Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
servatories. The trail officially ends at the access road's mile marker 7, but the true sum-
mit still snickers at you another 1.5 miles away.
For native Hawaiians, the summit is a region, a realm, not a point on a map. But if you
really need to place a boot toe on Puʻu Wekiu, Mauna Kea's true summit, soldier on till
you reach the UH 2.2m Telescope, where the short spur trail to the summit begins.
When descending, return along the shoulder of the access road rather than retracing
the trail. Though the road is 2 miles longer, it's easier on the knees and easier to follow
as sunlight fades. Also, it's common for hikers to get offered a lift downhill; sticking to
the road increases your chances.
Alternatively, save time and energy by hitching a lift to the top from the Visitor In-
formation Station and just walking down (about three hours).
SHOULD YOU BUY A SUMMIT TOUR?
To buy a summit tour or not, that is the question.
Tours have many positives: transportation from other parts of the island to the
visitor station, 4WD to the summit, warm clothing, a box dinner, excellent guides
with deep knowledge of astronomy, and the ease of it all. The negatives to consider
include the considerable cost ($400 per couple), a fixed and limited schedule, and
the herd factor.
Itinerary-wise, a typical sunset tour starts early afternoon, stops for dinner, ar-
rives at the summit just before sunset, stays about 40 minutes (which doesn't al-
low for hiking), descends to the visitor station for private stargazing with a single
telescope, and gets you home after 9pm. There is no tour of summit telescopes.
Now assess the DIY alternative. If you have a 4WD rental, you can do some hiking
on your own, then take the summit tour from the Visitor Information Station. This
includes a movie, a talk at the summit, and a visit to one of the observatories (if
you only have a 2WD rental, you will need to hitch a round-trip ride from the station
to the summit.) Finally, you can come back down to the visitor station for a smor-
gasbord of stargazing amidst multiple telescopes. You'll have to pack your dinner
and bring warm clothing, but the total cost is zero, apart from the car, which you
might have rented anyway. If not, a rental 4WD is a lot less than $400 a day.
Tours
Visitor Information Station Summit Tours
GUIDED TOUR