Camping in Haleakala Crater and Beyond
While watching the sunrise, hiking the crater floor, or looking up at the stars as they come out are great introductions to the crater, spending a night in the backcountry is the absolute best way to commune with nature on this mountain.
The most accessible campground is the one at Hosmer’s Grove where you don’t even need a permit. There are only tent sites and no open fires are allowed, but there is a pit toilet and running water, and you can drive right up to the campsite. At an elevation of 6,800 feet, the nights can still get chilly (and can drop close to freezing in the winter), but the camping area is largely protected from the wind. This is a great place to camp if you’re looking to make an early assault to see the sunrise, are planning to hike into the crater basin from here (a 2.3-mile supply trail connects the campground with the Halemau‘u trailhead), or want to sleep among the eucalyptus for the evening.
Two wilderness campsites are located at Holua (elevation: 6,940 ft.) and Paliku (6,380 ft) campgrounds. Anyone planning on spending a night in the backcountry needs to secure a permit from the park headquarters, which is free, but requires that you watch an 8-minute orientation video and pick up the permit before 3pm. Pit toilets and non-potable water are available at both campsites, and although the sites are officially first-come, first-served, they can accommodate 25 people and are rarely full. Maximum length of stay is three nights total in a 30-day period, and no more than two nights in a row at the same site. Holua is accessible by a 3.7-mile hike down Halemau‘u Trail and is set amid subalpine scrub brush looking over the Ko‘olau Gap. Paliku, on the other hand, requires a 9.2-mile hike on Sliding Sands Trail (or a 10.3-mile hike on Halemau‘u Trail), and is wet, lush, and surrounded by foliage. In addition to being a great place to spot nene, Paliku is also the preferred camping area for hikers opting to walk out the Kaupo Gap.
There are three backcountry cabins available at Holua, Kapalaoa (elevation: 7,250 ft.), and Paliku, although due to their popularity, securing a reservation can be a little difficult. Cabin reservations can only be made up to 90 days in advance either by calling the park headquarters at 808/572-4400, or online at https://fhnp.org/wcr. Local people are usually waiting on the 91st day to secure the reservation first thing in the morning, so if this is something you want to include on your Maui trip, plan ahead and be flexible. If you manage to reserve a cabin, however, the cost is $75/night and includes 12 padded berths, a wood-burning stove, and basic kitchen utilities. Pit toilets and non-potable water are available, and all trash must be packed out.