Haleakalā
Volcano · Maui County ·
Volcano park offering spectacular sunrise views from summit
Information
Hawaii 96790 Get directions
Volcano park offering spectacular sunrise views from summit
Hawaii 96790 Get directions
"Meaning “house of the sun” from the legend that demigod Maui once lassoed a star and pulled it closer to Earth to make the days last longer, the park centers around the dormant, high-altitude volcano by the same name. The crown jewel is its Sliding Sands Trail, which traverses the main crater to get you up close to colorful, rust-hued rocks, endangered silversword plants, and cinder cones. If you’d rather relax and enjoy the view from afar, make a reservation to watch sunrise from the mountain’s summit; pack a breakfast to enjoy at the Leleiwi Overlook once the sun is up." - Emily Pennington
"Winter is one of Maui’s busiest seasons as visitors flock to soak up tropical sun, and many spend time amid the park’s volcanic beauty. Daily highs in the 60s are favorable for hiking into the crater—bundle up, because it gets colder with elevation—and although winter is the island’s rainy season, the masses still trek to the summit for sunrise, a must-have experience in any season." - Sarah L. Stewart Sarah L. Stewart Sarah L. Stewart is a Florida-based freelance magazine writer and editor specializing in travel, recreation, science, and health topics. Her work appears in Travel + Leisure, Outside, Backpacker, The Huffington Post, and other national publications. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A traveler favorite, Mount Haleakala is widely recommended for scaling at sunrise for dramatic, unforgettable views." - Caitlin Morton
"Visitors can pick up a star map at the Haleakalā Visitor Center to aid in spotting the moons of Jupiter or, on cloudy nights, to look for a halo around one’s shadow; the summit environment is widely recommended for sunrise, sunset, and night-sky observation on Maui." - Skye Sherman Skye Sherman Skye Sherman is a travel writer based in West Palm Beach, Florida. Aside from traveling, she's also a pilot, scuba diver, bookworm, and fourth-generation Floridian. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, USA Today, Palm Beach Illustrated, Atlas Obscura, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A major national park in Hawaii is being evaluated for Quiet Trail status, indicating that remote island landscapes are among the places being considered for formal recognition of their natural quiet." - Evie Carrick Evie Carrick Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50. She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris, ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'As du Fallafel. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines