Kawilinau Gulch (65 feet deep)

Overview

Kawilinau—better known as the Bottomless Pit—is exactly what the name teases: a stark, 65‑foot‑deep hole puncturing the barren cinder plains inside the crater. It’s a classic waypoint on Haleakalā’s interior routes, reached on foot along the Keoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands) and Halemauʻu trail corridor.

What makes it interesting

This isn’t just another overlook. The pit slices straight down through volcanic cinder and ash, a sharp reminder of the crater’s volatile past. Standing at the rim, you get moody, minimalist vistas of red and black cinder cones and lava rubble—photogenic in harsh, graphic ways.

Getting there

Hikers typically encounter Kawilinau on crater traverses linking Sliding Sands and Halemauʻu. Expect a significant initial descent if you start from the rim, and an equally significant climb back out. If you’re not up for the full hike, the pit can be observed from rim vantage points, but the on‑trail view is better.

Conditions and difficulty

The interior is exposed: wind can howl, sun can bake, and footing on loose cinder can be slick. Altitude adds a little sting to the uphill finish. There are no services here—no water, no shade, no restrooms—so treat it like true backcountry even though it’s on a well‑traveled route.

Wildlife

Wildlife is sparse in this high, harsh landscape. You might spot nēnē in the broader crater area, and the interior hosts a handful of rare insects, but sightings are uncommon.

Best time to visit

Start early. Morning light gives the pit and surrounding cinder cones crisp definition, temperatures are friendlier, and winds are often calmer. Midday heat and glare make the return climb tougher. Weekdays see fewer hikers than weekends.

Essentials

Bring plenty of water, sturdy shoes that handle cinder, sun protection, and a wind layer. Stay well back from the edge; the rim can be crumbly.