Sunrise Tour to Mauna Kea Summit

Great place to watch the sunset. We were lucky to get an upgrade to a Jeep Compass with our rental, which allowed us to drive all the way to the summit. The road is no problem at all if you know how to manually control an automatic. The guided tours are far too expensive and I definitely wouldn’t recommend them. For stargazing it was way too windy and cold. Haleakalā on Maui was much better, so we didn’t stay for it.

Great place to watch the sunset. But make sure you car have 4x4 vehicle and at least a half tank of fuel. Plan for extra 30 min to acclimate at the visitors center before being allowed to venture to the summit for safety reasons. Stargazing happens at front of the visitors center at 8:15, employees all are very friendly, good placed to buy gifts as well, after sunset weather become cold so please bring warmer clothes. People has options to see sunset at other mountain next to visitor centers as well.

We booked a tour of the summit and star gazing. The crew was amazing and we got some awesome views as well as some awesome night pics. You definetly need to book a tour to see this amazing view

Visiting the summit of Mauna Kea was one of the highlights of our trip and absolutely worth the effort. The views are incredible, and the landscape changes so dramatically as you climb that it genuinely feels like you're driving across another planet. Watching the sunset from above the clouds was unforgettable—it really feels like you're standing on top of the world. A few things I'd recommend knowing before you go: - A 4WD vehicle is required for the summit road. We went in a friend's dual-motor Tesla, and it handled the drive very well. A more rugged vehicle would have probably handled the gravel/washboardy road sections a bit better but we made it 😁) Regenerative braking took most of the load on the way down. Rangers were checking brake temperatures at the bottom of the descent, and ours measured about 70°F, while they mentioned that some vehicles were coming down with brakes over 700°F. They were making some people wait and cool off their cars at the visitor center before continuing down the mountain. - It is definitely cold and windy at the summit, even in the summer. A warm jacket is a must, and a hat isn't a bad idea either. - The altitude is no joke. Even if you normally hike or exercise without difficulty, take it easy when you arrive. I recommend extra time at both the visitor center and the summit to acclimate before sunset. - There are portable restrooms at the summit, which was helpful since I wasn't sure from reading other reviews whether any facilities were available. - They do ask you to leave the summit shortly after sunset. We were able to stay long enough to see the telescopes housing open up and start moving a bit. However, on the drive back down, there are two small parking areas roughly a third of the way back to the visitor center. We stopped there for stargazing and had spectacular views of the night sky. I didn't check the exact elevation, but it was likely still around 12,000 feet, and the stars were absolutely amazing. Overall, this was one of the most memorable experiences we have ever had. If you have the right vehicle, dress warmly, respect the altitude, and take your time, I highly recommend making the trip to the summit.

Superbly unreal experience. Must have a 4x4 vehicle and at least a half tank of fuel. Plan for 30ish min to acclimate at the visitors center before being allowed to venture to the summit. Everyone is asked to leave the summit within 30 min of sunset. This is for safety reasons. Stargazing happens at the visitors center. Driving down the summit in 4low and 2nd gear is a must so you don't burn up yer brakes. I've been on worse inclines in the Colorado rockies, and if you have also, then this will be a piece of cake. If driving up to 14000ft peaks are a new thing for you, then you are in for a treat. No matter what, this is not like anything you will have experienced. Keep tabs on the weather forecast and plan accordingly so you don't have cloudy skies. Rain and fog are not conducive for stargazing, even at 9200 ft. All the employees we encountered were beyond kind, helpful, and friendly. There are frequent porta pottys so even the most temperamental bladder can be happy. If you get a chance, do this! Go to Mauna Kea summit where the very first black hole was photographed! It is an incredible place to visit. The photos do not do this justice. At all.