Beautiful sunrise, worth the trip! Important: get there early! We thought we were early enough but we’re not! The parking lot was full so we parked in the overflow and walked the incline to the top! The walk isn’t do able for lots of folks! With the elevation and incline together, moderate to difficult walk on the paved road. Positive: sunrise was incredible! 1 of our best things to do!

We arrived at the entrance station around 8am (you can't enter before 7am unless you have reservations which seem impossible to acquire). Anyway. We tried but couldn't get sunrise reservations & was certainly not going to bother with a tour. So it goes! Gorgeous views from the summit and plenty of parking as everyone who watched the sunrise seemed to be headed down the hill. We are mountain people, so we came prepared with our down coats and mittens & you'll want to be prepared the same. There are some informative signs around The House of the Sun where you can also view the nearby observatory (not open to public). Teeny tiny visitor center at the summit (this one closes at noon). We did a trail-run/hike from Sliding Sands trail to Kapalaoa cabin and looped around to the Halemau'u trailhead. There are several paths to take & distance-combos, but this loop ended up being around 14.5 miles. While we were chilly at the summit, we were down to our tank tops & shorts inside the crater itself. The running quality is excellent, save for the flat portion to Kapalaoa cabin which is a bit softer/challenging sand. We didn't see many people despite it being an absolutely sunny & gorgeous day. We hitched a ride from Halemau'u back to the summit to get our vehicle. This obviously isn't a guarantee, but we're used to hitching rides in Nat'l parks so it worked out. Of course, bring all the layers, water, sunscreen, etc. like any other run/hike... Absolutely worthwhile to trail run and/or hike within the crater itself. The terrain is more varied than appears from simply looking down into the crater. Reminded me a lot of the variation when climbing Kilimanjaro, which I did not expect! There are not many hiking trails off the main road to the park, so plan on a longer adventure unless you prefer out and back. Remember, what hikes down, must hike up!

We decided we would go at sunset, rather than sunrise. It was a tough decision, we were happy we did it. So, if you are like us, you came to Maui to have beach time, snorkel time, and see the sights. We spent nine days in Hawaii; consider the first day and last day travel days when you get the lay of the land or are in transit (think jet-lag). You are down to seven days; we felt Pearl Harbor (Oahu), snorkel day, Haleakala sunrise/sunset, Road to Hana, Hookipa Bay (the turtles), Keone’o’io Nature Preserve and two beach days rounds it out with a spa morning and some evening dinners. So there you have it, a busy vacation with a little sun time; now back to Haleakala. We did not feel waking up at 1:00 a.m. to be in line at 3:00 a.m. is worth it if you budget your time for a week-ish vacation. Instead of getting up in the middle of the night for Haleakala, we got up early one morning, drove straight to Hana- go past Hana and see the waterfalls, eat at Huli Huli Chicken on the beach in Hana, stop at Coconut Glens for an afternoon snack, drive up to Haleakala, see the sunset and hike a bit before that. The turtles are 15 minutes from the airport, do them the day you go home. Skip the expensive snorkeling and rent at the beach on Ka’annapali Beach near the Black Rock. It’s not everything, but it hits the high points. FYI; the pass to get into Haleakala is $30, but it’s good for three days. If I gave you bad advice, you can go back in the morning (get on the National Park Service reservations 2 days in advance). Remember, you don’t need a reservation for the sunset, just the sunrise. Another tidbit; the road to Haleakala is just a lot of turns and I don’t know why other reviews are so hung up on it; think Rocky Mountain National Park.

You need a permit for the sunrise. We tried several times, so you need to plan accordingly. It seemed like there was only 50 spots available when we tried 48 hours before. Make sure you are logged in before the spots open at 7am Hawaii Time. We stayed in Kihei and left at 2:30am. It was slightly earlier than we needed, but it allowed us to take our time going up. We parked at the parking lot with the visitors center (and bathrooms) and it was perfect. Visitors centre opens after sunrise. Bring blankets and dress warm! This was totally worth is and my highlight of Maui. If you find a spot to place your phone, take a Timelapse video, it is worth it.

After our early morning sunrise adventure we completed a 3-hr family hike of the summit of Haleakalā volcano. It was grueling and not for the faint of heart. Definitely not for those not in good physical condition, or with any significant health issues. It was breathtaking but a tough hike very prone to altitude sickness. Make sure to come prepared for the various temperatures. With over 30 miles (48 km) of hiking trails, that range from just 10 minutes to multi-day overnight trips, there are many options in the Summit District.

I am not sure what else to say that already hasn't been said about this place. If you are on Maui this is the one spot you truly need to hit as seeing the sunrise above the clouds is truly an experience. However, just make sure to dress warm as it will get very cold up there no matter what time of the year that you go. After the sun is up, you can't believe just truly high up that you are. This place is truly special and must visit if you are in Maui.

We visited Haleakala on a cruise ship excursion arriving mid morning. Needed a light wrap but not freezing. This was my second visit as the first one weather prevented us from seeing into the crater. This time the views were amazing! So glad I came back! The colors of the canyon look like water colors and the photos look like they must have been retouched - but they weren't. This is a must see. Beautiful! Bike riders are not longer allowed to ride up or down from the summit due to a tragic accident.

Recommend getting the sunrise tickets in advance on recreation.gov and setting your alarm early! Remember to get up there about an hour before sunrise and bring warm clothes. Also enjoyed a moderate hike out to see the crater from above starting at Halemau'u Trailhead. Also recommend going around to the backside of the park on a different day and doing the Pipiwai Trail with the Banyan tree, bamboo forest and waterfall.

A group of us went up to the top to watch the sunset. The drive up was fun and not dangerous at all. There are lots of cows wandering around slowly. Driving down was a bit spookier because it was so dark, but drive slowly and you'll be okay. It gets extremely cold up at the top with the wind. We brought our winter parkas, boots, and pants because we knew just how cold it would be. One of our friends brought a hoodie and it was definitely not enough. The views are seriously amazing and it's a must visit if you're in Maui.

The sunrise summit on Haleakala is a MUST on your visit to Maui. You'll have to go recreation.gov two days prior to your visit to make a reservation. The pass is good for three days (Do Ohe'o Gulch as well as the 400-ft Waimoku falls at the end of the road to Hana). You'll need park reservations to enter from 3am-7am (we made reservations for this timeframe but drive in at 2:50a and no one was at the gate). There is about 15 parking spaces at the summit parking lot and then more at the Visitor Center lot. It really is AMAZING to get there so early, we were able to see the Milky Way with the naked eye. Even my 9 and 11 year olds were in awe. It is COLD up there, bring a beanie, sweats, hat, blankets, anything to nip that cold air. There is a small viewing room with glass that blocks the wind. Mostly people stayed outside and on the road to view the sunrise. It truly is majestic watching the sky change every color of the rainbow as you are high above the clouds. The pictures really do not do justice. The visitor center at the summit is open early and you can get your national park stamp there as well as cool souvenirs. Definitely a memorable stop!