Kula, Hawaii
Explore Haleakala's Summit
Originally added by Lucas Moore
Reach the summit for both a sense of amazing accomplishment and unreal views of the Haleakala Crater. The summit offers stunning sunrise and sunset views. There is easy parking, restrooms and visitor center at the summit.
Head to Haleakala's summit for amazing views of the island and your choice of a stunning sunrise or sunset. Keep in mind that you are 10,000 feet up once you're at the summit, so be prepared with warmer layers. If you're planning to get there early for the sunrise, make sure to bring a little food with you as there's nowhere to pick supplies up inside the park.
For those looking for a real challenge, you can choose the round-trip trek to the summit ~38 miles, elevation gain 10,000 feet.
Haleakala Summit has some of the best stargazing conditions in the world, hence the observatory there. There is also free camping at Hosmer Grove.
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Reviews
Overall rating:
Amazing
Unbelievable view, this is worth getting up early for. I'd recommend trying to get there before 5:30 if possible because the two summit lots can fill up regardless of reservation.
Definitely worth a sunrise!
If you are debating whether to watch the sunrise from the summit, do it! The views are one of a kind and absolutely breathtaking.
Breathtaking Experience
This is an absolute must-do if you find yourself on Maui. Out of all of the sights I saw when I was on the island, the memory of seeing the sunrise at the summit sticks out the most to me. Just an amazing sight. As Lucas mentioned in the adventure post, bring some layers. It was incredibly cold and windy at the summit. I didn’t plan ahead because, well because you are in Hawaii, a tropical paradise, and the last thing on my mind was packing warm clothes. I was lucky enough to have packed a hoodie but I still ended up freezing. As of February 2017, the NPS has implemented a reservation system in order to view the sunrise in the Summit District of the park. The reservation fee is only $1.50 per car but you will need to secure a reservation to enter and park in the Summit District between 3:00 am and 7:00 am. Reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance but I’m not sure how quickly they sell out. This system wasn’t in place when I visited Haleakala…so plan ahead.
Stay Nearby
Nearby Adventures
Catch a Sunrise from Pa Ka'oao (White Hill) on Haleakala
0.4 Miles Round Trip - 200 ft gain
Hike the Sliding Sands Trail
2 Miles Round Trip - 1500 ft gain
Backpack the Haleakala Wilderness: Halemau'u to Sliding Sands Trail
19 Miles Round Trip - 3643 ft gain
