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Most visitors head to the summit to see the sunrise, go hiking, horseback riding or biking down the main road. The drive to the summit takes one and a half hours from Kahului airport. If you are staying in one of the popular resort areas, such as Kapalua, Kihei and Wailea, it will take about 2.5 hours one way. Accommodations are available closer to the summit, such as the rustic Kula Lodge. There are a few things you should know about visiting the summit. Most importantly, the weather is unpredictable. When you start your drive up the slopes of Haleakala there is no way of knowing what the weather will be like once you reach the top two hours later. You may be stuck in a cloud on the drive up and find that the summit is sunny above all those clouds. Or it may rain the whole way up and down.

There are several trails available to hikers near the summit, ranging from quick 10-minute walks to full-day and overnight trips. We noticed pretty quickly that it's more difficult to breathe up there because the air is thinner. Keep that in mind when deciding how far to walk. Sunrise at 10,000 feet with a view of one of the world's largest dormant volcano is an experience you'll not want to miss.

Temperatures in the summit area usually range between 32 and 65 degrees F. The wind frequently causes the temperature to drop below freezing. If you are planning to watch the sunrise, bring a warm jacket. You won't be able to tell what the weather is like until you get there. No weather predictions or forecasts are available because the weather changes so often. Just to give you an idea, when we set out on a morning hike, the sky was clear and sunny. On the way back two hours later we almost couldn't see the trail through the thick rainy cloud. On average, the temperature drops about 3°F for every 1,000 foot rise in elevation, making the 10,023 foot summit of Haleakala about 30°F cooler than the coast. The three visitor centers in the park are the best source of information. Headquarters Visitor Center is located at 7,000 feet, Haleakala Visitor Center is near the summit and Kipahulu Visitor Center is on the coast. If you have questions about the summit, call 808-572-4400; for information about the coastal area, call 808-248-7375.

Hiking at 10,000 feet in Haleakala-The Sliding Sands Trail

If you are looking for adventure vacation ideas in Maui, head to Haleakala National Park. The scenery near the summit is incredible, complete with cindercones, volcanic rock and native plants. The crater area is huge: 3,000 feet deep, 7.5 miles long and 2.5 miles wide. The summit area has over 30 miles of hiking trails, ranging from 10-minute walks to overnight trips. Arrive early to watch the sunrise at the summit before going on a hike. We followed the Sliding Sands Trail for about 45 minutes down into the crater. The views were just incredible. There were huge cindercones in the distance and the sun reflected off the sand which varied in color from different shades of red to pitch black. We could see the famous Hawaiian silverswords dotting the landscape, as well as a few other bushes and native plants.

The Sliding Sands Trail (also called Keoneheehee Trail) starts at the bulletin board by the entrance to the Haleakala Visitor Center parking lot. The trail starts at 9,700 feet and descends 2,800 feet into the crater. The hike is extremely strenuous, especially on the way back up the mountain. You'll quickly notice the lower concentration of oxygen in each breath. It's much more difficult to hike at such a high altitude and the air is very dry.

At the elevation of 10,000 feet, hiking is very strenuous unless you are used to the high altitude. We also noticed that the air was very dry and were grateful for the extra water we packed when planning the hike. The way back up the Sliding Sands Trail took almost twice as long as heading down and the strain of hiking at high elevation was even more noticeable hiking up the mountain.

In addition to water and sunscreen, pack some warm clothing because the weather can change quite rapidly from sunny to rainy and foggy. It's a good idea to bring some food with you since there is no food sold in the park.

Before heading out, stop at the Headquarters Visitor Center or at the Haleakala Visitor Center to pick up a trail map and ask about guided hikes which are sometimes offered.

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