Sight · Haleakalā National Park
An 11-mile crater crossing with a 65-foot pit halfway through.
Overview
Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Haleakalā Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Haleakalā National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
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“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Kawilinau is a 65-foot-deep volcanic pit on the floor of Haleakalā's summit crater, along the route from Keoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands) toward Halemauʻu. It lies about 5.7 miles into the crossing. Its former name, Bottomless Pit, sounds far more dramatic than the measured depth; this is a brief look on a much bigger hike. I'd stop if you're already crossing the crater, but it isn't a stand-alone destination.
The point-to-point outing is 11 miles and takes a full day, with almost 2,500 feet of elevation change. There is no park shuttle, so the park recommends leaving a vehicle at Halemauʻu and getting a ride to Keoneheʻeheʻe, at the Haleakalā Visitor Center; your car will be waiting at the finish. Food isn't sold in the park, and drinking water is available at visitor centers, so plan for the whole route.
The park recommends using crater trails only. Kawilinau is on the crossing route, so you don't need to leave it to see the pit. For a photo, include the crater slope around the opening; the setting gives a 65-foot pit its scale.
Wildlife
442 sightingsHawaiian GooseMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
28 sightingsHawaiian Short-eared OwlMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
22 sightingsGreen Sea TurtleMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
645 sightingsʻIʻiwiMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
360 sightingsʻApapaneMost seen around 9 AMSighting map
207 sightingsHawaiʻi ʻAmakihiMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Haleakalā. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
EasyLeleiwi Overlook Trail0.3 mi · 30 min · 2.7 mi awayA short uphill walk to one of Haleakalā’s crater views.
EasyKalahaku Overlook Trail0.1 mi · 30 min · 2.7 mi awayA short crater-rim walk to a historic shelter and huge views.
ModerateHalemauʻu Trail2.7 mi · 2.5 hr · 3 mi awayA short trail to a natural bridge at the crater rim.
ChallengingSilversword Loop via Halemauʻu Trail10 mi · 8 hr · 3 mi awayA long crater descent to the silversword loop.
EasyPā Kaʻoao Trail0.4 mi · 36 min · 3.5 mi awayShort climb, crater views, and a hillside of old stone enclosures.
ChallengingKaupō Trail6.8 mi · 6.5 hr · 3.5 mi awayA steep descent from Palikū Cabin into Kaupō Gap.
ChallengingKeoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands) Trail7.8 mi · 8 hr · 3.5 mi awayDescend into the crater; save some strength for the climb out.
ChallengingHalāliʻi and Puʻunaue Trail12.6 mi · 8.5 hr · 3.5 mi awayCircle two vivid cinder cones, then climb back to the rim.
Sight · 0.2 mi awayPele’s Paint PotA bright patch of cinders halfway through a full-day crater crossing.
Lodging · 1.3 mi awayKapalaoa CabinA 1937 shelter tucked into a vast volcanic crater.
Campground · 1.9 mi awayHōlua Wilderness CampgroundQuiet crater camping, reached by trail; the sandy hike out takes longer.
Lodging · 2 mi awayHōlua CabinA historic crater cabin for a demanding overnight hike.Sight · 2.7 mi awayLeleiwi OverlookA short, rocky climb to the crater’s north-shore gaps.
Sight · 2.7 mi awayKalahaku OverlookA short walk to another angle on the crater and its cones.
Sight · 2.7 mi awayRainbow BridgeA natural bridge between Koʻolau Gap and the crater floor
Visitor center · 3.5 mi awayHaleakalā Visitor CenterSee the summit depression from its high, railed edge.Parkwolf’s Haleakalā ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
