Haleakalā National Park
This special place vibrates with stories of ancient and modern Hawaiian culture and protects the bond between the land and its people. The park also cares for endangered species, some of which exist nowhere else. Come visit this special place - renew your spirit amid stark volcanic landscapes and sub-tropical rain forest with an unforgettable hike through the backcountry. — nps.gov
Haleakalā National Park at a glance
- State
- Hawaii
- Established
- July 1, 1961
- Size
- 33,489 acres
- 2025 visits
- 853,711
- Busiest-park rank
- #27 of 63
- Entrance
- $30 / vehicle
Best time to visit
When is Haleakalā quiet?
Haleakalā is busiest in July and quietest in February, going by National Park Service visitor counts for 2021–2025.
In 2025 the park logged 853,711 recreation visits, the #27 busiest of the 63 national parks. Quiet months can also mean closed roads or facilities, so check current conditions before you go.
Crowd calendar, all 63 parks →Is Haleakalā open right now? →
Average visits by month
2021–2025 · NPS IRMAQuietest: FebruaryBusiest: July
Fees & passes
What it costs to visit Haleakalā
From the NPS fees data, checked October 1, 2026.
Visiting several parks this year? The pass calculator shows whether the America the Beautiful pass pays off.
Reservations · 2026
Book ahead
Sunrise reservation for each vehicle entering the Summit District between 3 and 7 a.m.
Year-round · $1 per vehicle, plus the entrance fee
“A reservation is required for each vehicle entering the park from 3:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. You may book a reservation up to 60 days in advance and 2 days in advance of the start date.”
Things to do
Things to do in Haleakalā
- Short Hike to Leleiwi Overlook30-60 Minutes · All year
Take a short .3 mile (.5 km) roundtrip walk out to Leleiwi Overlook. Pass native plants on your way to a spectacular view of the crater and the Koʻolau Gap.
- Become a Haleakalā Junior Ranger1-2 Hours · All year
Complete activities featuring the plants, animals, and history of Haleakalā to earn your Junior Ranger badge!
Pets OK - Moderate Hike into Haleakalā's Crater1-2 Hours · All year
Enter the park's Wilderness on the Keoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands) Trail and take a moderate out-and-back hike partway down the windswept cinder slope. This is among the most popular hikes in the park thanks to its…
- Moderate Hike to the Crater Edge1-2 Hours · All year
Meander through native shrubland to glimpse rare forest birds and a variety of plants found only in Hawaiʻi.
- Moderate Hike up to the Bamboo Forest1 Hour · All year
Listen to the sounds of the bamboo forest as the towering stalks creak, clack, and clang along the Pīpīwai Trail! Pick up the trail to the left of the Kīpahulu Visitor Center. The hike is 1 mile (1.6 km) round trip with…
- Short Hike to Makahiku Falls1 Hour · All year
Golden light. Verdant forests. White waters. View Makahiku Falls from the Pīpīwai Trail in the Kīpahulu District of Haleakalā National Park.
- Enjoy the Sunrise2-4 Hours · All year
Start your day at the top of Haleakalā. With an advance sunrise reservation, visitors can await the dawn from any of four lookouts leading to the summit.
Reservation/permitFeePets OK - Strenuous Hike Across the Crater Floor7-9 Hours · All year
Experienced hikers can "thru" hike the crater from Keoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands) Trailhead, across the crater floor, and out to Halemauʻu Trailhead. This hike is extremely strenuous and should only be undertaken by…
Show all 9 things to doShow fewer
From the National Park Service (checked October 1, 2026). Each title opens its nps.gov page with current conditions.
By activity
The number shows how many of the 63 national parks offer each activity.
Weather
Weather at Haleakalā
On any given day, the temperatures in the park can range from a high of 80°F (27°C) in Kīpahulu to a low of 30°F (-1°C) at the summit. In either area clouds and rain can quickly replace warm sunshine. Weather in the high-elevation summit and wilderness areas of the park is highly unpredictable and changes often.
Cool temperatures, intense solar radiation, and rapidly moving clouds are characteristic. On average, the temperature drops about 3°F for every 1,000 foot rise in elevation.
From the National Park Service.
Getting there
Getting to Haleakalā
Located on the island of Maui, Haleakalā National Park extends from the 10,023 foot (3055m) summit of Haleakalā down the southeast flank of the mountain to the Kīpahulu coast near Hana. These two sections of the park are not directly connected by road, but both can be reached from Kahului.
There are no gas stations within the park.
Haleakalā National Park, Kula, HI, 96790 · Directions on nps.gov
Nearby
National parks near Haleakalā
- Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park105 miNo road connection (separated by water)
- Redwood National and State Parks2,355 miNo road connection (separated by water)
- Pinnacles National Park2,367 miNo road connection (separated by water)
- Channel Islands National Park2,391 miNo road connection (separated by water)
- Lassen Volcanic National Park2,453 miNo road connection (separated by water)
- Yosemite National Park2,481 miNo road connection (separated by water)
Straight-line distance between park centers; drive times are rough estimates.
Haleakalā is the orange dot. Tap any park to tick it off your checklist.
Photos of Haleakalā National Park
FAQ
Haleakalā, quickly
- When is the best time to visit Haleakalā National Park?
- If you want fewer people, go in February, the quietest shoulder-season month. July is the busiest month on average, and February the quietest, based on NPS recreation visits for 2021–2025. Check nps.gov for seasonal road and facility closures before you go.
- How much does it cost to visit Haleakalā National Park?
- $30 / vehicle. An America the Beautiful annual pass covers entrance fees at every national park.
- Do you need a reservation for Haleakalā National Park in 2026?
- Yes, for some visits: Sunrise reservation for each vehicle entering the Summit District between 3 and 7 a.m. Year-round Cost: $1 per vehicle, plus the entrance fee. (checked on nps.gov, October 1, 2026).
- What are some things to do in Haleakalā National Park?
- The National Park Service lists 9 things to do in Haleakalā National Park, including Short Hike to Leleiwi Overlook, Become a Haleakalā Junior Ranger, Moderate Hike into Haleakalā's Crater, Moderate Hike to the Crater Edge, Moderate Hike up to the Bamboo Forest. Each has its own page on nps.gov with current conditions.
- When did Haleakalā National Park become a national park?
- Haleakalā National Park was established as a national park on July 1, 1961.
- What is the closest national park to Haleakalā?
- Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, about 105 miles away in a straight line.
Sources · 3
- 1.Haleakalā National Park — official site · National Park Service
- 2.NPS Data API — /parks (all park units) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- 3.Haleakalā National Park — Visitor Use Statistics · National Park Service (IRMA)
About this page
Park facts, photos, fees and visitor counts come from the National Park Service (NPS Data API and Visitor Use Statistics), last checked October 1, 2026. Park'd is an independent app and is not affiliated with the National Park Service. For official, current information, visit nps.gov/hale.
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