Hosmer Grove Campground

Hosmer Grove Campground is a six-site, tent-only drive-up campground in the Summit District, just below 7,000 feet. The grassy sites sit beside the grove’s forest and native shrubland. Each has a picnic table and grill; pit toilets are in the parking lot. It’s a useful overnight base for the summit and a chance to wake up among native forest birds, not a warm beach-side Maui camp.

Reserve through Recreation.gov before you go. A Hosmer Grove campsite reservation includes sunrise access the next morning; park entrance is a separate fee. Overnight stays are limited to three nights across all park campgrounds in a 30-day period, and pets are not allowed around campsite facilities. To find the turn, go about 700 feet beyond the Summit District entrance station and turn left at the four-way intersection; the campground road runs half a mile to the lot.

A self-guided loop starts and ends at the campground, passing through a mix of introduced trees and native shrubland. Go in the early morning if you’re birding; the forest is active then, and ʻapapane, ʻiʻiwi and other native species are recorded around the grove. It’s a simple way to see more than the campsite clearing without planning a longer hike.

Hosmer Grove is a research forest. After tree harvesting, ranching, and goats and pigs damaged native Hawaiian forests around the mid-1800s, foresters planted fast-growing introduced trees to try to preserve the forests’ water-storing capacity. Researcher Ralph Hosmer planted several species here. The loop puts introduced conifers and eucalyptus alongside native trees, shrubs and birds, showing how a restoration idea can reshape a habitat.

The campground sits in Haleakalā’s cloud belt, where mist and rain are common, afternoons can be wet, and nights can approach freezing. Bring warm layers and rain gear. There are no showers or electrical outlets, and no camp store or firewood sales, so bring food and charcoal for the grills. Some campers report sloped grassy sites and tight spacing.