⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 Google Rating | Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice
OUR STORY • OUR GUIDES • OUR APPROACH
About Volcanoes Hiking Guides
At Volcanoes Hiking Guides, we help guests explore Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Mauna Loa on foot through small-group and private hikes.
Jennifer Bell founded the company for travelers who want to spend real time on the trail, ask questions and understand the landscape instead of rushing from one sightseeing stop to the next.
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Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice
Recognized traveler trust
125+ Happy Hikers
Guest experiences
20+ Years of Combined Guiding Experience
Professional experience
Authorized Commercial Hiking Operator
Commercial Use Authorization
Small Groups, Maximum 10 Guests
Trail-First Experiences
Expert Interpretive Guiding
Flexible Routes for Current Conditions
Volcanoes Hiking Guides at a Glance
Some guests join us for the shorter Keiki to Kūpuna experience, while others spend three, four and a half, five, or six hours exploring with a guide. The meeting point and route will depend on the experience you choose and the conditions that day.
Along the way, your guide will explain the geology, eruption history, native ecology and volcanic processes behind what you are seeing while sharing relevant cultural context.
Because the volcanic landscape is always changing, routes may be adjusted for weather, volcanic activity, air quality, park closures, trail conditions, or the group’s pace and ability.
Small-Group and Private Experiences
Choose a shared small-group hike or reserve a private experience for your party.
Multiple Hiking Options
Choose from shorter family-focused experiences, three-hour and four-and-a-half-hour park hikes, a six-hour volcano adventure, or a private Mauna Loa forest and bird hike.
Maximum 10 Guests on Group Hikes
Group hikes are limited to a maximum of 10 guests.
Second Guide for Larger Mixed Groups
When a group exceeds eight guests from unrelated parties, a second guide is added so guests continue receiving individual attention and manageable pacing.
Private Volcano Experiences
Standard private hikes accommodate up to eight guests. The Private Mauna Loa Ancient Forest & Bird Hike accommodates up to six.
Confirmed Meeting Information
Meeting locations vary by experience. Guests receive their confirmed meeting point, arrival instructions and preparation information after booking.
Interpretive Guiding
Guides connect geology, ecology, eruption history, volcanic landscapes and relevant cultural context.
Authorized Commercial Operator
Volcanoes Hiking Guides is an authorized commercial hiking operator in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
Transportation
Guests must arrange their own reliable round-trip transportation. Uber and other rideshare availability can be limited in and around the park, and public bus travel can take a long time. Do not rely on rideshare or the bus unless both arrival and return transportation have been confirmed in advance.
Meeting Areas by Experience
Meeting areas depend on the selected experience and current conditions.
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Public and Private Keiki to Kūpuna experiences commonly meet in the Kīlauea Military Camp area.
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Public and private 3-hour hikes commonly meet at the Kīlauea Welcome Center at Kīlauea Military Camp.
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Public and private 4.5-hour hikes commonly meet in the Kīlauea Iki Overlook area.
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Public and private 6-hour hikes commonly meet in the Kīlauea Visitor Center area.
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The Private Mauna Loa Ancient Forest & Bird Hike uses a confirmed Puʻu ʻŌʻō Trail or Saddle Road-area access point.
These are commonly used meeting areas, not guaranteed fixed meeting points. Guests receive the final location, map pin, arrival time and written directions after booking.
Why Jennifer Started Volcanoes Hiking Guides
01
A Lifelong Connection With the Outdoors
My journey in guiding began in 1998 on the Missouri River in Wolf Creek, Montana. My education in Recreation Management, professional guiding experience and years spent working outdoors helped shape the way I think about meaningful outdoor experiences.
In college, I planned rafting, winter camping, skiing, hiking and backpacking adventures. I also spent summers working as a tree planter and timber cruiser, which deepened my understanding of plants, forests and ecosystems.
Later, as Recreation Coordinator for the Town of West Yellowstone, I ran community activities and a summer camp. Exploring Yellowstone with children and helping them learn about plants, streams and wildlife showed me how powerful environmental education can be.
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From Yellowstone to Hawaiʻi
After moving to Hawaiʻi, I often explored Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park with my children, hiking and learning about its plants and geology together.
I later returned to Montana and guided snowmobile and hiking tours in Yellowstone, where I saw firsthand how direct experiences in nature could inspire people.
When I returned to Hawaiʻi in 2021, I wanted to continue creating those same moments of discovery for people exploring Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
Why I Started Volcanoes Hiking Guides
I started Volcanoes Hiking Guides in 2012 because I wanted to offer something different.
After interviewing with other outdoor guiding companies, I realized their approach didn’t fully align with my vision. I wanted guests to spend meaningful time immersed in the landscape rather than simply moving between sightseeing stops.
