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Accessibility
In the Summit area, Park Headquarters,Haleakala Visitor Center and Hosmer Grove picnic are wheelchair accessible. Accessible restrooms are located at Haleakala Visitor Center, Kalahaku Overlook, Park Headquarters, and Hosmer Grove. Accessible water fountains can be found at Park Headquarters and Haleakala Visitor Center. The Summit Building is accessible, with assistance, via a steep ramp. Park trails are currently unpaved and not suitable for wheelchair use.
In the Kipahulu area, there are accessible parking spaces and restrooms near the Ranger Station. The only paved portion of trail leads to the Ranger Station. At this time the trails leading to the pools and the forest are muddy, steep, and rocky. Access beyond the paved trail is difficult for wheelchairs and persons requiring assistance.
Basic Visit Recommendations
Plan on spending at least two hours in the Park to drive up to the Summit and back to the entrance, longer if you plan to hike or attend natural or cultural history programs. One could spend all day or a few minutes enjoying the pools and scenic beauty of Kipahulu. Take time out to visit the ranger station, take a short hike, or plan a picnic.
The weather at Haleakala is unpredictable; be prepared for cold wind, heavy rain, and hot sunshine. No dining or vending facilities are available in the Park, so plan your visit wisely. Also remember that there are no gas stations in or near the Park. Think Ahead! Persons with heart or respiratory problems and pregnant women should check with their doctor before coming to the Park, given the reduced oxygen at high elevation.
Biking
Biking on your own can be done on the Park road, but not on any trails. Lights are required pre-dawn or after dusk. Helmets are strongly recommended. Gloves and rain gear will make your ride safer and more comfortable. Bikes can be rented on the island.
Camping
Haleakala National Park encompasses the upper slopes of the volcano, with its subalpine cinder desert and rainforest areas, and stretches down the southeast flank to the Kipahulu coastline. Overnight facilities include two drive in campgrounds, two wilderness campgrounds, and three wilderness cabins. The drive-in campgrounds are located at Hosmer Grove at 6,800 feet elevation near Park Headquarters and on the coast in Kipahulu, 40 minutes south of Hana.
The two wilderness campgrounds are both primitive. Holua is a four mile (one way) hike down the Halemauu trail and Paliku is ten miles (one way) down either the Sliding Sands Trail or the Halemauu Trail. Campers should have provisions and equipment appropriate for possible cold, wet weather. There are no open fires allowed in the Wilderness, so portable camp stoves and a fuel supply are recommended. Some form of water treatment is required. These campgrounds require a permit, available at Park Headquarters between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm daily. There is no additional fee for these camping permits. Space at both campgrounds is limited, and no advance reservations are taken for wilderness camping.
See the Camping Page for more details.
Entrance Fees
Entrance Fees are valid (with receipt) for re-entry into both the Summit and Kipahulu areas of the park for the duration of the pass. An entrance fee is required for those camping within the park.
| Private Non-commercial Vehicle | $ 10.00 (Seven Day Pass) |
| Individual Entry (Bike, Foot) | $ 5.00 (Seven Day Pass) | Annual Pass | $20.00 Annual |
| Gold Access Passport (Blind or permanently disabled individuals) | Free (Lifetime - good in all national parks) |
| Golden Age Passport (one time fee - for those 62+ years young) | $ 10.00 (Lifetime - good in all national parks) |
| Golden Eagle Passport (good one year from date of purchase) | $ 50.00 (good in all national parks) |
The Golden Access Passport is a free pass available to all permanent U.S. residents who are eligible to receive federal benefits based on disability, whether or not you are actually receiving them or not. This pass entitles the bearer, and immediate family or accompanying passengers in a private vehicle, to free admission to all U.S. National Parks, Monuments, Forests, and Historic Sites, as well as half price camping. Apply in person at any National Park Service or U.S. Forest Service area.
Food / Supplies
There are no facilities to purchase food, gasoline or supplies in the Park. There is no drinking water at Kipahulu. The towns of Kahului, Pukalani (17 miles from the Summit area), and Hana (10 miles from the Kipahulu area) have limited stores and outfitters.
Several private companies operate tours within the Park. They include downhill biking on the Park road, horseback tours of the wilderness, and guided hikes.Check the yellow pages of the Maui phone book, the activities desks at hotels and resorts, or consult the Hawaii Visitor's Bureau for information.
Hiking
Haleakala National Park stretches from the rugged Kipahulu coastline up through rainforest and shrubland to the summit of the volcano. Much of the rainforest and upper slopes are designated wilderness, ensuring that the primeval character of the area will remain. Though many people refer to the summit's cinder landscape as a "crater", it is actually a valley carved into the volcano by thousands of years of erosion during a period of dormancy. Renewed volcanic activity has partially filled in the valley with cinder cones and lava flows, which can be viewed from the Haleakala Visitor Center if weather permits. To experience different perspectives of the Park, plan to hike in.
