Become An Explorer At Haleakala National Park

On your Haleakala sunrise bike tour, you’ll delight in a land tour of Haleakala National Park’s Summit area as well as Haleakala Crater with incredible views at 10,023 feet along with the unique cinder landscape and flora found uniquely on this Maui volcano. In fact, the National Park Service (NPS) noted that if the weather is favorable when you visit the Summit, you can amazingly see 5 other Hawaiian islands from the top of Haleakala.

But there’s really so much to explore at Haleakala National Park that the land tour around the Summit and Crater that comes with your Haleakala bike tour may just whet you appetite to come back later and discover more of this amazing volcanic park. This park is so full of national wonders and breathtaking beauty that you’ll definitely need more than one day to check out all that this volcano has to offer. No wonder the National Park Service makes admission to Haleakala National Park valid for 3 days.

So now the question is, what will you see in your 72 hours? Well, we’ve taken note of some interesting things you may want to see or do while you’re exploring this spectacular park.

The NPS generally divides Haleakala National Park into 3 different areas: the Summit Area, the Wilderness Area, and the Kipahulu Area. Of course, you’ll see part of the Summit on your Haleakala sunrise bike tour, but you can also hike through this “high-elevation ecosystem” along over 30 miles of hiking trails. See native Hawaii here with its “rare and endemic species” like Hawaiian honeycreepers or the Hawaiian dark-rumped petrel. Haleakala National Park staff members are on-hand each day in the Summit area to provide education talks and answer questions about this interesting ecosystem. Or come back to the Summit at sunset and be amazed at the number of stars you can see in this brilliantly clear sky, viewed at 10,000 feet!

With numerous microclimates and the differing landscapes on the Haleakala volcano, the Wilderness Area affords a world of adventure. “Your steps will take you from brown and red cinder cones, towering hundreds of feet tall in dry, cold desert air to cloudforests dripping with red and green native ferns,” the NPS worte. If you enjoy camping, there are two Wilderness campgrounds where you can enjoy the wilderness in a tent. And for those who want a little more of the comforts of home, you can reserve one of three historic cabins along the trails. Overnight camping will require a permit and a reservation is required for the cabins. You could also just simply take a day hike through this beautiful terrain. Be careful hiking at these high altitudes, however, and remember to bring food and water along for the trip.

Similarly beautiful but visually very different, the coastal area of Kipahulu offers visitors another angle and view of the mountain. Lush rainforests lead visitors to gorgeous waterfalls and the famous freshwater pools of Ohe’o Gulch. Visitors can swim in this area of Kipahulu, but only when conditions allow as dangerous flash flooding does occur. A number of hiking trails lead through this tropical rainforest region of Haleakala National Park, and a drive-up campground is available. The magnificent coastline of the Kipahulu area has several nice overlooks where you might see dolphins, monk seals, or sea turtles playing along the ocean coastline. Hawaiian culture can also be found in the hills of the Kipahulu area as cultural demonstrations and archaeological sites give you a glimpse into the native culture of Hawaii. You can access the Kipahulu area by driving 12 miles past the town of Hana on Hana Highway on the northeast coast.

Your admission ticket to the Haleakala National Park will also allow you access to the Kipahulu entrance as well.

So after you’ve been wowed by the amazing views, restaurants, and shops along your self-paced Haleakala bike tour down the volcano, the next day you could camp out in the wilderness or hike through the rainforest. The Haleakala National Park offers a world of adventure and beauty. Why not explore soon all the wonders that can be found at the Haleakala volcano?