Haleakala Sunrise or Sunset - Which is Best?

Going to the summit of Haleakala, Maui’s largest volcano, is one of the most popular things to do in Maui. The cinder landscape of this active Volcano  (just kidding its dormant) with its unique wildlife is truly a sight to behold. But when should you go? Many travel early in the morning to see the Haleakala sunrise. Others wait to travel in Upcountry to the Summit area in the evening to see the sunset. Which is better? Both are truly amazing sights, but here are a few points to consider.

Haleakala sunrise. Viewing the sunrise from the Summit offers you the chance to see and do a great many different things you might not get to do if you went there in the evening. For instance, on our Haleakala sunrise bike tour, not only do you get the chance to see the incredible sunrise and the landscape of Haleakala Crater, but you can also see more of Upcountry Maui up close as you bike down all the way to sea level. On this bike tour – from the mountain to the sea – you’ll see a variety of different wildlife and picturesque countryside landscapes that stretch out to the ocean; you can stop to eat at a restaurant nestled on the slopes of Haleakala; or you can spend a while in one of the charming small towns along the way to shop, eat, or browse one of their numerous art galleries. The Haleakala sunrise bike tour offers a unique opportunity to see a side of Maui many tourists never see – all while seeing the gorgeous Haleakala sunrise first!

A lot of visitors to Maui are jetlagged the first few days they are here. So why not take advantage of automatically waking up early and check out the unforgettable Haleakala sunrise. If you’re at the Summit a little before sunrise, you can also see the amazingly clear sky filled with stars. Then you really have a chance to see and do everything – stargaze, see the sunrise, and experience biking down Upcountry!

Watching the Haleakala sunrise, seeing the explosion of colors as the sun rises above the clouds at 10,023 feet above sea level, is truly awe-inspiring.

Haleakala sunset. Of course, the main perk to waiting until the evening to venture up Haleakala is that you can sleep later. This may be the ideal to some. However, if you do experience jetlag on your trip, you may want to wait until the end of your Maui vacation when you get adjusted to the time.

The sunset on the peak of Haleakala is also a gorgeous sight. Many like to visit Haleakala at night not only to view the picture-perfect sunset but also to afterward see the night painted with bright twinkling stars.

“Temperatures immediately before dawn and immediately after dusk are regularly below freezing,” the Haleakala National Park Service warns, so both sunset and sunset will be pretty cold, and you’ll thus need to dress pretty warm.

Overall, many visitors will say that the Haleakala sunrise is hands-down the best of the two to see. Being above the clouds when the sun rises over the mountain is awe-inspiriing. But the convenience of not getting up early may appeal more to some. If you have the chance while in Maui, you should see both of these amazing natural phenomenon.

(First photo by Courtney Collison via Flickr)

(Second photo by Divya Thakur via Flickr)

Hiking Trails in Maui to Explore After Your Haleakala Volcano Tour

The island of Maui has so much to offer! Along with the memorable experience of a Haleakala sunrise volcano tour, which of course, we highly recommend, Maui boasts some absolutely picturesque hiking trails. So if you’re looking for some great hiking trails to explore after your bike tour of Haleakala, perhaps we can give you some helpful recommendations.

Hiking in Maui

Before talking about some the trails on the wonderful Valley Isle of Maui, it would be good to first mention a few basics on how to safely get the most out of any hiking adventure.

• Wear light clothing to keep cool, but layered clothing at the Haleakala Summit
• Wear sturdy hiking shoes with good tread
• Use insect repellent
• Use sunscreen
• Bring a backpack with enough water and food
• Also bring a First Aid kit, flashlight, map (preferably a paper map in case you lose cell phone service), and a compass

Haleakala National Park

This national park, which you will see some of on your Haleakala sunrise volcano tour, covers a diverse and engaging  landscape with over 30 miles of hiking trails just in the summit area. On your Maui volcano bike tour, you will first be taken to the Summit of Haleakala, Maui’s highest point, and spend about an hour there exploring the unique cinder landscape and the amazing crater before you start your bike down the volcano.

