The road to Haleakala on Hawaii’s island of Maui is one of the steepest continuous roads in the United States. Starting at sea level and ending at over 10,000 feet over about 30 miles, the road winds through beach, towns, forest, high forest, and tundra.
Surprising to many, Hawaii actually has most of the world’s climate zones represented throughout the state. You can experience many of them on this short, stunning ride.
Here, in the cool upper forest, coniferous trees dot the skyline above a layer of clouds filling Maui valley below. On a clear day, this view affords a panoramic scene of the West Maui Mountains and both north and south shores of Maui at the same time. Many days, though, you simply rise through and above the soft white layer of clouds to see a textured carpet of white.
