alt Hacker NewsHaleakalā is like this as well. Don't just drive up the crater - hike through the thing. It's a ~12 mile hike. It's a remarkable experience because the landscape changes so frequently and dramatically from desert to tropical forest.
The only comp to this is like the transition in Max Max from the desert to the oasis.
Tourists that drive to the crater, take pictures, and drive down have no idea what they're missing.
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throwforfeds • yesterday at 9:25 PM
> Tourists that drive to the crater, take pictures, and drive down have no idea what they're missing.
And for some reason blather on and on loudly up there when the most mind blowing sunsets are happening. Can we not be silent for 15 minutes and look at the universe doing it's thing?
Highly recommend camping in the crater on a clear night around new moon. Some of the best stars you'll see. Seeing the sun rise in the crater gap (where you can sometimes see the big island) is stunning.
Park in the lower lot, hitchhike to the top (or get someone else to drive you), and then you can hike back up to your car the next day on the switchbacks.
Do not attempt to hike up the sliding sands trail you took down, it's *very rough*.