| Haleakala National Park, Hawaii |
 Trail Name:Sliding Sands Summary: |
| Trail Description |
| The world’s largest dormant volcano, Haleakala (“House of the Sun”) dominates south Maui. At its summit, the forces of erosion have formed a huge depression, rather misleadingly called Haleakala Crater (a crater being formed by volcanic activity), which is scattered with huge rust and gray cinder cones, each several hundred feet high. The 10-mile Sliding Sands Trail descends into this surreal world; the first part, from the rim to the first big cone of Ka Lu’u o ka O’o, makes a good, albeit strenuous, half-day hike.
To reach the start of the trail, backtrack along the visitor center access road for about 0.1 mile. The trail quickly approaches the edge of the Crater and the descent begins on long, easy switchbacks (easy going down that is – the sand-like cinders make the climb back to the trailhead more strenuous, made worse in the heat of mid-day). The open views of the vast, stark volcanic landscape are magnificent. After around a mile, you can make a short detour to the left to the base of a cinder mound. Here you may find a little solitude away from the popular trail, a quiet place to sit and admire this unearthly place. Continue into the Crater along Sliding Sands to a junction at 2 miles/3.2 km. Here you bear left onto a 0.5 mile/0.8 km side trail that dead-ends at the cinder cone of Ka Lu’u o ka O’o (“the dip of the digging stick”). Retrace your steps to Sliding Sands Trail and bear right to start the long slog back up to the rim. For a full-day hiking option, Sliding Sands Trail continues east (left) across the floor of the Crater, with several connections to Halemau’u Trail. |
| FACT FILE |
| Location: Summit area of Haleakala National Park, south central Maui. Entrance fee $10 per vehicle, good for 7 days.
Directions: From Kahului, take Hwy 36 to the 37 and 377 (Haleakala Hwy), which leads inland into Maui’s Upcountry region. About 0.5 mile beyond Kula Lodge, turn right onto the winding 378 (Haleakala Crater Rd) to the Park entrance. Beyond Park headquarters, Crater Rd switch-backs up the volcano to Haleakala visitor center. Trailhead: Haleakala visitor center (elevation 9,740 ft). Length: 5 miles / 8.0 km Trail Type: Out and back Elevation Change: N/A Duration: 3 hours Trail Condition: Clear trail over tiny, loose cinders. Features: Stark, colorful volcanic basin; cinder cone. Climate: Changeable at the summit – be prepared for extremes of bitterly cold, wet and windy weather, and hot, intense sun. Accommodation: Hosmer Grove campground, off Crater Rd just before Park HQ, has free tent and RV sites on a first-come, first-served basis (no permit required). Lodging close to the Park is limited – Kula Lodge is the nearest, and there are a few B&Bs around Kula and Pukalani. Trail Notes: Further information available at Park HQ or Haleakala visitor center. Be aware of high altitude and take sunscreen and plenty of water. Keep to the trail to avoid damage to shallow-rooted plants. |
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