Haleakala Crater
The summit area of Haleakala, while sometimes referred to as its crater, is actually a valley formed by erosion and periodically filled with lava flows.
Plan Around Haleakala Crater
A good stop is not just something to read about. Once it belongs on the day, move into a saved trip and build the route around it.
Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Haleakala Crater Details
All volcanos have craters, right? Nope. In fact, craters only form on volcanoes that erupt explosively -- typically "stratovolcanoes" like Mt. St. Helens, not "shield" volcanoes like Haleakala. So, the summit area of Haleakala, while sometimes referred to as its crater, is actually a valley formed by erosion and periodically filled with lava flows. The volcanic cinder cones that dot the "crater," by comparison, do have actual craters. You can explore the vast summit area on more than 30 miles of hiking trails.
Difficulty
Low
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Nearby Parks Around Haleakala Crater
Compare nearby parks around Haleakala Crater when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Haleakala Crater
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Haleakala Crater while the map context is still fresh.
0.5 mi away
Pu'u Maile
Pu'u Maile is a cinder cone on the central crater floor east of Kapalaoa Cabin.
0.7 mi away
Pu'u Naue
Pu'u Naue is a red-gray cinder cone on the floor of Haleakala Crater.
0.8 mi away
Kapalaoa Cabin
The Kapalaoa Cabin sits at an elevation of 7,250 feet, 5.5 miles down the Keonehe'ehe'e Trail or 7.3 miles from Halemau'u Trailhead.
1.0 mi away
Halali'i
Halali'i is a greyish cinder cone that's easily visible from the Haleakala Visitor Center.
1.3 mi away
Ka Moa o Pele
The reddish Ka Moa o Pele cinder cone stands at a height of 7,680 feet.
