Haleakalā National Park guide · 1 min read
Hiking the Sliding Sands Trail
The Sliding Sands Trail begins at a trailhead in the Haleakalā Visitor Center parking lot, close to the road.
From the rim, the path drops onto the crater floor, so every step down becomes a climb back out later. The first overlook is about half a mile round trip and includes a 50-foot change in elevation, which makes it a good way to gauge the terrain before going deeper.
As you descend, the trail crosses dusty, sandy ground through a landscape that looks like Mars. Colorful cinders line the path. Once you reach the crater, you can climb hillsides and cinder cones for wider views, and some of the hills are pu'u, which mark old eruption sites. Keep an eye out for the 'āhinahina, or silversword, an endemic plant that grows in this area and nowhere else.
Most people hike part of the trail and then return the way they came. Those who want a longer day can connect with the Halemau'u Trail and cross the crater floor, making an 11-mile point-to-point hike that ends at Halemau'u at 7,990 feet. It is a long outing that takes some logistical planning, but it offers a different exit from the crater. Kapalaoa Cabin also sits near the trail along the route through the crater.
Whether you plan an hour or several days in the backcountry, prepare fully before you set out. Stay on designated trails. A single set of footprints in the cinders can start damage that may last a decade, putting endangered species and a landscape considered sacred by many Native Hawaiians at risk. Walking only where the trail leads helps protect all of it.
