinahina plants found only on high Hawaiian volcanoes, silver and spiky along the crater trails.
  7. Pipiwai Trail and Waimoku
… read more 👉
  1. Summit sunrise at Haleakalā Visitor Center area: The park’s signature experience, watching clouds fill the crater below you from about 10,000 feet. Reservations are needed.
  2. Pu‘u ‘Ula‘ula (Red Hill) Overlook: The highest point on the park road, at 10,023 feet, with wide views across the crater and, on clear days, other islands.
  3. Leleiwi Overlook: Short walk to a rim view where you may see your shadow ringed by a rainbow, known as the Brocken spectre.
  4. Sliding Sands Trail (Keonehe‘ehe‘e): A trek down through colorful cinder fields into the crater floor.
  5. Hosmer Grove: A forest walk where native birds such as the ʻapapane and ʻiʻiwi feed among the trees.
  6. Silversword plants: Rare ʻāhinahina plants found only on high Hawaiian volcanoes, silver and spiky along the crater trails.
  7. Pipiwai Trail and Waimoku Falls: In the Kīpahulu district, a bamboo forest path leading to a 400-foot waterfall.
  8. ʻOheʻo Gulches: Tiered pools along the coast, when open for swimming.
For a first visit, the summit sunrise is the one to build your trip around.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around Haleakalā National Park

Maui: Majestic Haleakala Sunrise Tour with Pick-up

Maui: Majestic Haleakala Sunrise Tour with Pick-up

4.8(708) 8h
From €240
per personViator
Maui Circle Island-PRIVATE-Air Tour for 2-5: Waterfalls & Lava!

Maui Circle Island-PRIVATE-Air Tour for 2-5: Waterfalls & Lava!

5.0(245)
From €410
per personViator
Maui Classic Road to Hana Self-Guided GPS Audio Driving Tour

Maui Classic Road to Hana Self-Guided GPS Audio Driving Tour

4.7(262)
From €23
per personViator
Maui Haleakala Sunrise Downhill Bike Tour with Mountain Riders Rated #1

Maui Haleakala Sunrise Downhill Bike Tour with Mountain Riders Rated #1

4.4(268) 7h
From €253
per personViator
Hana Rainforest and Haleakala Crater Helicopter Tour

Hana Rainforest and Haleakala Crater Helicopter Tour

4.7(155) 45m
From €334
per personViator
Haleakala Classic Vehicle Sunrise Tour with Breakfast

Haleakala Classic Vehicle Sunrise Tour with Breakfast

4.6(176) 7h
From €260
per personViator
Best of Maui Tour: Sips, Sites and Bites with Lunch

Best of Maui Tour: Sips, Sites and Bites with Lunch

4.3(204) 9h 30m
From €278
per personViator
Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour: Road to Hana, Maui

Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour: Road to Hana, Maui

4.7(109)
From €15.42
per personViator
Maui Adventure Bundle: 6 Epic Audio Driving Tours, Including Road to Hana

Maui Adventure Bundle: 6 Epic Audio Driving Tours, Including Road to Hana

4.6(84) 144h
From €32
per personViator
Maui Powered Hang Gliding Flight with Ocean and Mountain Views

Maui Powered Hang Gliding Flight with Ocean and Mountain Views

5.0(42) 1h
From €228
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Weather, crowds, and seasonal trade-offs

  • Summit, year-round: Haleakalā’s 10,023-foot (3,055 m) summit runs 40 to 60°F (4 to 15°C) by day and often drops to freezing before dawn, so pack layers in any month.
  • Dry Season (May to September): Clearer summit skies and warm coastal temperatures of 75 to 85°F (24 to 29°C). Crowds and Maui lodging prices peak in summer and again around December.
  • Wet Season (November to March): Rain soaks the Kīpahulu side and fog can blanket the crater. Hotel rates dip outside the holidays, and humpback whales appear offshore.
  • Daylight: Roughly 11 hours in December and 13.5 in June, which shapes hiking time in Haleakalā crater.
Book summit sunrise reservations well ahead, and plan backcountry nights for May through September.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: good for travelingFEBFebruary: good for travelingMARMarch: highly recommended for travelingAPRApril: highly recommended for travelingMAYMay: excellent for travelingJUNJune: highly recommended for travelingJULJuly: highly recommended for travelingAUGAugust: highly recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: excellent for travelingNOVNovember: good for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
United States - Haleakalā National Park

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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas to stay in the USA

Haleakalā National Park has two drive-in campgrounds, Hosmer Grove near the summit and Kīpahulu on the coast, plus three wilderness cabins (Hōlua, Kapalaoa, Paliku) inside the crater, all booked through recreation.gov by lottery-style reservations and often full weeks ahead. Hosmer Grove sits at about 7,000 feet, so nights are cold. Outside the park, Kula and Makawao in upcountry Maui offer hostels, B&Bs and cottages about 45 to 60 minutes from the summit road. Kahului, near the airport, has the cheapest chain motels and the widest grocery choice. Pāʻia is the backpacker hangout, with a couple … read more 👉
Haleakalā National Park has two drive-in campgrounds, Hosmer Grove near the summit and Kīpahulu on the coast, plus three wilderness cabins (Hōlua, Kapalaoa, Paliku) inside the crater, all booked through recreation.gov by lottery-style reservations and often full weeks ahead. Hosmer Grove sits at about 7,000 feet, so nights are cold. Outside the park, Kula and Makawao in upcountry Maui offer hostels, B&Bs and cottages about 45 to 60 minutes from the summit road. Kahului, near the airport, has the cheapest chain motels and the widest grocery choice. Pāʻia is the backpacker hangout, with a couple of hostels and good food. For the Kīpahulu section, Hāna has only a few pricey rooms and campgrounds, so book early.
Best hostels in the USA


