Summary
$30
3-day vehicle fee
Historic Crowd Data
Avg. monthly visitors, 2015–2024 · National Park Service
Light
Moderate
Busy
Very Busy
Peak season is May–July, when around 27% of annual visitors arrive. For lighter crowds, aim for October–November.
Plan Your Visit
Extreme Conditions & SafetyFlash flood risk▾
Sunrise Reservation System$1/vehicle · 3–7 AM▾
Things to Do5 categories▾
Summit Hiking Trails7 trails▾
Pā Ka'oao (White Hill)Easy
Short, steep climb to a crater overlook right by the Haleakalā Visitor Center
0.4 mi RT · 100 ft
Keonehe'ehe'e (Sliding Sands) OverlookEasy
First steps onto the main crater-descent trail, to a viewpoint over the valley
0.5 mi RT · 50 ft
Leleiwi OverlookEasy
Short walk to a crater-rim viewpoint on the way up to the summit
0.3 mi RT · 100 ft
Hosmer Grove LoopEasy
Loop through a historic non-native forestry planting near the campground
0.54 mi loop · 50 ft
Halemau'u TrailModerate
Switchbacks down through shrubland to a dramatic overlook above the crater floor
2.2 mi RT · 400 ft
Supply TrailStrenuous
Steady climb connecting Park Headquarters to the Halemau'u trailhead
4.6 mi RT · 975 ft
Keonehe'ehe'e to Halemau'u TraverseStrenuous
Full-day crossing of the crater floor, descending Sliding Sands and climbing out via Halemau'u
11 mi one-way · ~2,500 ft loss
Crater Camping & Cabins5 options▾
Hōlua Cabin3.7 mi via Halemau'u · $75/night
Padded-bunk wilderness cabin at the base of the crater wall near Koʻolau Gap; 12-person max
Kapalaoa Cabin5.6 mi via Sliding Sands · $75/night
Wilderness cabin near Kaupō Gap on the crater's southern end; 12-person max
Palikū Cabin9.3 mi via Sliding Sands · $75/night
Wilderness cabin at a rainforest cliff base on the crater's east end; 12-person max
Hōlua Wilderness Campsite3.7 mi via Halemau'u · $20/night
Tent camping near Hōlua Cabin; individual sites hold up to 5 people & 2 tents
Palikū Wilderness Campsite9.3 mi via Sliding Sands · $20/night
Tent camping near Palikū Cabin; individual sites hold up to 5 people & 2 tents
Biking2 options▾
Personal Road Cycling$15/cyclist entry
Ride your own bike up or down the summit road; no dedicated bike path, shared with vehicle & bus traffic
Commercial Downhill ToursNot NPS-run
Guided downhill tours run by private companies, not NPS; in-park tours have been under an NPS safety moratorium since a 2007 fatality
Stargazing & Night SkyNot certified▾
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Haleakalā is not a certified Dark Sky Park, but NPS describes conditions as pristine: "due to its high elevation, the atmosphere is often clearer and light pollution is minimal, allowing for ideal viewing conditions." The summit hosts real astronomical observatories, taking advantage of the same clear, high-altitude air that makes sunrise-above-the-clouds famous. NPS stargazing info ↗
Bird WatchingTop 5 species▾
Nēnē
Hawai'i's state bird, found near the summit
'I'iwi
Scarlet Hawaiian honeycreeper
'Ākohekohe
Critically endangered, found only on Maui
Hawaiian Petrel ('Ua'u)
Endangered seabird nesting in the crater
Pueo
Native Hawaiian short-eared owl
Kīpahulu DistrictCoastal rainforest▾
Pīpīwai Trailto Waimoku Falls▾
Waimoku Falls
400-foot waterfall at the trail's end, passes through bamboo forest
Stream life
Home to native freshwater shrimp and the rock-climbing goby (ʻoʻopu)
Oheo Gulch Live GaugeUSGS live gauge▾
Campground AvailabilityReservation required▾
Hosmer Grove$20/night▾
LocationSummit District, ~7,000 ft
Sites6 designated sites
Stay Limit3 consecutive nights
Book on Recreation.gov ↗
Kīpahulu$20/night▾
LocationKīpahulu District, coastal
Sites20 total — 5 walk-in, 15 drive-in, 1 group
Booking30-day rolling window
Book on Recreation.gov ↗
The Haleakalā SilverswordFound nowhere else▾
Park Contact Information