There are several trails in the Summit Area such as the Sliding Sands Trail or the Halemau’u Trail. On these hiking trails you can see amazing views of this volcanic landscape as well as the unique wildlife found only on Haleakala. Because of the terrain and elevation, some of these trails are not for beginners, so check with the National Park Service for more details. Weather can be extreme at the summit, so be sure to wear layers of clothing.

On the other side of the park 12 miles past Hana, you can see a totally different ecosystem by hiking through a lush tropical rainforest in the Kīpahulu Area. Here the weather is usually warm and humid. Make sure to bring rain protection, sturdy close-toed shoes, and insect repellent on this gorgeously green hike. In this area of the park, you can hike to Oheo Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools) on the half-mile round-trip Kuloa Point Trail, take the 4-mile round-trip Pīpīwai Trail through a freshwater stream to see gorgeous waterfalls and bamboo forests, or take the half-mile Kahakai Trail from Kuloa Pount to the Kīpahulu campground where you’ll pass by some interesting archaeological sites along with great ocean views.

‘Iao Valley State Park

Located in central Maui, the ‘Iao Valley State Park offers another beautiful hiking adventure and is home to the famous 1,200-foot Iao Needle, the “iconic green-mantled rock” towering above Iao stream. This tropical area is also an important historical area for the island.

“It was here in 1790 at the Battle of Kepaniwai that King Kamehameha I clashed with Maui’s army in his quest to unite the islands. Even with Iao Needle serving as a lookout point, Kamehameha defeated Maui’s forces in a ferocious battle that ultimately changed the course of Hawaiian history,” the Hawaii Tourism Authority noted.

This famously lush park offers a great hiking location for the whole family with a ridge-top lookout point and interactive exhibits at the Hawaii Nature Center in the park.

These are just a few of the hiking trails and day hiking trips you may want to plan after your Haleakala volcano tour adventure. Maui has so much to see and do, even beyond the beaches and ocean activities. Explore all that this island has to offer, starting with an exciting Haleakala sunrise volcano bike tour!

(First photo by Anna Hirsch)

(Second crater photo by Frank Kovalchek)

(Pīpīwai Trail photo by daveynin)

(Iao Needle photo by Curt Smith)

Great Places to Go Camping After Your Maui Volcano Tour

Maui volcano tours like those we provide at Maui Sunriders offer an excellent chance to see the summit of Haleakala and the beauty of Upcountry Maui. However, if you want even more adventure after your bike tour, then why not stay in this beautiful countryside? There are several great camping spots in the Haleakala National Park area. Some of these camping areas can be driven to and others require a bit of a hike. Several cabins are available for reservation and there are areas where you can camp in a tent. So if you’re wanting to discover more of the Haleakala Crater after your Maui volcano tour, here’s some information about the campsites to help plan your stay.

There are two car accessible campgrounds in Haleakala National Park. Hosmer Grove is in the summit area just below the 7,000-foot level in the cloud belt. There is a self-guided nature trail that begins and ends at the campground if you want to venture further into this beautiful landscape. As the National Park Service (NPS) notes, the weather can be cold and rainy here, even dropping to near freezing at night and reach around 50-65 degrees during the day. Hosmer Grove only has picnic tables, barbecue grills, pit toilets, and drinking water. Kīpahulu campground is closer to Hana about 1/8 mile south of the Kīpahulu Visitor Center and just a short walk from ʻOheʻo Gulch on the east side of the island. This campground overlooks ocean cliffs. Although the campground has picnic tables, grills, and pit toilets, there is no water available here. The NPS has drinking water available at the Kīpahulu Visitor Center.

Although you may have seen the unforgettable sunrise on Haleakala on your Maui volcano tour, camping out in the summit district of Haleakala National Park will give you the opportunity to also see the amazing night sky at the top of this volcano. The summit of Haleakala is known as one of the best places in the world for stargazing.

