Haleakalā Volcano Trail, Maui HI

• 5-star hike
• 5 mile out-and-back
• Moderate | Gain 1,760 ft | Peak 9,900 ft
• Maui, HI | Hawaii
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The image shows a vast, barren landscape with a large crater-like formation, likely a volcanic crater. The terrain is rocky and desolate, with various shades of brown and gray. In the background, there are mountain ranges with some green patches, and clouds can be seen at the horizon, indicating a high elevation. The sky is clear and blue, adding to the expansive feel of the scene.

The image shows a vast, barren landscape with a large crater-like formation, likely a volcanic crater. The terrain is rocky and desolate, with various shades of brown and gray. In the background, there are mountain ranges with some green patches, and clouds can be seen at the horizon, indicating a high elevation. The sky is clear and blue, adding to the expansive feel of the scene.

Cinder cones in Haleakalā's expansive caldera at 10,000 feet.

Explore cinder cones and lava flows in the desolate basin of Maui's Haleakalā, possibly the largest dormant volcano on the planet.

Ascending and looping up the mountain, the road to Haleakalā National Park is equally spectacular, climbing through the clouds to the summit. Watch out for tour groups of cyclists on this road who freewheel down the mountain. These popular tours begin in the early hours of the morning so they can witness the sunrise over the island from the summit before they begin their two-wheeled kamikaze return back down the volcano.

Trail Options Expand KML · Google Earth ·

⬤ 5★ Sliding Sands 5.4 mi out & back, moderate, gain 1,760 ft
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions GPX?

Formed by erosion rather than volcanic activity, the valley at the summit of Haleakala boasts much to marvel at, and the packed cinder and soil underfoot makes for a relatively easy hike. Here you'll find the silversword, an endangered plant found nowhere else on Earth with an alien appearance that compounds the other-worldly appearance of this remote location.

A fee is required to enter Haleakalā National Park. However, since the visitors permit is valid for several days and the park stretches all the way to Oheo Gulch by the ocean, you can follow up this hike with a trip to the Pipiwai Waterfalls Trail on the same pass.

The image shows a person hiking on a rocky trail in a mountainous area. The trail is surrounded by large rocks and sparse vegetation. In the background, there are two prominent peaks with a winding road leading up to them. The sky is clear with a few clouds visible on the right side of the image. The scene is interesting because it captures the rugged and barren landscape of a volcanic or high-altitude region, highlighting the natural beauty and the challenge of hiking in such an environment.

Beginning the Sliding Sands hike, with the 10,023 ft peak above.

The image shows an observatory located on a mountain peak above the clouds. The observatory consists of several large white domes, which house telescopes used for astronomical observations. The sky is clear and blue, with a layer of clouds below the observatory, indicating that it is situated at a high altitude. The road leading up to the observatory is visible in the foreground, winding through the rocky terrain.

Astronomical Observatories are a common sight on Hawaii's peaks.

Tangents:
• Offical: Haleakalā National Park
• AllTrails Public: Sliding Sands Trail
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