Epic Hiking at Haleakalā National Park: How to Explore the Halemau’u Trail

Going hiking at Haleakalā National Park is a must-do activity while visiting Maui. A visit to Haleakalā National Park isn’t complete without hiking on the Halemau’u Trail in the Summit District. An adventure on this trail includes views inside the crater, a walk through lava fields, and a visit to the Hōlua Cabin.

For those wanting to spend more time in the crater, you can take the Halemau’u Trail all the way to the Palikū Cabin. Learn more about this hike below, including how to get there, what to expect, how to camp, and how to make the most of your hike!

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Need to Know Info

• Haleakalā National Park charges an entrance fee to visit. Visit our gear page to purchase your America the Beautiful Pass online at REI’s website. In some cases, you can purchase an annual pass with a credit card at the entrance of some parks.
• Haleakalā’s summit is sacred. Do not move objects or artifacts, and try not to disturb the landscape off the designated trails. Please stay on all paths.
• To watch the sunrise in Haleakalā National Park, you MUST secure reservations.
  • If you plan on hiking during or after sunrise, get the details on how to secure reservations and what to expect.
• We recommend arriving early to complete this hike to ensure you have enough time to hike into the crater and back out.
• If you are camping or staying in a cabin, there is a pit toilet located at both, as well as non-potable water if in season. You must boil or treat the water.

Getting to Haleakalā National Park

• How far away is Haleakalā National Park’s Summit District?
  • From Upcountry/Kula: About 50-60 minutes
  • From Kahului/Airport: About 1 hour and 10 minutes
  • From Kihei/Wailea: About 1.5 hours
  • From Lahaina: About 1.5 hours
• The road to the summit is steep, winding, and curvy, so be prepared and take your time. This is a very scenic drive, and you might even end up above the clouds when you arrive at the summit!

Safety and Weather in Haleakalā National Park

• Temperatures at the summit are typically 20+ degrees colder than at sea level and are often below freezing. You will be at 7,000-10,000 feet after all! It may be windy as well.
• Cell phone coverage was spotty at best, so do not expect to have service.
• Food & Gas: Bring your own food and head up the mountain with a full tank of gas. There are no food or gas services in Haleakalā National Park. The closest gas station is in Kula.
• Be aware of altitude sickness. Symptoms can include: nausea, headache, dizziness, and shortness of breath. If you experience altitude sickness, descend the mountain immediately.
• Water: Be sure to carry plenty of water. We recommend carrying at least 1 liter of water for every 5 miles planned to hike. The elevation will require more. Get our favorite water bladder!
• Apply and use sunscreen often. The sun at 10,000 feet is strong! While enjoying the water in Hawaii, please wear reef-safe sunscreen. Please help protect our ocean ecosystems. Get our favorites here!

🌴 More fun on our 7 Days in Maui itinerary can be found here. Be sure to check it out!

Animal Safety in Haleakalā National Park

Please be extra cautious and watch for Nēnē as you drive into the park. We absolutely love these beautiful geese! Nēnē are an endangered species and need our protection. Plus, they’re incredibly cute! You’ll most likely spot them below 8,500 feet in elevation, but they can be found anywhere within Haleakalā National Park.

According to the National Park Service, Nēnē were extinct on Maui until a troop of Boy Scouts helped reintroduce them in 1962. Please help protect them.

Halemau’u Trail – 10-20 miles round trip – strenuous, out and back, 1,075 ft elevation gain

Hiking at Haleakalā National Park is like a dream! Along with the Sliding Sands Trail, we also recommend hiking on the Halemau’u Trail during your visit. The Halemau’u Trail starts at a lower elevation than the summit and traverses many switchbacks onto the crater floor.

From the crater floor, you will pass the Hōlua Cabin and trek farther into the crater across ancient lava flows. The Halemau’u Trail is technically 10.4 miles one way and ends at the Palikū Cabin. You can tent camp near or stay in both of them. We did this trail as a day hike, but more information on camping is below!

Halemau’u Trail Day Hike

First up, head to the Halemau’u Trailhead parking lot. This is located right off the road about 6 miles past the entrance station. There is no visitor center in this parking area, but there are pit toilets. Be sure to watch out for Nēnē when you arrive!

Now, hit the trail! Initially, the trail gradually descends through a shrubby habitat as you hike toward the rim of the crater. During this section of trail, you might be hiking through or just above the clouds which makes for unique scenery!

