On the eastern edge of Haleakalā National Park, the pools are easily reachable from Hana, about 12 miles (19 kilometers) to the north. Visiting requires paying the national park entrance fee at the Kipahulu Visitor Center, which grants access to all park facilities, plus Haleakala National Park on Maui and Volcanoes and Pu’uhonua O Honaunau national parks on the Big Island. Maui jungle adventure and sightseeing tours sometimes pass Ohe'o as they drive along the Hana Highway—but few stop for a dip.
The Kipahulu Visitor Center has parking, public restrooms, picnic areas, and a water station.
There is no food or gas available within the national park.
Cliff-jumping into the pools is unsafe and expressly forbidden.
Standard and annual entrance passes are available to purchase from the Kipahulu and Summit district entrance stations.
To reach Ohe'o Gulch, take the Road to Hana (Highway 360) to the Kipahulu District of Haleakala National Park. After paying a fee at the park entrance, a short walk leads to the gulch area and natural pools. Note that cars are not allowed beyond designated areas in the national park.
The pools are very popular and can get crowded during the day, especially during the summer. It’s best to avoid the crowds by arriving early in the morning, once the visitor center opens. On select days throughout the year, entrance passes are not required to enter the park: These include Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the first day of National Park Week, Veterans Day, and National Public Lands Day.
Home to Ohe'o Gulch, Haleakalā National Park is also known as the “house of the sun.” Once you’ve paid the entrance fee to visit the Ohe'o pools, you’re free to explore the rest of the park. Many visitors book a reservation and arrive early to watch the sunrise, which can be seen from four viewing locations: Red Hill Summit, Kalahaku Overlook, Leleiwi Overlook, and the Haleakalā Visitor Center. Near the gulch, the popular Pīpīwai Trail leads past a massive banyan tree to the 400-foot (122-meter) Waimoku Falls.
