The Haleakalā Crater is home to the “House of the Sun,” or the East Maui Volcano. Come here to watch the sunrise it’s one of the best in the country and you can easily imagine that you are on another planet. The Haleakalā National Park is a refreshing change of scenery from Maui’s crowded beaches and is not to be missed.
Geologically, the Haleakalā Crater is one of Maui’s most fascinating spots. Over millions of years, the now dormant Haleakalā volcano slowly spilled lava from its vents. This lava overlapped with that of another shield volcano in the west. Eventually, the lava cooled, and Maui was formed. A large portion of the volcano is surrounded by the Haleakalā National Park, which encompasses 33,265 acres (135 square kilometers) of eastern and central Maui.
To see the Haleakalā Crater, head to the Summit Area. This is an expansive section of the park defined by robust red colors and an impressively sculpted landscape. Visitors often comment that it’s how they imagine Mars to be, and it certainly looks as if you are on another planet. The crater itself is 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) long and 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) wide.
Haleakalā (House of the Sun) is home to the island’s highest peak: Puʻu ʻUlaʻula (Red Hill) stands at 10,023 feet (3,055 meters) and its trails can get you above the clouds. Watching the sunrise from here is epic, so see if you can get there as dawn breaks. The best way is to set up camp in Haleakalā National Park. On your way back down, take in the diverse landscapes of forest and wildflowers. Geese, insects and rare birds are common sights.
Haleakalā National Park is open year-round. There are 35 miles (56 kilometers) of roads and trails around Haleakalā Crater. It’s best to get there by car and then hike. Note that any route to the top involves a very steep gradient, so prepare accordingly and bring a jacket. You pay a small fee to reach the summit.
Haleakala Crater Tours
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Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort - a concept by Hyatt
Reviewed on Apr 7, 2024
Fairmont Kea Lani Maui
Reviewed on May 7, 2024
Reviews of Haleakala Crater
5/5 - Excellent
We went for the sunset and star gazing. Even though the forecast was for mostly cloudy by the time the sun went down, the clouds were gone and the viewing excellent. For those that don't want to get up for the sunrise or can't get a reservation, this is a great option which we enjoyed very much.
5/5 - Excellent
The drive up to the crater has wonderful views and lookout points. The peak is above the clouds and the twin peaks of the volcanoes on the Big Island over 100 miles away can be seen also rising above the clouds. Haleakala crater itself is one of the most amazing places I have ever seen with 1000 foot cinder cones inside a huge area of multi-colored ash and lava. There are plants that are found on the side of the mountain that are found no-where else on the planet. Awe-inspiring!
5/5 - Excellent
You can go into the valley (its NOT a crater, so please just dump that terminology). This is an extremely rare unique place and has some amazing views. The drive up itself is something to remember. There are 2 easy summit "hikes". They are really quick walks, not hikes. 1st hike (white hill) is at 2nd visitor's center, 2nd hike (red hill) is at the summit just beyond the visitor's center. you drive 30 seconds to get there. The summit has a great indoor viewing building with excellent educational info that you can take in quickly. The views at these 2 spots are totally different. Do both, trust me. You can and should (you are there, what the heck) hike into the valley to a viewpoint, starting at the visitors center (sliding sands trail). 20 very easy minutes down, 30+ kinda taxing minutes coming back. Viewpoint isn't marked, but you'll know you are there. Reddish cinder cone will be close by, off to your left, from this natural overlook. Hiking beyond that overlook, you need to seriously consider the difficulties of hiking back out at this challenging elevation. Bring plenty of water, and plenty of clothing / hats to limit sun exposure! You'll also experience a weird combination of hot and cold breezes. Footwear will get totally covered in dust / dirt. Comes off easily, no worries. Don't go hiking into the valley in open-toed footwear, for many reasons.
4/5 - Good
Parking not so good.
5/5 - Excellent
Plan to go on your very first day as we are West coasters and we're up 3 hrs before anything opened up.
5/5 - Excellent
You dont need to get up at 3am and do the sunrise. Make it up by 8 or 9 and you will beat the clouds. Watch out for bikes. If you drive, switch drivers at the top so your partner can look.
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