Dormant for at least four centuries, the national park’s Haleakalā volcano is massive, soaring more than 10,000 feet in the sky, its crater almost 7 miles across, 2 miles wide, and half-a-mile deep. If lucky enough to hike the volcano after or near a rainstorm, you stand a good chance of being treated to rising mist that reveals a rainbow. For many, it’s an awe-inspiring, inspirational moment, especially amid the ashen remains of the extinct cinder cones being walked.
The best hike for catching a rainbow is the Keonehe'ehe'e Trail (aka Sliding Sands Trail), which heads through the multi-hued desert past cinder cones. It leaves from the Haleakalā Visitor Center parking lot. Hike a 3.9-mile segment to the first trail intersection in the crater for a 7.8-mile round trip.
Here’s a video of rainbow taken in one of Haleakalā’s cinder cones:
•Best trails to see Haleakalā National Park’s wonders
Learn more about national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks guidebook.