In addition to biking, many who take the Maui volcano tour also love to hike. So, for those who enjoy backpacking and really want to explore the various volcanic landscapes of Haleakala up close, there are cabins and campsites that require a hike through the Wilderness Area of Haleakala. Three cabins are available in the Haleakala Wilderness – Hōlua, Kapalaoa, and Palikū. The closest of the three, Hōlua Cabin, is accessed by a 3.7 mile hike on the Halemauʻu Trail. These quaint historic cabins have limited amenities like a propane stove, dishes, 12 padded bunks, pit toilets, and water that requires filtering before use, but no electricity. As UnrealHawaii.com mentioned though, these cabins do go fast, so you will need to make a reservation, possibly a few months in advance. At Hōlua and Palikū, there are also campsites available. As the NPS noted, the Wilderness Area has unpredictable weather, at times steep hiking trails, and loose cinder or rock terrain, so caution and experience is needed when hiking or staying in these areas. Please see the NPS website for more information about the cabins and campsites and any permit requirements.

The Hawaii State Parks association also offers two camping and cabin areas on Maui. On the slopes of Haleakala, Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area is home to a single cabin available for rent as well as tent camping sites. Polipoli Spring is about 10 miles upland from Kula on Waipoli Road. (A four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended for getting here.) This camping area is in the “fog belt” of the Kula Forest Reserve at an elevation of 6,200 feet with views of Central and West Maui, Kaho’olawe, Moloka’i and Lana’i in clear weather. There are restrooms and trash cans at the campsite, but no drinking water or campground showers. Along the “volcanic coastline” of Hana, the Wai‘anapanapa State Park offers camping and cabin lodging with outdoor showers, drinking water, trash receptacles, and restrooms. Visit the Hawaii State Parks website for more information about these camping areas.

So what do you think? Are you up for a little more adventure, off the beaten path? If you love the outdoors and want to experience even more of Haleakala’s wilderness after your Maui volcano tour, these great camping and lodging areas can give you, as Hawaii State Parks noted, “solitude and respite from urban life.”

(First photo “Stars Above Haleakala” Photo by thedaintyheart via Flickr)

(Cabin photos via NPS)

Best Clothes for a Haleakala Sunrise Bike Tour

When visitors book their Haleakala sunrise tour, many ask what they should wear on the summit of Haleakala at sunrise. And it is good that people ask because the answer may be different than some might expect.

When packing for a trip to Maui, who would ever think to pack a sweater or even a coat? But that is exactly what you might need on the summit of Haleakala at sunrise. At 10,000 feet above sea level, the temperature can get pretty cold and windy. At sunrise, temperatures generally are in the 40-degree range. On the peak of this Maui volcano, the weather can be unpredictable too so we provide wind/rain gear with your Haleakala sunrise bike tours including jackets, gloves, and pants.

So as to what you should wear on the Haleakala sunrise bike tour, we generally recommend that visitors wear the warmest clothes they have with them, especially during the winter months. But it will be pretty cold even in summer. Some also bring hats, scarves, and even blankets, but make sure you bring a hat that won’t easily be blown off.

We also recommend that Haleakala sunrise bike riders wear several layers of clothing that can be taken off as they make their way down the mountain into warmer temperatures. When you get all the way down to Paia, you’ll probably only need a T-shirt and shorts. Long pants are provided with the rain/wind gear included in the biking equipment if you need them. Of course, closed-toe shoes are recommended for all of the Haleakala bike rides. We have also heard that visitors who wear contact lenses may want to bring sunglasses or eye gear of some kind to protect their eyes and contacts from getting too dry in the cold, dry early morning air.
But then you may be thinking, ‘where will I put all these clothes as I ride down the volcano?’ Well, for that very reason, we provide backpacks for our Haleakala bike riders to carry their clothes. If you bring a blanket to the summit, you can leave it in our tour van when you start the bike ride. Then you can pick it up at our shop when you get back.

