Hiking the Sliding Sands Trail in Haleakala Crater, Maui, in November 2014

Photos of VenturaCountyTrails. Click on an image to see it full size.

Photos Home   | Next Page

_Map3DHaleakalaHikeFromSW.jpg
Route of our hike, looking northeast. We went out about 3.6 miles before starting back.
IMG_9426.jpg
This tour bus in the parking lot near the trailhead looks like it's full of bikes at the back...
IMG_9427.jpg
... but it's really just an illusion!
IMG_9428.jpg
The road we drove to get here
IMG_9429.jpg
We'll see the other end of the park when we drive the road to Hana and keep going all the way around the southeast part of the island.
IMG_9430.jpg
A silversword. When I first visited here in the late 1960's, these endagered plants were enclosed by chain link fences to protect them from the wild pigs, and probably the wild tourists, too.
IMG_9431.jpg
Isn't the silversword a beautiful plant?
IMG_9432.jpg
Our first look into the crater. The weather is unsettled on the far side.
IMG_9438.jpg
We're not going as far as Kapalaoa
IMG_9440.jpg
Looking down into the crater, there are lots of people hiking the Sliding Sands Trail. We'll be joining them in a couple of minutes.
IMG_9441.jpg
On the left is the crater rim; Ko'olau Gap is on the right.
IMG_9448.jpg

IMG_9449.jpg
The trail is broad and firm here. Lower down it gets pretty sandy.
IMG_9450.jpg
The trail switchbacks several times below us. This isn't a real crater; it's the result of erosion of the original crater. The cinder cones formed afterthe original crater was washed away.
IMG_9457.jpg
It's pretty stark, but there are a few plants growing.
IMG_9463.jpg

IMG_9464.jpg
There's a cluster of silverswords in the rocks
IMG_9466.jpg
That trail to the cinder cone is closed, but some people hike out there anyway.
IMG_9467.jpg

IMG_9469.jpg
Lots of silverswords here. I guess the efforts to protect this endangered species have been successful.
IMG_9470.jpg

IMG_9472.jpg

IMG_9473.jpg
Silverswords die after they bloom
IMG_9475.jpg
Looking back up the trail
IMG_9482.jpg
There are a few other plants besides silverswords here, but not many
IMG_9485.jpg

IMG_9486.jpg

IMG_9491.jpg
The original, wider trail on the right is very sandy. People now take the firmer but narrower trail to it's left.
IMG_9492.jpg

IMG_9493.jpg
They remind me of sea urchins!

1 2