View· Hawaii (Big Island)· Hawaii
Mauna Kea Summit
19° 49.2′ N · 155° 28.1′ W
The 13,803-foot summit of Mauna Kea - tallest mountain on Earth from its sea-floor base - above 40 percent of the atmosphere, crowned with the world's great observatories and sometimes snow.
Practical
Summit open from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset (Maunakea visitor site); the road beyond the visitor station is steep, twisting gravel and 4WD only - check road conditions first. No muddy vehicles allowed. Acclimatize at least 30 minutes, preferably 3 to 4 hours, at the visitor station. Sailors: do not go to altitude soon after scuba diving - follow your dive-computer and dive-agency no-fly guidance. Hurricane Lala's gusts reached 140 mph on the summit in August 2026.
Best for
Sunset above the clouds
Nearby
- Maunakea Visitor Information Station (Onizuka Center)3.7 NM away
- Kalopa State Recreation Area13.2 NM away
- Hamakua Music Festival (October)15.6 NM away
- Laupahoehoe Point16.4 NM away
- Laupahoehoe Boat Ramp16.5 NM away
- Laupahoehoe Train Museum16.5 NM away
- Hamakua Coast Exposure17.6 NM away
- Akaka Falls State Park17.8 NM away