The 27 miles of trails in the Haleakala wilderness cover a land of great contrasts, not only of terrain, but also of topography. Weather changes rapidly. You may be exposed to intense sunlight, and then engulfed in thick clouds and heavy rain. Haleakala rises to 10,023 feet, with a decent to the valley floor of 1,400 feet to 3,000 feet. Trails are strenuous at this elevation due to the lack of oxygen and altitude sickness is a concern. Be on guard for the symptoms; nausea, headaches, dizziness, and shortness of breath. Pregnant women and people with heart or respiratory conditions should consult with their doctor before visiting the Park.
Temperatures commonly range between 40� to 65� F, but can be below freezing at any time with the windchill factor. Hypothermia (life-threatening loss of body heat) is a danger due to the combination of exertion and exposure.
Hikers must be properly equipped. No food, supplies or gas are available in the Park. The Park trails are not wheelchair accessible.
See the Hiking Page for more information.
Lodging
Lodging and Camping Facilities: There are no hotels or concessions within Haleakala National Park. For information on camping, see the Camping Page. There are three primitive wilderness cabins at Paliku, Kapalaoa and Holua, which were built by the Civilian Corps in the 1930's, are maintained by the National Park Service for visitor use by advanced reservation lottery.
For more information on the cabins and lodging, see the Lodging Page.
There are various hotels and restaurants in the nearby towns of Hana and Kahului.
Pet Information
Pets are not allowed in the wilderness area or on trails.
Pets are allowed at Hosmer and Kipahulu Campgrounds but must be leashed when out of vehicle.
Permits
No reservations are required for programs, hikes, or camping. Permits for the wilderness campgrounds in the Summit area are available on a first come, first served basis. Wilderness cabin permits are on a lottery system run by the Park. See lodging and camping facilities section for details about camping and cabin permits.
Programs / Activities
Both areas of the Park offer guided walks and programs on the geology and natural and cultural history of the area. In the Summit Area, 15 to 20 minute presentations are given daily in the Summit Building at 9:30 am, 10:30 am and 11:30 am. There is a guided Cinder Desert Hike on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10:00 am. The hike is two miles and takes about two hours. Meet at the Sliding Sands Trailhead at the end of the Haleakal Visitor Center Parking Lot. In addition there is a guided Waikamoi Cloud Forest Hike on Mondays and Thursdays at 9:00 am. This three hour, three mile hike goes through The Nature Conservancy's Waikamoi Preserve. Meet at Hosmer Grove, just inside the Park entrance.
At Kipahulu, programs include a one mile hike to the Bamboo Forest at 9:00 am daily; half mile hikes or orientation talks at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 pm daily; and a 4 mile round trip hike to Waimoku Falls, Saturdays at 9:30 am. All programs and hikes begin at the Ranger Station.
In the Summit area, special evening star watching programs are conducted in the summer months. Occasionally special all day and half day hikes, three day service trips, or full moon hikes are offered. Check at Park Headquarters or call 808-572-9306 for current schedules.
In the Kipahulu area, cultural demonstrations occur occasionally. Check at the Ranger Station or call 808-248-7375 for current schedules.
For more information on the Activities and Programs, see the Calendar Page.
Regulations and Tips
Visitor Center
Park Headquarters, Haleakala Visitor Center and the Kipahulu Ranger Station have cultural and natural history exhibits. Books, maps, and postcards are for sale. Rangers are on duty during business hours to answer questions and help you make the most of your visit.
For more information see the Calendar Page.
Visitor Impact
More than one million people visit Haleakala Summit area and a half million visit Kipahulu each year. With visitors from around the world, it is important that all visitors help protect their National Park by using only designated trails, leaving all natural features in their place, and using proper trash receptacles. This good behavior can be an example to others visiting a National Park for the first time.
Weather
Summit Area
The weather at the summit of Haleakala is unpredictable. Temperatures commonly range between 40�and 65� F, but can be below freezing at anytime of year with the wind chill factor. Weather changes rapidly at high elevations on Haleakala. Intense sunlight, thick clouds, heavy rain and high winds are possible daily. Wear lightweight, layered clothing that will keep you warm even in wet weather, and sturdy, comfortable shoes.
Kipahulu Area
The weather in Kipahulu is usually warm, and rain is common. Flash flooding of the pools and streams can be hazardous to swimmers and hikers. Always check with the Park Rangers before entering the pools and never swim if flood warnings are posted. Mosquitoes can be prevalent in this area.
See the Weather Page for current conditions, forecasts and other weather data.
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