Hiking into Haleakala Crater
 

I would like to hike into the Haleakala Crater. I have considered doing this hike with one of the "Hike Maui" guided trips (they have a 4-mile crater sampler on three trails and an 8-mile hike down and up the Sliding Sands Trail). Has anyone done either of the Hike Maui trips, and if so, is it worth the money to have the guides, or is this hike something people would recommend as being done on your own (my traveling partner has asthma so will not be joining me)? Also, coming from Florida and living at sea level, I am a bit uncertain how my body will handle the high altitude and climbing out of the crater. I am very fit, but just unsure of the altitude. Any guidance would be much appreciated. Thanks. - Karen

I can't say about hiking within Haleakala, but I'll remark on the altitude.

I live in SE Wisconsin. That's about 350 feet above sea level. I've been to Rocky Mountain NP a couple of times on the park road that rises to 12,000 feet and on Going To The Sun Road in Glacier NP. Even walked up that hill by the visitor center in RMNP. I puffed like a steam engine when I got up there. I must say that that high elevation gave my wife and kids headaches and all other symptoms of altitude sickness. I, on the other hand, had none. But it's cold and even though you may not experience any altitude problems, it'll probably cause you to slow down some with shortness of breath. Unless you're accustomed to altitude, take it easy.

There isn't a way to predict how you, personally, will respond to the altitude. Some people do great, others feel very unwell. It definitely makes everyone breathe a little harder, so maybe plan something a little easier than you might do at home.
There's no reason to pay a guide, in my opinion. It's a national park, with well marked trails, and enough people on the trails so that if you trip and sprain your ankle, someone will find you.

You said your travel partner will not be joining you but thought I'd pass this on anyway. I live at 900 feet and have asthma, the exertional kind and frequently need to use a mister when I hike (or ski at 9000+). We started from the park hdq and took Sliding Sands Trail. The landscape is so much like the surface of the moon that NASA used this area as a training ground for astronauts. We hiked for alsmost 7 hours before seeing another person. We camped at the bottom and met up with people there and wondered where they'd been all day. The nexd day we climbed out from our camp at Houla. The climb was about 1,000 feet and was pretty steep. It was the beginning of our trip. My husband did well but with the heat and asthma, I had to take my time and mist a couple of times, but it was well worth it. You get a view midway up of the road to Hana along the coast that was pretty.

Can't say I'd do it again b/c there are so many other things to do, but very happy we did it. As far a hiring a guide, we didn't and didn't see any need for one. You can get some pretty good maps and the trails are marked well enough. The plus of a guide is they can point out things you might not know about, be we had a handy Fodor's and didn't feel we missed out on anything.

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I have another question for anyone who has hiked the 11-mile (?) trail down the Sliding Sands Trail and then up the Halemauu Trail. How long should I plan to complete this hike? I realize this will depend on one's level of fitness, but if anyone has done the hike, please let me know what your experience has been. Thanks!

We only hiked about 1/4 miles of it, but it was great! Views changing all the while.

However, we were past up by a group of packed out people...maybe going to the cabins?

Belle.

We hiked the 11 miles twice. The first time we did it with a ranger and a geologist. It was a very informative hike and it was free. It took about 8 hours. The next time we did it by ourselves and it took about 6 hours. We ran into rain both times so take a poncho with you.

Teresazona - thanks for the information on the time it took to complete the your two hikes. Was the ranger/ geologist led hike through the park service? Do you know how frequently they offer the guided hike? Thanks.

Karen, It was through the park service. I think they did it once a month, during the full moon. We were suppose to be hiking out of the crater at moon rise. However it started raining just as we started out of the crater and we

Karen, It was through the park service. I think they did it once a month, during the full moon. We were suppose to be hiking out of the crater at moon rise. However it started raining just as we started out of the crater and we never saw the moon rise. This trip was about 8 years ago, so I'm not sure they still do it.

check out this site:

www.mauihawaii.org

Maui Jon has a good description of a visit to the crater as well as phone numbers and a Haleakala National Park website. (I could just give you the np website but then you wouldn't have to go to his website to find the info).

A lot of other good Maui info.