The National Parks of the United States are designed to be visited. They preserve and protect stunning landscapes so current and future generations alike can visit, enjoy, and learn from their nature and history. The ~318ย million visitorsย that stop by these sites every year are an integral part of the National Park Service‘s history and purpose. The public can visit all 63 National Parks across the country, but some include areas completely off-limits to the public. The Kฤซpahulu Biological Reserve of Haleakalฤ National Park is one of those places, and National Park Diaries recently explained why.
Kฤซpahulu Biological Reserve
Humans had barely explored upper portion of the Kฤซpahulu Valleyย until 1967, when The Nature Conservancy sent a group to the remote valley to gather basic information about the wildlife and plant life in the valley as well as to make recommendations about the valleyสปs long-term conservation.ย Following the expedition and with the help of donations from hundreds of individuals, The Nature Conservancy purchased nearly 10,000 acres in the upper Kฤซpahulu Valley before transferring it to Haleakalฤ National Park.
Today the Kฤซpahulu Biological Reserve is completely off-limits to anyone except authorized scientists and managers. The area is absent of trails and roads, and there are no plans to build any. It protects many species of native Hawaiian plants and animals, many of which have disappeared or are disappearing elsewhere.
Kฤซpahulu District of Haleakalฤ National Park
Haleakalฤ National Park has two major districts. The Summit District is the most popular and the most accessible, allowing hikers and adventurers to explore the volcanic landscape of Haleakalฤ Volcano.
The Kฤซpahulu District, on the other hand, is significantly more difficult to access. One can reach the area by driving the Hฤna Highway 12 miles past the town of Hฤna along the northeast coastย of Maui. It’s full of waterfalls, stunning ocean vistas, and tropic rainforest. The Kฤซpahulu Biological Reserve is located inside the Kฤซpahulu District.
