Haleakalā National Park in Hawaii, USA - map, photos and visitor information

Haleakalā National Park on Maui has two very different starting points: a summit road that climbs to 10,023 feet and a coastal district near Hāna. The Summit District offers crater views and exposed hiking routes. Kīpahulu has forest trails, waterfalls, and an ocean-facing campground. Plan separate days for the two districts. There is no road through the park that connects them.

Highlights of Haleakalā

• Summit views: See the crater landscape from high-elevation overlooks. Sunrise requires an advance reservation.
• Pā Kaʻoao: Take a short uphill walk near Haleakalā Visitor Center for another view into the crater.
• Pīpīwai Trail: Walk through forest and bamboo toward the Waimoku Falls viewpoint in Kīpahulu.
• Kūloa Point: Follow a coastal loop to views of the Pools of ʻOheʻo. Pool entry is prohibited.

Plan your Haleakalā visit

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

The park conditions page is the place to check changing access restrictions. A reservation does not guarantee clear skies.

Prepare for altitude, weather, and return climbs

Bring warm layers and rain protection to the summit, including for a short overlook stop. Temperatures can fall below freezing near dawn. Carry drinking water, food, and sun protection when hiking. Loose cinders and steep ground can make progress slower than the distance suggests.

A downhill start into the crater means an uphill return. NPS advises allowing twice as long to hike out as to hike in. There is no cell service inside the crater, and coverage at trailheads is limited. Give a trusted person your route and return time before you leave.

In Kīpahulu, stay out of closed pools and streams. Flash floods, falling rocks, and rough ocean conditions can be dangerous. A waterfall viewpoint is not permission to approach the base of the falls.

Respect the landscape and its cultural meaning

Haleakalā remains a sacred place for Native Hawaiians. Give cultural practices space. Leave stone walls and other cultural features undisturbed. Stay on marked trails to protect fragile habitat, including silversword seedlings and roots.

Pets cannot use park trails or Hosmer Grove Campground. Arrange pet care before a hiking visit. Overnight stays must use a designated camping area; sleeping in a vehicle elsewhere in the park is prohibited.

Reserve sunrise entry and overnight stays

Sunrise reservations are released online up to 60 days ahead at 7 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time, with additional availability two days ahead. A visitor may buy only one sunrise reservation per three-day period. The reservation holder must arrive with identification and the booking confirmation. Staff do not sell sunrise reservations at the entrance. Review the official sunrise instructions before booking.

Reserve campgrounds, wilderness campsites, and cabins through Recreation.gov. Hosmer Grove campers have a specific exception: their camping reservation includes summit sunrise access the following morning. Keep a printed camping confirmation with you.

Maps, location, and district access

For the summit, drive from Kahului via Highways 37, 377, and 378. The listed destination is 30000 Haleakalā Highway, Kula, HI 96790. For Kīpahulu, follow the Hāna route via Highways 36, 360, and 31. The coastal district is at mile marker 41 on Hāna Highway.

Use the NPS maps to choose the correct district before setting navigation. A search for the park name alone can obscure the separate entrances. No public bus serves the park. Fuel and electric vehicle charging are unavailable inside it, so prepare before the climb or coastal drive.

Nearby parks on Maui

• Waiʻānapanapa State Park: A Hāna-area option for a separate stop on the coastal route. It has a black-sand beach and coastal trails. Check its entry and parking reservation requirements before adding it to a Kīpahulu trip.
• Mākena State Park: A south-Maui beach stop for visitors staying on that side of the island. It requires a separate drive from the summit route. Check parking fees and ocean conditions; the shore break can be dangerous.

Choose a walk for your time and energy

• Pā Kaʻoao: The 0.4-mile round trip gains about 100 feet. It starts beside Haleakalā Visitor Center.
• Keoneheʻeheʻe, or Sliding Sands: The first overlook is a 0.5-mile round trip. Turning back there keeps the outing much shorter than a descent toward the crater floor.
• Pīpīwai: Allow for a 4-mile round trip with about 800 feet of elevation gain. The route passes bamboo before reaching the Waimoku Falls viewpoint.
• Kūloa Point: This 0.5-mile loop offers coastal and pool views without the longer Pīpīwai hike.

Consult the official trail descriptions when choosing a route. Distance alone does not account for altitude, heat, wet ground, or the climb back to your vehicle.

Visitor facilities and overnight options

Summit visitor facilities include restrooms and drinking fountains at the headquarters and Haleakalā visitor centers. Accessible facilities are available at both centers and the Hosmer Grove picnic area. Kīpahulu Visitor Center has accessible parking, restrooms, and a paved approach. Trails beyond it can be muddy, rocky, and steep. Check the district accessibility details for your needs.

Hosmer Grove and Kīpahulu campsites cost USD 20 per site per night. Hosmer Grove has potable water and pit toilets. Kīpahulu has vault toilets but no campground drinking water or showers; a water station is near the visitor center. Its cliffside setting does not provide beach access.

Hōlua, Kapalaoa, and Palikū cabins require a hike and an advance reservation. These are basic wilderness shelters without electricity. Water at the cabins requires treatment, and drought can require carrying all your water. Combined camping and cabin stays are limited to three nights in a 30-day period.

About Haleakalā National Park

A living Hawaiian cultural landscape

Native Hawaiians have lived on and cared for this landscape for more than a thousand years. Cultural sites in the summit and Kīpahulu districts connect with traditions that continue through stories, songs, and practice. Kīpahulu also reflects the ahupuaʻa system of land divisions extending from the sea toward the mountains.

Nēnē and silverswords

The nēnē, or Hawaiian goose, was reintroduced on Maui through a program based in the park. Watch for birds near roads and give them room to move. A sighting is possible, but should not be the basis of a fixed wildlife itinerary.

The silvery ʻāhinahina plant has a different life cycle: a silversword grows for years, flowers once, and then dies. Its roots and young plants are easily damaged by footsteps. Staying on the trail protects plants that may be difficult to see.

Contact Haleakalā National Park

For general park questions, call 808-572-4400. The mailing address is Haleakalā National Park, PO Box 369, Makawao, HI 96768. Use the official contact page for the email form and reservation support details. The mailing address is not a driving destination.