Haleakalā National Park (Wilderness Tent Permit)
There are two primitive wilderness tent areas which are accessible only by trail, Hōlua and Palikū. Backcountry users must plan to enter the park entrance for their stay no earlier than 7 am unless they have also obtained a sunrise reservation granting access to the park between 3 and 7 am. Hōlua, the wilderness tent area reached by the shortest hike, lies at 6,940 ft (2,115m) in the shrubland near Koʻolau Gap. Hōlua is 3.7 mi (6 km) one way down the Halemauʻu trail or 7.4 mi one way (12km) from the Keoneheʻeheʻe (sliding sands) trailhead. Visitors staying at Hōlua can enjoy day hikes further into the crater.
More like this: reservable in Hawaii · group sites in Hawaii
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Hike-in | 8 |
| group hike to | 2 |
Site guide
10 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hōlua 1 | Hōlua | Hike-in | 4 / – | No |
| Hōlua 2 | Hōlua | Hike-in | 4 / – | No |
| Hōlua 3 | Hōlua | Hike-in | 4 / – | No |
| Hōlua 4 | Hōlua | Hike-in | 4 / – | No |
| Hōlua 5 (Group) | Hōlua | Group Hike To | 10 / – | No |
| Palikū 1 | Palikū | Hike-in | 4 / – | |
| Palikū 2 | Palikū | Hike-in | 4 / – | No |
| Palikū 3 | Palikū | Hike-in | 4 / – | No |
| Palikū 4 | Palikū | Hike-in | 4 / – | No |
| Palikū 5 (Group) | Palikū | Group Hike To | 10 / – | No |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site.
Amenities & rules
| Fees | Wilderness Tent Sites are open year round. Reservations are required through recreation.gov prior to arrival. Camping Use Fee: $20 per night with a 3 night maximum over a 30-day period. Entrance Fee: Haleakala charges an entrance fee (separate from the camping use fee). |
Both wilderness tent areas have 4 designated individual tent sites (5 people, 2 tents maximum) and 1 group site (10 people, 4 tents maximum). One pit toilet is located nearby in both wilderness tent areas. A non-potable water spigot is located outside of the wilderness visitor cabins adjacent to the wilderness tent areas.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
To the Summit District of Haleakalā National Park: There are brown information signs along the way. From Kahului, take Hana Highway (SR36) and travel 2.0 miles (toward Hana). Turn right onto Haleakalā Highway (SR37) and travel for 7.8 miles.
| Nearest town | Makawao, Hawaii |
| Coordinates | 20.7399° N, 156.2184° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Wilderness cabins can be reserved through rec.gov.
Charges and cancellations
- Do not print your permit until you have confirmed you will be completing your backcountry trip. Once the permit has been printed you can not cancel or modify the reservation.
- Changes/Modifications
- If a customer wants to switch dates that are entirely outside of the original reservation dates, there is a $10 change fee.
- There is no change fee if a customer extends or shortens a reservation, as long as the change includes dates from the original reservation.
- If a reservation is made that includes dates beyond the maximum booking window, that reservation cannot be changed until 18 days have passed from the original booking date.
- Cancellations
- Customers may cancel their reservation prior to day of arrival both on-line and through the call center. A $10 cancellation fee will be withheld from any refund due back the customer. Depending on when you cancel in relation to your arrival day, it may be considered a late cancellation (see below).
- Late Cancellations or Cancellations within the Cut-off Window
- A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will have a $10.00 cancellation fee withheld from their refund AND will forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee.
Explore
Public land it sits in
Haleakalā Wilderness begins about 0.9 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 0.9 miHaleakalā Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 24,710 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Holy Ghost Catholic ChurchBuilding · Kula · 7.8 mi
- Ket Hing Society BuildingBuilding · Keokea · 8.8 mi
- Kaupo SchoolBuilding · Kaupo · 9.4 mi
Natural features
Sites are located inside Haleakalā crater and involve a strenuous hike. Campers should prepare for hot, sunny, cold, wet, and windy conditions as weather can change rapidly. There is no shade or water on the crater floor, and temperatures can vary from 40-70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 30-50 degrees Fahrenheit at night, so pack plenty of water, sunscreen, and layers. If it is stormy, winds can exceed 80 miles per hour with temperatures dropping well below freezing. Hiking trails may be steep. Terrain may include loose cinders and/or rocks. Change in altitude can be from a high of 9,780ft to a low of 6,380ft. Due to the soft sandy nature of the trails, plan on spending twice as much time to hike out as to hike in.
Recreation
Both tent areas are wonderful opportunities for night sky viewing in what's considered one of the quietest natural places on earth! Campers may even come across native species such as the Nēnē (Hawaiian goose). Please remember to keep your distance from any wildlife and refrain from freeding them. From both Hōlua and Palikū campsites, campers have the option to day hike on trail through the crater. Locations to enjoy from Hōlua may be the Silversword loop or the loop around Halaliʻi cinder cone. Locations to enjoy from Palikū may be a loop hike toward Kapaloa or toward Kaupo Gap and back. Please stay on designated trails throughout your crater journey and pack out everything with you!
Nearby
Campsites are located near the wilderness visitor cabins. A wilderness tent permit does not grant access to any wilderness cabin within the crater.
Guidebooks for Hawaii and camping across the country
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Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Haleakalā National Park (Wilderness Tent Permit)?
Sites at Haleakalā National Park (Wilderness Tent Permit) are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Haleakalā National Park (Wilderness Tent Permit)?
Wilderness Tent Sites are open year round. Reservations are required through recreation.gov prior to arrival. Camping Use Fee: $20 per night with a 3 night maximum over a 30-day period.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Haleakalā National Park (Wilderness Tent Permit)?
Customers may cancel their reservation prior to day of arrival both on-line and through the call center. A $10 cancellation fee will be withheld from any refund due back the customer.
Source: Charges and cancellations
How many sites does Haleakalā National Park (Wilderness Tent Permit) have?
10 sites, including 8 hike-in sites and 2 group hike to.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Haleakalā National Park (Wilderness Tent Permit)?
Both tent areas are wonderful opportunities for night sky viewing in what's considered one of the quietest natural places on earth! The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Haleakalā National Park (Wilderness Tent Permit)?
Makawao, Hawaii. Campsites are located near the wilderness visitor cabins.
Source: Getting there
Which national park is Haleakalā National Park (Wilderness Tent Permit) in?
Haleakalā National Park (Wilderness Tent Permit) is a Haleakalā National Park campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.
Source: Haleakalā National Park