Kaupo Trail
The Kaupo Trail may be downhill all the way, but it's a tough and strenuous hike nonetheless.
Plan Around Kaupo Trail
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Kaupo Trail Details
The Kaupo Trail may be downhill all the way, but it's a tough and strenuous hike nonetheless. Starting near the Paliku Cabin and campsite, the trail snakes 8.6 miles down the steep slope of Haleakala through the Kaupo Gap toward the coastal village of Kaupo. The trail has flat stretches and switchbacks for navigating especially steep areas. The landscape changes from brushland to lava fields to forest before you reach the Kaupo Store. Your feet, knees and shins will take a beating, but the views are amazing. Reaching the trailhead involves a long backcountry hike to Paliku, so most who do the Kaupo Trail stay overnight at the cabin or campground before starting downhill in the morning. If you want a real physical challenge, start at Kaupo and hike up to Paliku -- that's a choice made by few hikers, and an even smaller number continue on to climb to the summit of Haleakala.
Difficulty
High
Distance
8.6 miles
Estimated time
7 hours
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Kaupo Trail
Compare nearby parks around Kaupo Trail when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Kaupo Trail
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Kaupo Trail while the map context is still fresh.
4.5 mi away
Lau'ulu Trail
Starting behind the Paliku Cabin, this often overlooked backcountry trail is the rare Haleakala path that begins by going uphill, not down.
4.7 mi away
Paliku Cabin
The Paliku Cabin is at the east end of the wilderness valley at the base of a rainforest cliff.
4.9 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.
5.0 mi away
Pu'u Maile
Pu'u Maile is a cinder cone on the central crater floor east of Kapalaoa Cabin.
5.5 mi away
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.