Eventually, you will reach the western rim where you’ll have amazing views of the crater floor below. Just after this section, the switchbacks begin with steep elevation loss as you hike toward the crater floor.

When you reach the crater floor, head through a small fenced area where there are horse ties. From here, you’ll gain a little bit of elevation as you hike toward the Hōlua Cabin. At this point, you’ll have hiked about 3.7 miles on the Halemau’u Trail. You can technically turn around at this point and head back to the parking lot, but we recommend hiking on for another few miles.

➡️ Looking for more Haleakalā adventures? Visit the Kīpahulu District of Haleakalā National Park to hike the Pipiwai Trail!

Continue across the crater floor, navigating the sandy, undulating terrain that gradually rises toward the multicolored cinder cones in the distance. After about 4.7 miles, you’ll reach the Silversword Loop. This is a small offshoot trail where you can view a nice cluster of silverswords. Remember, these are native to Hawaii in its volcanic habitats!

From Silversword Loop, it’s another mile or so to reach the junction of the Sliding Sands Trail. Other highlights along the route include the Bottomless Pit and Pele’s Paint Pot.

When you reach the next trail junction, we recommend turning around to complete your 11.6-mile day trip hike on the Halemau’u Trail. Retrace your steps back to the Hōlua Cabin, up the switchbacks, and back to the parking lot. This is truly an epic day hike!

🛏️ Get up early and watch the sunrise at Haleakalā National Park. Here’s what to know!

Continue to the Palikū Cabin

If you are hiking at Haleakalā National Park and want to spend some more time in the crater, continue along the Halemau’u Trail for another 4.6 miles to reach the Palikū Cabin. From the Sliding Sands Trail junction, stay on the Halemau’u Trail. Here, the trail has a steady decline in elevation as you hike toward the Palikū Cabin.

If you decide to hike this far into the crater, it’s probably best to stay overnight. Then, you can tell your friends you slept in a dormant volcano!

Stay at the Cabins or Tent Camp

For an overnight stay in Haleakalā National Park, secure reservations to sleep in the Hōlua Cabin/Paliku Cabin or tent camp. Here is more information:

• As of 2025, cabin reservations are $75.00/night and a tent camping permit is $20.00/night.
• Cabins and campgrounds are reachable by trail only.
• Reservations can be secured at the receration.gov website on a 6-month rolling basis. It’s best to plan ahead to secure a cabin or tent permit as these spots are VERY limited. Get all the details here!
• All water is non-potable and must be filtered or treated before consumption. During drought conditions (summer), water must be brought in.
• Each cabin is equipped with a wood-burning stove, a propane stove, and twelve padded bunks. Electricity is not available.

Hōlua Cabin

Hōlua Cabin is located at the base of the crater wall, nestled in the shrubland near Koʻolau Gap. Take advantage of multiple day hikes deeper into the crater if staying in the Hōlua Cabin. The surrounding landscape features native shrubland that thrives on the lava flows and the scenery is amazing. Imagine the night sky here – it would be epic!

Paliku Cabin

The Paliku Cabin is situated at the eastern end of the wilderness valley at the foot of a rainforest cliff. Clouds and fog frequently drift over the cliffs behind Palikū Cabin, and rain is a common occurrence. This added moisture creates a cool, lush environment. It’s a long trek to get here, but your stay will be amazing a secluded.

🌳Take another epic hike at Haleakalā’s summit on the Sliding Sands Trail!

Tent Camping

There are 2 wilderness tent camping areas by each of the cabins listed above. Each wilderness tent area offers 4 designated individual tent sites (maximum of 5 people and 2 tents per site) and 1 group site (maximum of 10 people and 4 tents).

Both areas have a pit toilet nearby. A non-potable water spigot is available outside the wilderness visitor cabins, close to the tent areas. Remember to boil or treat the water. Please remain on designated trails and pack out all of your belongings!

Where To Stay Outside the Park

Final Thoughts

We absolutely loved our day hiking at Haleakalā National Park! The Halemau’u Trail was a bit different than the Sliding Sands Trail. It’s definitely a bit less strenuous and still has great views of the crater. As discussed in our post on the Sliding Sands Trail, you can technically hike portions of both of these trails as a one-way hike, so be sure to check out the details on that.

We did not stay at the cabins, but they looked very nice for those who are looking for a unique experience. Not everyone can say they slept in a dormant volcano, right?! Overall, we definitely recommend hiking at least a portion of the Halemau’u Trail while hiking at Haleakalā National Park.

🌴 For a less strenuous hike, check out the Makawao Forest Reserve!