There are many things to do in Haleakala National Park, from stargazing to bird watching. So many, in fact, that I recommend spending at least three days in this unique Hawaiian national park.
Yes, the park’s most famous attractions are the summit sunrise and coastal waterfalls, but there are also some fantastic hikes in Haleakala National Park.
In fact, a visit to Maui’s massive volcano isn’t complete without exploring its spectacular (and varied!) landscapes by hitting some hiking trails.
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6 Best Haleakala National Park Hikes
I’ve split up this selection of the best Haleakala National Park hikes in the park’s two main tourist districts.
The Summit Area encompasses the majestic Haleakala Crater and its surrounding shrublands, while the Kipahulu Area preserves an area on the volcano’s eastern slope, home to verdant rain forests, waterfalls and volcanic coastline.
These areas couldn’t be more different, which is exactly why Haleakala is such a fascinating park. It’s Hawaii in a nutshell—featuring a desert-like volcanic crater, but also lush and humid rain forests.
There are a number of Haleakala National Park trails in both areas, allowing you to explore each of them as you please. Feel like a challenging full-day hike? Or rather an easy coastal stroll? The hiking trails in Haleakala National Park are varied as its landscapes.
In this post, I’ve picked the three best Haleakala hikes in each area.
Best Hikes in the Haleakala Summit Area
While most visitors drive up to the Haleakala Crater to watch the sunrise, leaving shortly after, I encourage you to stick around for a full day and night.
You can admire the colorful cinder cones in the crater from several viewpoints, but nothing compares to actually hiking down into the crater and walking among those volcanic hills.
In the cloud belt below the Haleakala Summit, you can wander through wood- and shrublands, home to many colorful bird species.
There are several hiking trails in Haleakala National Park’s Summit Area—these are my three favorites.
Hosmer Grove Trail
The wonderful 0.5-mile Hosmer Grove Loop Trail runs through a non-native forest and native shrublands on the higher slopes of the volcano and is a great place to see honeycreepers found nowhere else on Earth.
The trail starts at the first-come first-served Hosmer Grove Campground, which is the only place to stay in the Haleakala Summit District. Hit the trail right after sunrise for the best chances to see birds.
- Roundtrip distance: 5 miles
- Elevation change: 50 feet
- Duration: 20-30 minutes
- Trailhead: Hosmer Grove Campground
Halemau’u Trail
The Halemau’u Trailhead lies about halfway between Hosmer Grove and the Haleakala Summit. Thanks to its gentle grade and rocky surface, it’s one of the most popular hikes at the Haleakala Crater.
This easy hike takes you to an amazing panoramic crater viewpoint, 1.1 miles from the trailhead. On the way, the trail runs across a remarkable natural land bridge known as the “Rainbow Bridge”, which is about 0.25 miles before the first viewpoint.
Beyond that first viewpoint, the trail begins snaking down into the crater—the crater floor is 2 miles down. Eventually, it links up with the Sliding Sands Trail deep in the heart of the crater.
Most people retrace their steps after enjoying the panorama from the viewpoint, making this a 2.2-mile roundtrip.
- Roundtrip distance: 2 miles
- Elevation change: 400 feet
- Duration: 1 hour
- Trailhead: Halemau’u Trailhead, off Haleakala Highway
Sliding Sands Trail (Keonehe’ehe’e) – Best Hike in Haleakala National Park
Also known as the Keonehe’ehe’e Trail, the Sliding Sands Trail is one of the best Haleakala National Park hikes. In fact, I wouldn’t hesitate calling it one of the top hikes in Maui and even one of the greatest national park day hikes in general!
If you’re looking for a long and challenging day hike deep into the crater, this is definitely the trail for you.
Starting at the Haleakala Visitor Center parking lot, the trail switchbacks down into the Haleakala crater. It’s 3.9 miles to the crater floor, while the elevation change is almost 2,500 feet. On the way, you’ll pass various specimens of the remarkable native Haleakala silversword.
The ultimate destination of this hike is an area unofficially called Pele’s Paint Pot. Situated near the north slope of the Halali’i cinder cone, it’s famous for its amazingly bright colors. Pele’s Paint Pot is roughly 5.7 miles from the trailhead, in the very heart of the Haleakala Crater.
After looping around Halali’i and Pele’s Paint Pot, retrace your steps back up to the crater rim.
The total distance of this phenomenal day hike is about 11.5 miles. Note, however, that the hard part is the return trip. It’s a long climb back and you should count on at least twice as much time for the way up as for the way down.
