This Hike Through The Clouds Will Give You The Absolute Best Views In Hawaii

Just 27 square miles short of equaling the entire size of Oahu, Mount Haleakala is a gentle giant — a dormant volcano that has inspired those who make the journey to its summit for centuries. The mountain comprises 75 percent of Maui Island and is home to desert-like conditions, rainforests, and everything in between. Haleakala’s summit stands tall above the clouds at approximately 10,000 feet above sea level, and it is here where you will find this magical hike through the clouds.

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime and some of the best views you’ll find in Hawaii? Let’s embark on the Sliding Sands Trail to the Ka Lu’u o ka O’o cinder cone trail!

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While this trail is technically part of the famous 11-mile Sliding Sands Trail, we can most likely all agree that 11 miles is much too ambitious for most hikers — especially when taken into account that most people aren’t used to hiking at this elevation.

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Luckily, the hike is only 2.5 miles one way and makes for an excellent, yet still strenuous, half-day hike. The round trip hike begins at the Haleakala Visitors Center and features an elevation change of nearly 1,400 feet.

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Beginning at the parking lot and looping around White Hill before heading down into the crater, you’ll feel as though you are on the surface of the moon — or maybe even Mars — as you traverse this winding path around the vast red and orange hills and cinder cones.

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The experience is unreal — and you will quickly forget you’re in Hawaii. For the duration of your hike, you will be surrounded by clouds and will be able to watch as they float by. It is a once in a lifetime experience, and one you shouldn’t pass up.

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It is also extremely quiet here — the only sound you’ll hear is the crunching of volcanic cinders below your feet.

Jeffrey Haws/AllTrails

The landscapes you’ll find along the trail are otherworldly, to say the least. Haleakala crater itself is a massive seven miles across, two miles wide, and more than 2,600 feet deep, and lights up in an array of colors: red, green, brown, gray, yellow, and orange. Cinder cones from past eruptions sprout from the ground like pyramids, each a different color, size, and shape.

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After you’ve been hiking for two miles, we suggest you turn around. While you are nowhere near the crater floor here, this 4-mile round trip hike is perfect for a half-day adventure and will give you just enough of a glimpse of Haleakala to satisfy your desire to truly experience the landscape.

Jeffrey Haws/AllTrails

If you want to continue, we should warn you that the last half mile to the crater’s floor is extremely steep and will undoubtedly be difficult to climb back up — after all, you will be hiking at nearly 10,000 feet above sea level.

Have you ever hiked through the clouds at the summit of Mount Haleakala? Share your experience with us in the comments below!

Whether you’re interested in hiking the summit or not, we suggest you visit the “House of the Sun” at least once — preferably for sunrise or sunset (be warned, though: the sunrise from the Haleakala summit is so popular and beautiful you’ll need a reservation.)