Haleakalā National Park guide · 1 min read
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.
There is very little glow from towns, so the darkness is deep enough to reveal a crowded field of stars and the Milky Way. Visitors arriving from farther north may notice that the sky looks unfamiliar, which can be a pleasant surprise even for people who know the constellations well.
Daytime at the summit can be warm, but once the sun sets the temperature falls quickly. Pile on several layers you can peel off as you warm up, including a hat, a heavy jacket, long trousers, and warm shoes. Lying back gives you the easiest view of the sky, so bring something to rest on, such as a towel, blanket, folding chair, or mat, which also keeps the cold ground from pulling heat out of you.
Nothing to eat or drink is sold anywhere in the park, even during the day, so bring your own snacks and a thermos of something hot for the chilly hours. A headlamp is useful for walking around in the dark, especially if you head out onto a hiking trail.
Puʻuʻulaʻula, known as Red Hill, sits near the visitor center and is a good spot to watch the night sky. The visitor center has parking and restrooms, while a simple observatory and another parking lot sit at the summit itself.
The road up the mountain is extremely winding and has no lights or guardrails. Car headlights can disorient animals, and some end up on the pavement, so drive slowly, keep an eye out for wildlife, and obey every speed limit both going up and coming back down.
