Sliding Sands Trail Maui Hike Guide

Sliding Sands Trail is a popular out and back hike located within Haleakala National Park in Maui, Hawaii. This hike is similar to the Grand Canyon in that you start by hiking down into the massive crater and then have to hike all the way back up to the rim. Most hikers will only complete 3-5 miles of the Sliding Sands Trail, but the full hike goes much longer. Head here on a clear day and the views of the enormous crater will be mind blowing. The Sliding Sands trail is so unique to Maui and you truly forget that you are on a Hawaiian Island during many points of this hike. 

Sliding Sands Maui Quick Facts

Virtual Trail Guide: Sliding Sands Maui

Sliding Sands Hike Rating: ★★★★ (4/5 Stars)

Distance: 12 Miles RT (Most Hikers Attempt 10 or less) 

Elevation Start: 9,767ft

Highest Point: 9,767ft

Crater Base: 7,411ft – hike goes even deeper if you attempt the full distance

Total Elevation Gain: 2,800+ft 

Estimated Time to Complete: 3-5+ Hours RT (depending on how far you hike)

Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult   What does this mean?

Class: Class 1  What does this mean? 

Season: Year Round

Check the Weather Forecast

Directions to Sliding Sands Maui

Trailhead: Haleakalā Visitor Center Near Crater Summit

Getting Here: Once you enter Haleakalā National Park on the north side of Maui, you really just have to follow the road until you near the summit of the massive crater. Just before the top there is a large parking area on the left where the hike starts. Head to the south side of the parking lot and you will see a trailhead and map of the Sliding Sands hike. 

Fees: As of 2021, there is a $25 fee to enter the Haleakalā National Park. Read more about fees here. 

Parking: There are two spots you can park for the Sliding Sands trail; both lots are huge and can fit 50+ cars. There is a bathroom located at the start of the hike as well. 

Summary

Camping: Read more about camping along the Sliding Sands trail or in the National Park here. 

Dogs: Since this hike is located in a US National Park, it’s not dog friendly. 

Make It a Loop: This hike is an out and back hike but you can easily extend it to make it a lollipop loop by adding the Ka Moa o Pele Loop Trail.

X Factors: Clouds & Weather

When we started our hike down on the Sliding Sands trail we had perfectly clear skies and amazing views of the entire crater below us. It almost looked like a mini mountain range on the island of Maui. However, on the way back up clouds covered much of the hike and made for piss poor views. Low hanging clouds are what this area is known for so if luck is on your side the views are amazing and if not you may just be staring at grey all day. 

When taking a trip to Maui for hiking, you probably are not going to bring anything that extends past your elbows or knees (raises hand). However, the Sliding Sands trail can get surprisingly cold, especially if you are not used to sub 40 degree temperatures. Having an extra layer or two will go a long way to make this hike more comfortable for you. Since you are hiking for a long time on an island where weather changes rapidly, having rain gear is also clutch for this hike.  

Hike Name Tips: Save your legs & Kawilinau

Anytime you are hiking downhill your pace is going to be good, legs will feel good and the miles will just fly by. On this hike though, remember that anything you hike down, you need to hike back up. Sections of this trail that looked flat will suddenly feel like climbing Mount Everest with heavy legs. Save your energy, fuel and water so that you can make it back to your car. 

Speaking of your legs, if you have enough energy a hike to Kawilinau aka the bottomless pit is a very cool addition to the Sliding Sands Trail. We didn’t make it to this viewpoint because of time constraints but I wished we had. Kawilinau is actually a 65 foot hole in the ground where lava used to spout out when the volcano was still active. 

Hike Name Best Views: In general, the best views on the Sliding Sands trail are on your way down into the crater. Similar to the Grand Canyon, the views up top make everything down low look so small. As you get down into the crater you realize how massive everything inside really is. I loved looking at the old lava flows and imagining how impressive this volcano was when it was still active. Views can get somewhat monotonous, but still very beautiful especially if you get a clear day. 

Sliding Sands Trail Hike Route

Gear Needed

• Mickey’s Mountain Kit
• Lots of water – this entire hike is exposed to the sun with no shade
• Extra Layers of clothing – this one can get surprisingly cold for Maui
• Protection from sun (lots of exposed hiking)
• Optional: Hiking Poles
• Optional: Garmin Fenix Watch
• Optional: Camera and Lens
• Optional: GoPro, Joby Tripod
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Our Trip to Sliding Sands Trail Maui: March 2021

I have to be honest because I always am in my guides. The Sliding Sands trail was not something I was super pumped about during our trip to Maui. Sure, it was something to do and another National Park to check out, but really we already paid the $25 entry fee for a previous hike and wanted to extend our dollars by using it another day. Quickly I realized, like usual, I am an idiot. The drive into the park, the top of the crater and the uniqueness of this hike was just insanely beautiful. 

The Sliding Sands trail delivered with amazing views and unique hiking from start to finish. After all, it’s not very often that you can hike in an old Volcano. Like any hike that has reverse elevation gain, the hike back to the crater was not super fun but overall this was an amazing day that I will not soon forget. 

Sliding Sands Haleakala National Park Virtual Trail Guide