Saddle Road (Hwy 200) is the shortest route between Hilo and the west coast areas of Waimea, Kohala and Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. It is the only route to the Pohakuloa Military Training base and to the Mauna Kea Telescopes and Visitor's Center.
The road has been dramatically improved over the past years with a new road by the Pohakuloa Military Training base and new Daniel Inouye Highway extension on the West side.
Below are some photos of the scenery on Saddle Road. A side trip is shown to the Mauna Kea Visitor's center, which is 6 miles above Saddle Road mid-way between Hilo and Kona at Mile Marker 28.
View of clouds and Volcanoes.
Video of the roadside.
Saddle road up by the Military Base is four lanes and easy to drive. Watch for animals leaping in front of your vehicle.
Road from Mauna Kea Telescope Visitor's center to Saddle Road
The road to the Mauna Kea Telescope Visitors center is at the 28 mile marker on Saddle Road where a Mauna Kea Access Road sign is posted. The Onizuka Center for International Astronomy Center is 6 miles up a steep road at the 9,200-foot (2800 m) level . There is a lone emergency telephone on Saddle road at the turnoff because cell phone service is spotty on Saddle road. The photos below start at the Visitors Center and show the drive down to Saddle road.
The building in the distance is housing for visiting scientists and telescope workers to allow them to remain at a high altitude instead of having to reacclimate from sea level each day. If you are interested in visiting the summit, check out a Telescope tour.
The visitors center building from the parking lot.
Bathroom in Visitors Center - uses filtered lights
The road up to the Telescopes was barricaded due to ice and snow on Mauna Kea
There is a campground near the Visitors Center
Below are photos of the road from Visitors Center down to Saddle Road driven in the lowest gear going about 20mph (17% grade).
At the intersection of Saddle road and Mauna Kea Access Road is an emergency call box.
Saddle road from Mauna Kea Access Road to Hilo has been repaved and widened. There is only one remaining portion of the road above Hilo that is narrow and windy above Kaumana Road.
