Hosmer Grove Trail
The Hosmer Grove Trail at Haleakala National Park in Maui, Hawaii is an easy 0.5 mile loop hike that starts at the back of the Hosmer Grove Campground.This trail is a nice short hike you can use to start to acclimate to the elevations of Haleakala if you're planning to hike into the crater or if you want to see some native shrub land.
The trail starts off by passing through an alien forest - a result of a failed experiment. In the 1800s farmers cleared the slopes of native 'ohi'a and koa forests. To slow the hillside erosion, and to kick-start the timber industry, Ralph S. Hosmer established a forest reserve here and planted species from all over the planet. Of the 13 types that survived, some species are highly invasive and are continually being removed.
After hiking out of the alien forest, you'll enter the native shrub lands. You'll pass a shortcut trail about 0.25 miles into the hike - stay left to see the entire outer loop.
Camping: While there is no camping on this trail, there's camping at the trailhead at a no-fee, first-come first-serve basis.
Fees: There's a $25 entry fee for Haleakala National Park. The ticket you receive is good for 7-days (make sure to check the Haleakala National Park's site), but I highly encourage you to purchase the $50 annual pass if you plan to visit more national parks within the next 365 days.
Respecting the Land
Hawaiian land is considered sacred to native Hawaiians and many locals, so please stay on-trail, take nothing but photos, and leave nothing but footprints. Respect the locals - don't stay for long and have a backup hike planned in case the parking lot is full.
