Haleakala National Park Provides Outdoor Adventure

Haleakala National Park is on Hawaii’s big island. It is home to the extinct Hawaiian geese and dormant Haleakala Volcano. The best way to explore this park is by road. The road leads you through lush green mountains covered with volcanic craters and grassy plain. The views along the winding Crater Road provide spectacular views over the West Maui Mountains and the mountain slopes of the Big Island.

The trail from the parking lot to the entrance of the park has signed directions and a detailed map of the route. The uphill trek covers about three miles, while the downhill journey takes one hour. Rugged trails in the Summit District near the Valley Floor have beautiful views of the West Maui Mountains and Mount Wai’ale’ale. In the western portion of the valley floor, the trails meander through thick vegetation covered with flowers, as well as patches of brown lava rocks. At the end of the trail, turn left and proceed to a signed picnic area in the amphitheater at the end of the trail.

Another highlight of hiking in Haleakala National Park is the experience of encountering native plants. There are many rare plants here such as the Milk Thistle, the Purple Coneflower, and the White-Tipped Opossum. Among these, the Milk Thistle is unique because it produces small white flowers. The purple coneflower is another rare plant that blooms in abundance during its blooming season. Finally, the white-tipped opossum is native to the islands but only blooms in large numbers at certain times of the year such as its emergence from the winter slough.

When it comes to physical activity, hiking in Haleakala is not short of options. Hikers can choose to go on trails either within the park or out in its vast neighbor regions. Within the park, hikers can start at the Loweroa Pass parking lot and proceed to hike on dirt trails surrounding ancient settlements, spectacular waterfalls, and cascades. Most trails also provide hikers with views of the ocean and other surrounding scenery. Hikers can also explore the Na Pali Coast by embarking on its challenging Mist Walk.

Hiking in the Na Pali Coast allows hikers to experience one of the most beautiful places in Kauai. The Na Pali Coast is home to stunning cliffs, dramatic shorelines, and lush green vegetation. However, due to its remote location, only a handful of humans venture onto the coast each day. On weekends, however, several thousand tourists flock to the Na Pali Coast to enjoy the scenic trails and the abundant wildlife. It is a popular park for locals, as well, who love the fact that it’s easy to reach its many trails from the various lodging, restaurant, and shopping options dotting the park.

For an equally exciting way to experience the awe-inspiring landscape of Haleakala National Park, tourists should consider white water rafting. There are several opportunities for tourists to try out this sport, but the best time to try it is during the late summer or early fall. As white water rafting enthusiasts know, the best time to raft is in the morning, when the currents are the strongest. Otherwise, rafting can get a bit slower during the afternoon, especially if a stretch of white water near the cove is filled with swimmers. However, even swimmers can have a good time rafting at any time of the day.