Haleakalā National Park guides
12 in-depth guides to Haleakalā National Park, in reading order: what to see, how to get around, and what to know before you go. Back to the Haleakalā National Park overview.
Two Unconnected Districts: Planning the Drive
Two separate districts make up the park, and no road joins them. The Summit District sits at the top of the mountain, at 10,023 feet, while the Kīpahulu District stretches down the southeast side to the coast near Hāna.
30°F Summit to 80°F Coast in One Day
On a single day, the Kīpahulu coast can reach 80 degrees while the summit drops to 30. Temperatures fall about 3 degrees for every 1,000 feet of climbing, so the 10,023-foot summit of Haleakalā runs roughly 30 degrees cooler than the coast.
Haleakalā Sunrise: Reservations for 3–7 a.m. Entry
Sunrise viewing at Haleakalā National Park requires a sunrise reservation for each vehicle that enters the park between 3 and 7 in the morning.
Summit Crater Overlooks: Leleiwi to Kalahaku
Kalahaku Overlook sits partway down the winding road from the summit, at 9,324 feet. A brief climb from the parking area reaches the lookout over the valley's volcanic terrain.
Hiking the Sliding Sands Trail
The Sliding Sands Trail begins at a trailhead in the Haleakalā Visitor Center parking lot, close to the road.
Stargazing Above the Clouds at the Summit
Few places make the night sky feel as close as the summit of Haleakalā. The summit has dark skies, and the height of the mountain tends to give clearer air.
Haleakalā's Dormant Shield Volcano and Crater Floor
Haleakalā is a massive shield volcano that makes up more than three quarters of the island of Maui.
Endangered Species Capital of the Park System
Haleakalā holds the highest count of endangered species anywhere in the National Park Service system.
House of the Sun: Maui and Haleakalā
Haleakalā means House of the Sun in Hawaiian, and a legend tells of the demigod Maui. With help from his grandmother, he is said to have captured the sun and slowed its path across the sky, which lengthened the day for his people.
Ahupuaʻa: Sea-to-Summit Lands of Kīpahulu
Haleakalā's summit reaches 10,023 feet, and the park's land slopes down the mountain's southeastern side until it meets the sea near Hāna.
Camping at Hosmer Grove, Kīpahulu and Wilderness Cabins
Overnight camping inside Haleakalā National Park is limited to designated campgrounds and cabins, and sleeping in a vehicle outside a campground is not allowed.
Kīpahulu's Pools at ʻOheʻo and Waterfall Hikes
The Pools of ʻOheʻo fill ʻOheʻo Gulch, where over two dozen pools line Palikea Stream. The pools hold rare native freshwater fish, and the stream also supports freshwater shrimp and rock-climbing goby, which are fun to look for as you walk.
