The climb to the top of Haleakala is one of the longest paved climbs in the world at over 3,000 metres from the ocean town of Paia.
It’s a long climb which takes you through green pastures in the Upcountry, under blossoming Jacaranda trees, up to the barren lava rock at the top of this dormant volcano. On this segment, we begin our climb above the clouds at the park entrance at approximately 2,000 metres. There’s no warmup to be had here, but the ascent is a fairly steady 5.6% grade with a slight kick at the top where you pass the observatory on your left near the summit.