Wilderness Tent Sites, Haleakalā National Park
Campgrounds in Hawaii
Photo: Niagara66 / CC BY-SA 4.0
Part of Haleakalā National Park
Near Kula, HI in Hawaii
What to Pack for Wilderness Tent Sites, Haleakalā National Park
The right gear makes all the difference — here's a packing list tailored to this area.
Your packing list for Wilderness Tent Sites should account for the Tropical terrain and variable conditions.
Essential
-
Water (minimum 2L) — Water sources marked on maps may be seasonal or dry; carrying enough to complete your route prevents a dangerous shortfall.
-
Navigation (map/GPS/compass) — Getting lost is the leading cause of backcountry search-and-rescue calls; reliable navigation prevents the situation entirely.
-
Sun protection (sunglasses, sunscreen) — Prolonged sun exposure causes headaches, fatigue, and heat exhaustion that can cut a trip short or create a medical emergency.
-
First aid kit — Remote locations mean longer response times for help; a first aid kit bridges the gap between injury and professional care.
-
Extra food — High-energy snacks weigh little but provide crucial fuel if you need to bushwhack out or wait for conditions to improve.
-
Headlamp with extra batteries — Hands-free light is essential for navigating uneven terrain, setting up camp, or signaling for help at night.
-
Fire starter — Waterproof matches or a ferro rod weigh almost nothing and can be the difference between a cold night and a survivable one.
-
Emergency shelter (space blanket) — Wind and rain strip heat faster than most people realize; a compact emergency shelter blocks both.
-
Knife or multi-tool — A multi-tool handles problems you can't predict: jammed zippers, tangled line, first-aid tape cutting, or gear fixes on the trail.
-
Extra clothing layer — A lightweight fleece or puffy stuffs small but provides critical insulation if temperatures drop unexpectedly.
Terrain Gear
-
Headlamp (extra) — Cave exploration, deep canyons, and dense forest canopy create darkness even during daylight hours.
-
Emergency bivy — Unlike a space blanket, a bivy fully encloses you, trapping more warmth and blocking wind from all directions.
-
PLB/satellite messenger — In remote wilderness with no cell coverage, a PLB is your only way to call for help during a serious injury or emergency.
-
SPF50 lip balm — High elevation, snow glare, and desert sun amplify UV exposure on exposed facial skin, especially lips.
Seasonal Gear
- Winter: Microspikes/traction devices
Activities & Best Time to Visit Wilderness Tent Sites, Haleakalā National Park
The Tropical terrain here lends itself to a range of outdoor activities throughout the year.
Visitors come to Wilderness Tent Sites primarily for backpacking, though the Tropical terrain opens up other options too.
With a photography score of 35/100, Wilderness Tent Sites offers Exceptional dark sky (Bortle 1-2) and 1 excellent meteor showers worth capturing.
Activities
-
backpacking — Backpacking combines endurance, planning, and remote wilderness camping.
-
camping — Camping offers campfires, starry nights, and mornings filled with birdsong.
-
hiking — Hiking ranges from gentle nature walks to challenging summit climbs.
-
picnicking — Picnicking turns a scenic overlook or shady grove into a memorable gathering spot.
-
rv_camping — RV camping blends outdoor living with modern amenities.
-
stargazing — Bring a blanket and let your eyes adjust to witness the Milky Way overhead.
-
walking — Walking lets you slow down and notice details — wildflowers, birdsong, shifting light through trees.
-
wildlife_viewing — Early mornings and dusk offer the best chances to quietly spot native wildlife.
Best months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Terrain: Tropical — Dense plant growth and broadleaf species dominate many tropical areas.
Nature & Wildlife at Wilderness Tent Sites, Haleakalā National Park
The Tropical terrain here supports a rich ecosystem worth noticing as you explore.
The forests and meadows around Wilderness Tent Sites support a diverse community of wildlife, from Small Indian Mongoose and Domestic Cat to Red-footed Booby and Zebra Dove.
Trees (2)
-
thatch screwpine — Leaves have sharp edges and pointed tips. -
African tulip tree — The crown is broad and spreading.
Wildflowers (1)
-
fragrant evening-primrose — Low spreading stems with gray-green leaves.
Other Plants (5)
-
'Āhinahina
-
Pūkiawe
-
Kūpaoa
-
'ohelo 'ai
-
Māmane
Mammals (2)
-
Small Indian Mongoose — Short legs and coarse fur. -
Domestic Cat — Retractable claws and sharp teeth adapted for hunting.
Birds (30)
-
Red-footed Booby — Brown morph -
Zebra Dove — Blue eye ring -
Orange-cheeked Waxbill — Orange cheek patch -
Brown Booby — White belly -
Red-billed Leiothrix — Red bill
Reptiles (7)
-
Green Sea Turtle — Head is relatively small compared to body size. -
Gold Dust Day Gecko — Red markings may appear on snout and head. -
Brown Anole — Males display an orange-red throat fan. -
Jackson's Chameleon — Males possess three prominent facial horns. -
Mourning Gecko — Large eyes and adhesive toe pads are prominent.