There is no food for sale in Haleakala National Park, but on the ride down the mountain there will be many opportunities to stop for breakfast or lunch at restaurants along the bike route. For your early morning sunrise, you may want to bring some water and light snacks. It’s recommended that those at high altitudes such as at the summit, drink plenty of fluids, basically doubling their intake of water, refueling their electrolytes and eating plenty of carbohydrates to avoid altitude sickness.

If you take our Summit Tour at 9 a.m. instead of the Sunrise Tour, you may only need to bring a sweatshirt for the time you’re at the summit of Haleakala as it will most likely be a little warmer after sunrise. Normally shorts are okay for both the Summit and Express Tours because most of the bike ride will be during warmer temperatures in daylight hours.

The sunrise above the clouds at Haleakala’s 10,000 ft. summit has been said to be one of the most memorable things you can experience, and we would have to agree. But just remember that at sunrise, the summit will be cold. It will be beautiful and worth the chilly temperatures, but bring warm clothes, particularly layers of clothes for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

First image courtesy of M – Pics at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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?

Enjoy Haleakala National Park On Your Maui Bike Tour

Are you all ready for your Maui volcano bike tour? To help you get mentally well-prepared for this amazing journey and get even more delight out of it, we thought we might give you a little history about Haleakala itself and what you're likely to see on your Haleakala sunrise excursion.

As you may already be aware, Haleakala is Maui’s biggest volcano, and Haleakala National Park is home to the tallest peak in Maui, the summit of Haleakala at 10,023 feet. Many native Hawaiians consider the summit area of Haleakala to be a special place, “the wilderness of the gods.” It’s said that when the Polynesians first arrived in Hawaii more than a thousand years ago they regularly went up to the summit of Haleakala and its majestic beauty. There are many of important cultural places and sites that can be found in the Haleakala National Park.

Established in 1916, Haleakala National Park comprises more than 30,000 acres of public lands – the most famous part of which is the Haleakala Crater. Visitors can hike through this richly-colored volcanic landscape from the summit of Haleakala. There are two main trails into the crater: Halemau’u and Sliding Sands trails. The Haleakala Crater area is home to rare and endemic species of wildlife and plants. You may see Hawaiian geese or “nene” looking for food in their natural habitat amid the crater’s cinder desert.

Another neat aspect of the Haleakala National Park is the diversity of landscapes that it has. From hiking across the Haleakala volcano desert in the Summit Area to traversing tropical coastal environments and waterfalls in the Kipahulu Area, the Haleakala National Park offers a wide array of views and activities.

“You pass through as many ecological zones on a two hour drive to the summit of Haleakalā as you would on a journey from Mexico to Canada,” the Haleakala National Park Service noted.
Along with hiking, visitors can also go camping, swimming in the freshwater pools at Ohe’o Gulch (only when conditions allow), and sky watching at the top of this Maui volcano.

The Haleakala sunrise is the often the highlight of a visit to Haleakala National Park. Many can’t imagine how amazing the sunrise looks from the summit of Haleakala. It’s one of the most unforgettable things you can do on your Maui vacation. On our Haleakala sunrise bike tour, you can see this memorable sunrise and then bike down the Maui volcano all the way to sea level at your own pace. As part of our Haleakala volcano tours, we take our Maui biking guests on a narrated tour of the Haleakala National Park area they will be biking through.

Our tour guides provide Haleakala bike tour guests with the best and most extensive narration of the Haleakala National Park – explaining points of interest along the route, the history of the area, interesting aspects of Hawaiian culture, and also tasty dining options at restaurants along the bike route. With our Maui volcano tours, guests are driven by van to the summit on the same route they will bike down the volcano. Maui biking guests can then enjoy a relaxing and enjoyable self-paced bike tour through the Haleakala National Park down to sea level.

So have a blast on your Maui volcano bike tour and enjoy all the thrilling sights the Haleakala National Park has to offer.