How bad is the road to Mauna Kea?

The road to the summit, with asphalt and gravel sections, is called Mauna Kea Access Road. It’s a 14,7-mile narrow road built in 1964. It can be dangerous, particularly in bad weather. This is one of the toughest drives in the world.

How steep is the road to Mauna Kea?

15%

Is it safe to drive to Mauna Kea summit?

Maunakea is one of the only places in the world where you can drive from sea level to 14,000 feet in about 2 hours, so altitude sickness is a high possibility. At 14,000 feet, there is 40% less aire pressure than at sea level, so visitors should acclimatize to the altitude before proceeding further up the mountain.

How long is the Mauna Kea drive?

43 mile

Is the road to Mauna Kea summit open?

The road is re-opened as soon as the weather and the roads are safe again. The latest road and weather information, as well as road closure criteria, are available at the Maunakea Weather Center website; http://mkwc.ifa.hawaii.edu/current/road-conditions/.

How high can you drive up Mauna Kea?

14,000 feet

Is it safe to drive to Mauna Kea Visitor Center?

Off-road driving is prohibited. Maunakea is a sensitive environment, so please treat it as such. Do not litter. Note: The observatories are private research facilities and not open to the public.

How long does it take to get up Mauna Kea?

The hike can take around 8 hours or longer, depending on your fitness level. Make sure you have enough time to reach and leave the summit before it gets too dark. You should read the instructions on hiking to the peak of Mauna Kea carefully to stay safe.

How long is the drive from Mauna Kea Visitor Center to summit?

A 43 mile scenic drive takes you from sea level in Hilo (or Kona or Waimea) up to the summit of Mauna Kea at 13,796 to the astronomical observatories at the top! The drive takes you through just about every ecosystem on the island.

Can you visit Maunakea right now?

While the summit is open to the public, the summit telescope facilities are CLOSED to visitors. Visitors will frequently ascend the summit during the day or to watch the sunset, then return to the Maunakea Visitor Information Station to view the stars.

What is the altitude at the top of Mauna Kea?

Combined with its elevation of 4,205 meters (13,796 feet, 2.6 miles), the summit of Mauna Kea is the ideal location for the international astronomical observatory and the 13 international telescopes located there.Apr 8, 2013

Can you visit the observatory in Hawaii?

Keck Observatory Guidestar Program, residents and visitors of the Island of Hawai’i are encouraged to visit the Observatory’s headquarters in Waimea. Visitors can view models and images of the twin 10-meter Keck Observatory telescopes as well as hear about our latest discoveries and outreach programs.

How hard is it to climb Mauna Kea?

The Mauna Kea Summit trail is a 11.5 mile round trip that ascends 4,500 feet beginning at the Onizuka Visitor Center. This is a very challenging hike and you must take the altitude, weather, and mountain conditions into account before setting out.

Can you drive up Mauna Kea yourself?

Q: Can you drive up to the MaunaKea summit? Yes, but not with any car and only during daylight hours. On the road from the visitor center to the summit only 4WD vehicles are allowed, and the summit is off-limits from half and hour after sunset.

How long does it take to drive to Mauna Kea Visitor Center?

To reach Mauna Kea, take Saddle Road to Mauna Kea access road. It’s an approximately 1.5 hour (64 mile) drive from Kailua-Kona to the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station located at 9,200 ft.

Is Mauna Kea the tallest volcano in the world?

Mauna Kea, one of six volcanoes that have formed the island of Hawaii, is the tallest mountain on Earth at 9,966 meters (32,696 feet, 6.2 miles).Apr 8, 2013

Is Maunakea open now?

The Onizuka Center for International Astronomy Visitor Information Station (VIS) on Maunakea is open every day of the year from 9am to 6pm at the 9,200 foot (2,800 meter) level. They provide health, safety, and other information about Maunakea. Visit their website for more information about upcoming events.