So in practical terms: if it takes you 2 hours to get to Pele’s Paint Pot, it’ll be at least 4 hours back. Start this Haleakala Crater hike early! Right after sunrise is the perfect time.
Please take my advice and put on a lot of sunscreen. Also, this is a long day hike in the alpine desert wilderness of Haleakala and it’s important to bring some day hike snacks and plenty of water. There are no facilities along the way.
Count on 6-7 hours for this entire hike, which I consider the best trail in Haleakala National Park.
- Roundtrip distance: 11.5 miles
- Elevation change: 2,500 feet
- Duration: 6-7 hours
- Trailhead: Keonehe’ehe’e Trailhead, near the road at the Haleakala Visitor Center parking lot
Alternative Haleakala Crater Hike:
It’s also possible to start a day hike at the Sliding Sands Trailhead, hike past Pele’s Paint Pot and continue to Halemau’u.
This hike is about 11 miles long, but instead of a there-and-back hike like the Sliding Sands Trail above, it’s a one-way journey across the Haleakala crater floor.
Note that there’s no shuttle service in the park, though. To get back to your starting point, you can use the designated “hiker pick-up” area at Halemau’u and hitchhike back.
Best Hikes in the Kipahulu Area
Haleakala’s Kipahulu Area occupies a section of the mountain’s eastern flank, sloping down from the crater rim to the Pacific Ocean coast.
Here, you’ll find entirely different scenery, a landscape of lush rain forests where the sweet scents of tropical fruits float through humid air, where unseen birds sing enchanting songs, where waves crash against shores of volcanic rock.
There are no particularly long or strenuous hiking trails in this part of Haleakala National Park. Instead, you have the opportunity to walk through a bamboo forest, see waterfalls tumble down sheer cliffs, explore historic Hawaiian sites, and stroll along a palm tree-lined coastline
Kuloa Point Trail and ‘Ohe’o Gulch
Sometimes also called the Seven Sacred Pools, the Pools of ‘Ohe’o Gulch are a place that couldn’t possibly come closer to heaven on Earth.
Featuring a series of palm tree-flanked waterfalls and natural pools, it’s a scene as paradisiacal as it gets. This is one of the most famous places in Haleakala National Park and it’s not hard to see why.
You can get there via the short and scenic Kuloa Point Loop Trail, which starts at the Kipahulu Visitor Center. Other highlights on this short trail are Hawaiian cultural demonstrations and archaeological sites.
- Roundtrip distance: 5 miles
- Elevation change: 80 feet
- Duration: 20-30 minutes
- Trailhead: Kipahulu Visitor Center
Kahakai Trail
The short and easy Kahakai Trail connects the Kipahulu Campground, incidentally one of my favorite national park campgrounds, to the Kuloa Point Loop Trail.
It runs for about 0.3 miles past archaeological sites and some amazing coastal views. It’s a great spot to go for a morning walk and watch the sunrise at Kipahulu.
- Roundtrip distance: 6 miles
- Elevation change: 0 feet
- Duration: 20-30 minutes
- Trailhead: Kipahulu Campground
Pipiwai Trail and Waimoku Falls
The Pipiwai Trail is the longest hiking trail in Haleakala’s Kipahulu Area, and the one with the most variety.
Also starting at the Kipahulu Visitor Center, it meanders for 2 miles through a lush and very humid rain forest, past the Makahiku Overlook, and through a stunning bamboo forest.
The ultimate destination on this fun Haleakala hike is Waimoku Falls, a beautiful waterfall that drops 400 feet down a sheer cliff.
The roundtrip hike is 4 miles long, so count on about 2 hours.
- Roundtrip distance: 4 miles there and back
- Elevation change: 800 feet
- Duration: 2 hours
- Trailhead: Kipahulu Visitor Center
Matt
Thursday 23rd of February 2023
It’s not true that there are no longer hikes in the Kipahulu area. There’s the Kaupo Trail, which takes you right up to the crater of Haleakala, where you can then take the Sliding Sands Trail to the summit. Not many people do this hike due to the length and difficulty. Think of it as Hawaii’s version of Cactus to Clouds. Of course, you would also need to either hike all the way back down or arrange transportation back to Kipahulu.
Bram
Tuesday 28th of March 2023
Fantastic recommendation, Matt! The Kaupo Trail is amazing. The reason I didn't include it, though, is that part of it is not in Haleakala National Park (it does not technically start in the park's Kipahulu portion.)