This one-way hike requiring a hitchhike back to the trailhead has become so popular that the National Park installed a “Hiker Pick Up” station adjacent to the Halemau’u Trailhead. Starting high and ending low negates much of the elevation gain of other crater hikes, but you’ll still have to huff and puff up the steep Halemau’u Trail as it hugs the contours of a cliff face. This hike is a great way to see a huge portion of Haleakalā Crater in a long dayhike. People with extreme fear of heights might want to skip this one.

Trailhead: Drive to near the end of Haleakalā Highway (Hwy. 378), and find the Keonehe’ehe’e Trailhead about a half mile below the actual summit area. The trailhead has restrooms but no water. Access to the park is restricted during the hours of 3am to 7am each day. There is now a permit lottery system for access to popular sunrise viewing. Even if you’re just hiking and not viewing sunrise, you still need a permit to access the park before 7am if you desire an early start. If you plan your drive to arrive at the park at 7am, you should sail right through with no wait. Drive carefully along the Haleakalā Highway. Expect to encounter cyclists, construction vehicles, and emergency vehicles along the narrow, winding road.

Weather

Gear: Wear sturdy boots and bring your raingear. Expect cold, windy weather. Bring lots of water - you dehydrate much more quickly at this altitude. The UV rays from the sun are also stronger. Don’t underestimate this very difficult hike in a high alpine wilderness.

Hike: From the Keonehe’ehe’e Trailhead, find a trail through lava rocks that skirts the Haleakalā Highway. Curve around the cinder cone above you and find the beginning of the trail marked by signs. The main danger of this hike is the false sense you get as you descend from the trailhead. Descend 2400’ over 3.8 miles and find the crater floor. The views along the way defy the imagination. Even on a clear day, there are often clouds cresting over the crater rim on the northeast side where Maui meets the trade winds. Pass by fascinating endangered ʻāhinahina (Haleakalā silverswords). There are a few blocked spur trails. The National Park insists that you stay on the main trail. When you reach the crater floor, you’ll find an intersection. Hike left (northeast) for 1.3 miles around and up the flanks of a cinder cone. Find another intersection and take another left. After 1/4 mile find yet another intersection and take yet another left and hike north on the Halemau’u Trail. Hike two miles and find one of the cabins on the permit system. Keep out unless you have a permit. Now comes the hard part. Persevere up the steep, narrow trail for almost three miles gaining the majority of the elevation. It’s now about a mile to the Halemau’u Trailhead. Walk out to the highway and find the “Hiker Pick Up Station” on the road. Be careful crossing the highway. Cross your fingers and throw your thumb for what might be the biggest adventure of the day - hitchhiking back to the summit.