Keonehe'ehe'e Trailhead — Attraction in Maui

This is the Sliding Sands trailhead. Definitely worth hiking. You can choose to walk down a little to different viewpoints or go all the way to the base. If you make it to the bottom it is a very cool hike that makes you feel like you’re on another planet. This place is arid, beautiful, sparse and very windy. At the top you will be cold and by the bottom of the crater you are shedding jackets and wishing for a pool to jump into. When the wind dies down it gets completely quiet... like eerily quiet. Being one of the first down, there was no sounds and just an amazing expanse to look at. If you can make it early you will feel like you landed on an abandoned planet with just you and your thoughts occupying the area.

Difficulty - This changes depending on how far you go down. Almost everyone we saw only walked about a mile or so down. They would get to some good viewpoints and then turn back. If you go more than halfway the trail gets narrower and the crowd greatly thins. You just have to remember that every step you take down is going to be a difficult uphill climb back. We made it to the base (pic of the sign at bottom) just past where the trail breaks off into different other hikes. We will definitely be back for more but just doing this was over 10 miles round trip. If you make it to the base I would rate this as hard just for the continuous downhill down / uphill back.

Trails - Please stay on marked trails. Due to it being dry and mostly unoccupied if you walk off the trail you will permanently damage it for future guests.

Parking - For this trailhead you park at the Haleakala visitor center. Before 8am there were still plenty of parking but by lunch time the lot...

★★★★★ An otherworldly hiking experience! My wife and I were completely mesmerized by the Keoneheʻeheʻe Trail. Despite the chilly temperature, the hike was absolutely worth it - we truly felt like we were walking on another planet! The lunar-like landscape with its volcanic features, multicolored sand, and breathtaking vistas created an experience unlike anything else in Maui. We encountered unique wildlife (the native birds were surprisingly friendly!) and were constantly in awe of how the clouds would flow through the crater. This trail showcases a completely different side of Maui's diverse geological landscapes. One important tip: the descent is deceptively easy, but remember that you'll need to climb back up, so be mindful of how far you venture down as the return journey requires significantly more effort. If you want to feel like you're exploring Mars or the Moon while still on Earth, this trail is an...

As mentioned in the other comments , we highly recommend being hitched hiked to the visitor center at the top of Haleakala from the Halemauu Trailhead parking. The first 10 km of the hike is very reminiscent of a trip to Mars. There are few flowers in that region that only bloom every 50 years so it was a true joy to see one fully bloomed. The next 6 km is a return to nature where you can gradually see the plants and flowers appearing around the trail. Finally, the last 3-4 km makes you come back up a 700m of elevation around narrow paths. We clocked in at 6h30 minutes with multiple stops to apply sunscreen and to snack/lunch/enjoy nature. We brought 3L of water each which we almost depleted. This was an amazing hike that is accessible to any intermediate hikers such as ourselves. Please make sure to bring enough water as there is no where to...