Pa Ka’oao Trail in Haleakala National Park is located at the top of the volcano in the Summit Area. This hike is very short and leads to an overlook for the cinder cones in the extinct volcano. Some people may say this trail is redundant because you can get a pretty good view into the volcano from the Visitor Center, but the very short walk does provide you with a slightly better view.
When you reach the summit, there is a parking lot at the Visitor Center. This is the first stop at the summit, and the Pa Ka’oao trail starts here. Just a warning about the weather. The top of the Haleakala Summit will be cold no matter when you visit. It was 88 degrees in Kahului when we began our drive up to the top, and it was windy and cold at the top (around 40 degrees). So if you plan to spend some time at the summit, bring a beanie and a coat or jacket, or you will be sad!
After you’ve poked around the small Visitor Center, look for a trail leading up from the parking lot. It runs gently up around the back of the of the hill to an overlook. The overlook is protected by the same lava rock that covers the hillside. From this higher perch, you can see the crater a little better with an unobstructed view to the right. You also get a great look of the rest of the island of Maui. We loved the views on top.
The Pa Ka’oao Trail in Haleakala National Park is so short and easy, just about 0.4 miles round trip, that you should definitely take the time to walk it. It does climb up to the overlook, so it has about 100 feet elevation change. For other easy trails for families, check out our Haleakala Kid Hikes.
