Hiking on Maui

Haleakalā Summit and Crater Haleakalā is unlike any other hiking environment in Hawaiʻi. The 10,023-foot summit, which sits above the clouds on most days, and the crater’s interior is a vast, quiet landscape of cinder cones, lava formations and colors that shift from red to gray to black depending on the light. It looks like the surface of another planet.

The two main hikes into the crater are Sliding Sands Trail (Keoneheʻeheʻe) and Halemauʻu Trail. Sliding Sands descends 2,500 feet into the crater from the visitor center at the summit. It’s fairly easy on the way down, but the return climb at 10,000 feet altitude is challenging. The two trails connect at the crater floor and can be combined with a car shuttle to bring you back up. It’s one of the best full-day hikes on the island for intermediate to advanced hikers.

Hāna Side — Pīpīwai Trail The Pīpīwai Trail is the second best option for hiking on Maui for most visitors. It is a 4-mile round trip trek through a bamboo forest to Waimoku Falls — a 400-foot waterfall inside Haleakalā National Park on the Kīpahulu coast. The tall bamboo forest provides shade and the trail is relatively flat and manageable for most fitness levels. The trail is located at the end of the Road to Hāna, which means tour buses begin to arrive and unload hoards of people around 10 a.m. For a less crowded experience, start hiking around 7 or 8 a.m. 

Upcountry — Polipoli and Waiheʻe Ridge Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area in the Kula Forest Reserve sits between 5,500 feet and 10,000 feet on the slopes of Haleakalā. Here, you’ll see redwood, plum, eucalyptus and pine trees weaved throughout a network of trails. The area is open for hunting, so wear bright colors and watch out for wild pigs and goats on the trail. The most challenging hike here is Skyline Drive, a road that climbs all the way up to the Haleakalā summit — a serious high-altitude workout.

Waiheʻe Ridge Trail in West Maui is the island's best ridge hike. It climbs 2,500 feet through fern-lined switchbacks into the mountains above Waiheʻe Valley. You can see all the way to Molokaʻi on clear days. Wait a couple days if it rains, as the trail gets very muddy and dangerous. The hike takes about two to three hours to complete. Make sure to wear good hiking shoes.

West Maui — ʻIāo Valley and Kapalua Coastal ʻĪao Valley State Monument is one of the most sacred sites on Maui. Unfortunately, it is closed at this time, but when it reopens you can see the lush green valley and its 2,250-foot ʻIao Needle from a viewpoint that is just a short jaunt from the parking lot on a paved path. It isn’t a hiking trail, but a beautiful scenic area with deep Hawaiian history you should learn before arriving. Check gostateparks.hawaii.gov/iao-valley for updates.There is no parking or entry available at this time. 

The Kapalua Coastal Trail is an open, breezy 1.75-mile trail that connects Kapalua Bay with D.T. Fleming Beach Park along the West Maui coastline. The trail passes through coastal shrubs with ocean views throughout. Both beaches it connects have previously been named the best in America. The walk is flat and easy — a nice morning trail before or after snorkeling at Kapalua Bay.

Haleakalā's 10,023-foot summit is higher than any point in the continental United States east of the Rockies. Visitors from the continental U.S. usually underestimate the altitude shift. Exertion will feel harder on this hike. Headaches and lightheadedness are common among visitors who drive straight from sea level to the summit and immediately start hiking. Drink more water than you think you need and give your body time to adjust before attempting the Sliding Sands descent.

The sunrise experience at the summit requires a reservation through recreation.gov, available 60 days ahead at 7 a.m. Hawaiian Standard Time with a $1 booking fee plus the standard park entry fee of $30 per vehicle. After 7 a.m., no reservation is needed — sunset and night-sky visits don't require sunrise reservations. The Kīpahulu entrance used for Pīpīwai Trail is a separate entrance from the summit — the same three-day park entry pass covers both.

Temperatures at the Haleakalā summit can drop to 30 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit at sunrise with significant wind chill. This surprises visitors who packed only for a beach vacation. Bring a warm layer — a fleece or light down jacket — regardless of what the weather looks like at sea level when you leave your hotel. The summit weather is its own microclimate and changes fast. I remember going for sunrise as a little girl with my mom. She brought a blanket to wrap around us and I shivered the entire time.