Haleakala National Park encompasses the lunar-like landscape with cinder cones of a dormant volcano at 10000 feet above sea level as well as lush green rain-forest and waterfalls cascading through the pools that empty into the pacific ocean. Such contrast is possible only on small island like Maui, where a 38 mile road takes you up from sea level to the clouds in little more than an hour.
Sliding Sands Trail
We strongly advise that you don't go up for to watch sunrise on the top of the mountain if you intend to do the following trail that takes you through the clouds down to the rim of a volcanic cinder cone. The trail is about 2.5 miles long (each way) with an elevation drop of 1500 feet. Going down is fun. It is while returning that you will need plenty of time and water as walking on sandy surface at 10000 feet (air is thin) can be more challenging that most of us imagine. The landscape changes literally in seconds as the cloud cover can come and disappear in moments. After the first few hundred feet the crowd really thins out. The silence had a quality of meditation; there was just an occasional sound of wind howling and if one paid attention, the sound of beating of the heart.
After about two miles , we came across a patch of Silversword plants. This unique plant is found only at one location on the earth. It has survived in this apparent barren landscape. It flowers for just one day between May and October. So, we missed seeing the plant in bloom. But, it was quite a sight to see this plant.
Silver sword plant.
Hues of green, brown and black blending in as one descends into the cinder cone.
A few cinder cones in view.The one which is brownish to the left of the picture is the one we hiked to.
Summary: 5 miles round trip.
Time : 3-5 hours (2x longer to climb out as to descend)
Level : Moderately Strenuous
Need : Good shoes, a walking stick, a hat and plenty of water, sun-screen
Time : 3-5 hours (2x longer to climb out as to descend)
Level : Moderately Strenuous
Need : Good shoes, a walking stick, a hat and plenty of water, sun-screen
Some observations:
(a) I would not do the bike down tour. You are biking down on narrow shoulder.
(b) There can be thick fog (visibility limited to less than 10 feet after 2-3 pm)
