Crater Trail & Sliding Sands, Haleakala NP, Maui

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Haleakala Wilderness

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Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 5.0 miles / 8.0 km
Duration: Half day

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Overview: Maui's highest point is the summit of Haleakala, where you'll find the immense caldera of possibly the largest dormant volcano on the planet. This short hike descends into the crater to explore the dramatic history of the mountain with its many cinder cones and lava lava flows.

Elevation gain:
• 1,600ft (from 8,300 – 9,900ft)

Tips:
• The fee to use this park is valid for several days and allows you to explore the remote Kipahulu coastal area of the park on the same pass - check out our Pipiwai Trail Guide for more details of a spectacular waterfall and bamboo forest hike.
• A surprisingly popular way to experience the mountain is to take a tour bus up the mountain in the dark, arriving in time to witness spectacular Hawaii sunrises. The additional novelty of this tour is the two-wheeled return journey .. a freewheeling bicycle kamikaze ride, snaking back down the mountain.

Alternate Routes:
• Haleakala's basin is so enormous that some folk hike in with a tent and spend days exploring the terrain. If you're in the mood for longer hike without an overnight bag, you might want to consider the 11 mile Sliding Sands to Halemau'u route. This one-way hike is best achieved by parking at the Halemau'u trailhead and hitching a ride up to the visitors center and the start of the hike. Now your 3,000ft of elevation change is purely downhill, and your ride awaits you at the end.

Points of Interest

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Trailhead & Visitors Center

The trailhead for our short hike is located at the opposite end of the parking lot from the Haleakala Visitors Center.

We're heading for the Sliding Sands Trail, which contrary to it's name is comprised of well compacted cinder and soil, making for a relatively easy hike.

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Into the Crater

Approaching the rim of the crater, it's sheer size immediately impresses. You can see why some hike in with their tents and choose to spend several days exploring the summit of Haleakala.

Despite Haleakala being a shield volcano, what you're seeing in front of you is not a single volcanic crater - known as a caldera, but instead the eroded remains of the mountain's summit which has been worn away by wind and water.

If you're looking for calderas you needn't be disappointed however, as all around you is cinder cone after cinder cone, each ringed with its own caldera. It's to one of these that we're now headed.

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Life Among the Desolation

The desolation and the eerie red color of the landscape around you give this remote location an other-worldly appearance, which is only compounded by the strangeness of the plantlife.

Dotted around the landscape you'll find the silversword, a whitish-green plant unique to Hawaii. Please take great care not to disturb these shallow-rooted plants which are a threatened species.

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[JCT] Trail to Ka Lu'u o ka O'o

Almost exactly 2 miles into the Sliding Sands Trail you'll happen across a well marked sign signalling our diversion towards the closest caldera.

Take the left turn and head towards the crater known as .. well, we'll let you decide out how to pronounce it's name.

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Cinder Cone and Crater

Take a stroll around the dramatically red-rimmed crater of Ka Lu'u o ka O'o, while keeping a respectable distance from the edge (don't worry though .. there's no real danger here).

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Pu'u Ulaula (Red Hill)

Be sure to take a quick side-trip in the car to Red Hill, which marks the very tallest peak on the island of Maui.

Cast your eyes in an Easterly direction past the domed observatories, and on a clear day you'll be able to spot the Big Island of Hawaii.