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👛 Costs (as of 20 October 2026)Travel costs and budget guide for Haleakalā

A backpacker visiting Haleakalā National Park should expect roughly US$95 to 160 per day, with lodging and a rental car as the biggest costs.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Entrance feeUS$10 to 30US$30 per car, US$15 per person on foot or bike, valid three days. Summit sunrise reservations add US$1.
Accommodation (high season)US$0 to 75Park campgrounds are free to about US$20 with permits, hostel beds in Pāʻia run about US$50 to 75.
Local transportUS$0 to 45Rental cars run US$60 to 110 per day, so split costs. Bus access to the summit is limited, and guided sunrise tours cost US$100 or more.
Food and suppliesUS$20 to 40Groceries in Kahului are cheaper than upcountry cafes. There is no food at the summit, so stock up.
Total Daily BudgetUS$95 to 160Based on high-season lodging and shared car use.


source: nps.gov
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🥾 TrailsScenic routes and wildlife spotting in Haleakalā

Haleakalā National Park offers hiking that runs from short rim walks to multi-day crater treks. Trails below are in the summit district unless noted.
  • Sliding Sands (Keonehe‘ehe‘e) Trail: Roughly 11 miles one way to Paliku, or about 5.5 miles round trip to Ka Lū‘u o ka ʻŌ‘o cinder cone. Strenuous, mostly because of altitude and the climb back out. Loose cinder, sparse vegetation, and a surreal red-and-gray landscape.
  • Halemau‘u Trail: About 10 miles round trip to Holua. Moderate to strenuous. Switchbacks drop 1,400 feet from the rim through shrubland and native birds.
  • Hosmer Grove Nature Trail: A 0.
… read more 👉
Haleakalā National Park offers hiking that runs from short rim walks to multi-day crater treks. Trails below are in the summit district unless noted.
  • Sliding Sands (Keonehe‘ehe‘e) Trail: Roughly 11 miles one way to Paliku, or about 5.5 miles round trip to Ka Lū‘u o ka ʻŌ‘o cinder cone. Strenuous, mostly because of altitude and the climb back out. Loose cinder, sparse vegetation, and a surreal red-and-gray landscape.
  • Halemau‘u Trail: About 10 miles round trip to Holua. Moderate to strenuous. Switchbacks drop 1,400 feet from the rim through shrubland and native birds.
  • Hosmer Grove Nature Trail: A 0.5 mile loop, easy, about 30 minutes. Good for birds.
  • Pipiwai Trail: About 4 miles round trip, 2 to 3 hours, moderate. Passes banyan trees, bamboo forest, and Waimoku Falls.
  • Leleiwi Overlook Trail: About 1 mile round trip, easy, with a rim view.
The summit and Kīpahulu are two separate sections of the park, connected by a long drive outside its boundaries, so plan them as different days. The park has no public transit, so a rental car is the practical way in. The summit is busiest at sunrise, and midday is quieter. Entry requires a park pass, and sunrise needs an advance reservation. Bring layers, water, and sun protection, because the altitude is high and conditions change quickly.
⚠️ Hiking info can sometimes be outdated or inaccurate. Before you hit the trail, check the latest conditions with locals. If you do spot anything that's off, I'd love to hear from you, so I can update it for fellow travelers.

🛡️ SafetyScams, Hazards, and Annoyances

Altitude is the main issue at Haleakalā National Park. The summit sits above 10,000 feet, and headaches or dizziness are common if you hike straight down the Sliding Sands trail after flying in from sea level, so move slowly and drink water. Temperatures can fall below freezing before dawn, and wind chill is real, so bring a jacket, hat and gloves. Crater trails are cinder and loose rock, with little shade and strong UV. Carry all your water, since the backcountry has limited supply. Nēnē, the Hawaiian goose, wander near roads, so keep your distance and never feed them. At Kīpahulu, stay out of pools during rain because flash floods rise fast.
Check Country Safety

FAQFrequently asked questions about Haleakalā

Two days works well for Haleakalā National Park: one for the summit and Sliding Sands trail, another for the Kīpahulu coast with the Pīpīwai Trail. Crossing the crater overnight with a cabin or camp stay takes three days. The two districts are about 2.5 to 3 hours apart by road.
Visiting Haleakalā National Park without a car is hard, since no public bus reaches the summit or Kīpahulu. Guided sunrise and bike tours from Kahului, Pāʻia and Kula cost roughly US$100 to 200 and include pickup. Rental cars run US$60 to 110 per day, and the drive from Kahului to the summit takes about 1.5 hours.
Haleakalā National Park charges US$30 per vehicle, or US$15 per person on foot or bike, valid for three days. Summit sunrise, between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m., needs a reservation costing US$1 through recreation.gov, released in advance and very competitive. Backcountry cabins and camping need separate permits.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

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We 💚 feedbackWhat to keep in mind

Haleakalā National Park suits hikers who like empty, odd landscapes and don’t mind altitude, along with early risers happy to plan ahead. If that’s you, I would skip the crowded sunrise tour and book your own reservation, then hike Sliding Sands afterward with plenty of water.

✈️ When did I visit the USA?
In January 2023 I visited New York. Many years before, before digital cameras existed, I discovered most of the national parks in the West.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in the USA, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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