Amphibians (1)
-
Cane Toad
Insects (3)
-
Monarch -
Western Honey Bee -
Gulf Fritillary
Other Wildlife (15)
-
Hawaiian Garden Spider
-
Thin-shelled Rock Crab
-
African Giant Snail
-
Shingle Urchin
-
Indo-Pacific Rock-boring Urchin
Nature Bingo at Wilderness Tent Sites, Haleakalā National Park
Can you spot them all? Check off each species as you find it on your visit.
Wildlife Challenge
Botany Challenge
Wilderness Tent Sites, Haleakalā National Park Trip Planning & Access
Ready to visit? Here's what to know about getting here and what it'll cost.
Getting to Wilderness Tent Sites means a 2351-mile drive from San Jose, the closest major city.
Visitor Friendliness
Visitor friendliness: families (excellent), dogs (likely_allowed), elderly (highly_suitable).
- Dogs: likely_allowed — No restrictions found
- Families: excellent (Has restrooms)
- Elderly: highly_suitable
- Strollers: excellent (100/100)
- Beginners: Good starting point (Good information available (+5))
- Accessibility: Generally accessible to most visitors (95/100)
Campground Details
Total sites: 10
Fee: $30/night
- Water
- Restrooms
Places Near Wilderness Tent Sites, Haleakalā National Park
If you're in the area, these nearby destinations are worth considering too.
The area around Wilderness Tent Sites includes trails, campgrounds, and other destinations.
Nearby Trails
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby Attractions
Stargazing & Night Sky at Wilderness Tent Sites, Haleakalā National Park
If you're staying past sunset, the stargazing conditions here are worth planning around.
With Bortle class 1 skies, Wilderness Tent Sites offers Excellent dark-sky site conditions for observing the night sky.
Constellations
Look for Ursa Minor — all visible from this location depending on the season.
-
Ursa Minor — This compact constellation contains Polaris at the end of its handle, a reliable guide to true north.
Meteor Showers
For meteor viewing, the Geminids (December 13-14) offers the best show at this location.
-
Geminids — peaks December 13-14 (excellent)Cold December air often means clear skies—look overhead after midnight for bright, slow-moving meteors.
-
Quadrantids — peaks January 3-4 (good)Bundle up—January nights are frigid, but dark skies can produce bright fireballs.
-
Perseids — peaks August 11-13 (good)Peak activity typically builds after midnight when Perseus climbs higher.
-
Eta Aquariids — peaks May 5-6 (good)Southern U.S. observers often get better rates due to the radiant's position.
-
Delta Aquariids — peaks July 28-29 (good)This steady shower rewards patient observers in dark, moonless conditions.
Planets
Planets visible to the naked eye from this location:
-
Venus — The brightest planet, often called the Morning or Evening Star -
Jupiter — The largest planet, bright and steady in the night sky -
Saturn — Famous for its rings, visible as a golden steady light -
Mars — The Red Planet, recognizable by its reddish-orange hue
Equipment Guide
- Naked eye: Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Mercury (with care)
- Binoculars: Jupiter moons, Uranus, Saturn rings (barely)
- Small telescope: Saturn rings, Jupiter bands, Mars surface features, Neptune
Viewing Tips
- Check planets rise/set times for your specific date
- Planets appear along the ecliptic (zodiac path)
- Planets don't twinkle like stars - steady light
- Venus and Jupiter are unmistakable - brightest objects after Moon
- Use a stargazing app to confirm planet positions
- Best viewing: when planet is highest in sky (transit)
Best Viewing Months
- Evening: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb
- Morning: Jul, Aug, Sep
Seasonal Highlights at Wilderness Tent Sites, Haleakalā National Park
Each season brings something different to this area.
What you'll see at Wilderness Tent Sites depends heavily on when you visit.
Indigenous Land at Wilderness Tent Sites, Haleakalā National Park
Long before trails were marked and campgrounds built, this land was home to Indigenous peoples.
This area is part of the ancestral territory of Nā moku ʻehā.
Territories
Languages
2 Indigenous languages are associated with the peoples of this area: ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, Hoailona ʻŌlelo o Hawaiʻi (Hawai’i Sign Language).
Data from Native Land Digital
Wilderness Tent Sites, Haleakalā National Park Geology & Natural History
Beyond the trails and wildlife, Wilderness Tent Sites sits within a landscape shaped by millions of years of geological processes. Here's what researchers and surveys have documented about this area.
Bedrock Geology
- Rock Type
- Kula Volcanics
- Formation
- Kula Volcanics
- Lithology
- Lava flows; basaltic volcanic rocks
- Age
- Cenozoic
Endangered Species
- Species at Risk
- 1780
- ESA Endangered
- 149
- ESA Threatened
- 2
- Conservation Score
- 100/100
Temperature Records
- Record High
- 99°F (1953-04-20)
- Record Low
- 15°F (1958-04-03)
Caves & Karst Features
- Feature Types
- Volcanic rocks with potential for pseudokarst
- Karst Score
- 30
Watershed
- Watershed
- Waiakoa Gulch-Frontal Pacific Ocean
- Water Quality (Good)
- 0%
- Impaired
- 0%
Wilderness Tent Sites, Haleakalā National Park Safety & Conditions
Conditions change fast outdoors — bookmark these official sources for your visit.
Real-time safety data for Wilderness Tent Sites — weather, fire, flood, and road conditions.
Coordinates: 20.739517, -156.21862