HOSMER GROVE

Elevation: 6,800 feet

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Hosmer Grove might be one of Haleakalā's best kept secrets. Campers who obtain a reservation to camp at Hosmer Grove campground​ also receive a reservation to view the Haleakalā summit sunrise the morning after camping. 

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Hosmer Grove is a small campground and picnic area located just inside the park boundary at 6,800 feet—your last chance to experience native Hawaiian forest before the landscape shifts to alpine desert above treeline. The grove itself is actually an experimental forest planted in 1910 with non-native trees (eucalyptus, pine, cedar) to test timber production at altitude, but the surrounding area contains native koa and 'ōhi'a trees where you can spot native forest birds like the 'apapane and 'i'iwi if you're quiet and patient. A short half-mile nature loop trail winds through both the introduced and native forest sections, making it an easy, family-friendly walk with interpretive signs explaining the difference between Hawaii's native ecosystem and introduced species.

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Camping at Hosmer Grove

• Reservations are currently required for Hosmer Grove campground 

• Campsites cost $20 per night with a three-night consecutive night stay maximum. All overnight camping is limited to three nights per 30-day period across all park sites.

• Each campsite allows a maximum of six people and two tents.

• Pets are not permitted in or around campsite facilities.

• A printed reservation from the confirmation email must be held by the reservation holder.

• All vehicles must park in a designated parking space within the paved lot. 

• $5.00 fee to reserve 1 campsite for 1 night at Hosmer Grove. 

• All park visitors are required to purchase a 3-day Entrance Pass at the Entrance Gate upon arrival to the park. The campsite reservation does not cover your Entrance Pass. An automated entrance pass machine is available after hours. 

 

Bonus!

Campers who obtain a reservation to camp at Hosmer Grove campground also receive a reservation to view sunrise the morning after camping. 

 

The advantage: you're only 30 minutes from the Haleakalā summit, meaning you can sleep until 4:30 AM instead of 2 AM and still catch sunrise. Maximum stay is 3 nights per month, check-in is anytime (ranger patrols to ensure capacity isn't exceeded), and all standard National Park rules apply: pack out trash, no fires outside designated grills, no drones, and respect quiet hours. For those willing to camp in cold, it's the most convenient base for summit access and eliminates the brutal predawn drive—just be prepared for chilly nights and basic facilities.

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Make a reservation for a camping site.