Haleakalā National Park guide · 1 min read
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.
On Recreation.gov, the booking appears as the Summit District of Haleakalā National Park plus Sunrise Reservation, and it is what you need to attend sunrise there.
Booking happens online at Recreation.gov, up to 60 days before your visit. A portion of each day's reservations is released 2 days in advance, so people planning a trip on short notice should check the site at that point. A reservation applies only to the date you select, and only one sunrise reservation can be bought in any three-day period. Phoning the park or showing up in person will not secure one, since staff are not able to make bookings for visitors.
When you arrive, the reservation holder needs to show valid identification, the reservation confirmation email, and your park entrance pass, or be ready to buy one. A reservation cannot be refunded or swapped because of the weather, so plan your morning with that in mind. The park keeps a page of common sunrise questions that is worth reading before you go.
Protecting the park's endangered species is one of the reasons the reservation system exists. The park began requiring sunrise reservations in 2017, with the goal of keeping people safer while also guarding the rare plants and animals that live there. Booking early and keeping your confirmation handy will make the predawn drive to the summit go smoothly.