Meeting guests at the confirmed hike location gives them more freedom. Guided time can remain focused on exploring the volcanic landscape, while guests retain the flexibility to arrange the rest of their day independently.
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Why Hiking and Small Groups Matter
I chose hiking because I believe it is one of the best ways to experience the park. You are not simply looking at the environment from a distance. You are moving through it and becoming part of the experience.
Small groups give guests more space to connect with the natural world, ask questions and receive individual attention. They also make it easier to manage pacing and safety while reducing our impact on the environment.
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What I Hope Guests Take Home
I want people who hike with us to remember the experience for years.
I hope they leave feeling accomplished, inspired to explore more at home and motivated to care for the natural world. More than anything, I want them to develop a relationship with Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and understand that they are part of this beautiful place we call Earth.
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Growing With the Park and Our Guests
As Volcanoes Hiking Guides has grown, our tours have evolved in size and depth, while every guide has brought a different perspective and expertise to the company.
We began with a framework, but we continue developing a deeper understanding of our relationship with the park and our guests. What has remained constant is the desire to keep improving for both the environment and the people who explore it with us.
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Why Our Tours Begin on the Trail
Many Big Island sightseeing tours combine transportation, hotel pickups and multiple short stops.
Volcanoes Hiking Guides follows a hiking-first model.
For the primary Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park hikes, guests meet their guide at the confirmed meeting point and spend the guided experience exploring on foot rather than using part of the tour for hotel transportation.
That Gives Guests More Opportunity To:
Examine volcanic features at close range
Notice transitions between lava fields and native rainforest
Ask questions while features are directly in front of them
Hike at a pace appropriate for the group
Connect geology, weather, ecology and eruption history
Spend meaningful time outside on the trail
Shorter experiences provide an approachable introduction, while longer hikes allow more time for terrain, interpretation and deeper exploration.
Routes remain flexible because weather, volcanic conditions, park closures, trail access and group ability can change.
No tour guarantees a specific trail, attraction or active lava view.
What Our Guides Help You Understand
A volcanic landscape can be impressive without explanation. Interpretation helps guests understand why the landscape looks the way it does and how it continues to change.
Depending on the route, current conditions and the interests of the group, guides may discuss:
Volcanic Geology
How lava flows, vents, craters, cracks, collapses and hardened lava surfaces form and change.
Eruption History
How historic and recent eruptions have shaped Kīlauea, Kīlauea Iki and other volcanic landscapes.
Native Plants and Ecological Recovery
How ʻōhiʻa, hāpuʻu and other native plants establish themselves across lava flows of different ages and environmental conditions.
Craters, Lava Fields and Geothermal Features
What visible formations reveal about cooling lava, underground heat and continuing volcanic processes.
Native Forest and Birdlife
On the Mauna Loa experience, interpretation may include kīpuka, koa and ʻōhiʻa forest, older lava flows and native Hawaiian birdlife.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is also home to native Hawaiian honeycreepers and other birdlife that may become part of the interpretation when encountered.
Hawaiian History and Cultural Context
Where appropriate, guides provide respectful historical and cultural context connected with the landscapes guests are exploring.
Guide-Specific Knowledge
Jennifer brings a background in environmental education, recreation management, professional guiding, forests and ecology.
Yvonne brings years of volcanic observation, professional lava photography, volcanology study and national park experience.
Cameron brings knowledge of volcanic history, geology, Mauna Loa, plant identification and outdoor endurance.
The exact subjects covered depend on the selected route, current conditions, assigned guide and interests of the guests.
How We Plan Each Hike
Conditions in and around Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park can change quickly.
Conditions We Consider
The guiding team considers:
✓ Current weather
✓ Park alerts and trail closures
✓ Volcanic activity
✓ Air quality and volcanic gas
✓ Trail conditions
✓ Group size
✓ Guest fitness and pace
✓ Guide-to-guest ratio
✓ Equipment requirements
✓ Dietary information where food is included
Sources We Check
The guiding team follows USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory updates for information about current volcanic activity.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park alerts and official National Park Service information are checked for trail closures, access restrictions and other park conditions.
Weather, wind and air-quality information may also be reviewed using sources such as Windy, PurpleAir and available park air-quality information.
These sources help inform planning, but the guide makes the final route decision based on current access, safety, trail conditions and the needs of the group.
How the Final Route Is Chosen
Guests receive their confirmed meeting information and preparation instructions after booking. If conditions require changes, updated information can be provided before the hike.
The guide confirms the final route based on current conditions, trail access, safety and the needs of the group.
When a mixed group exceeds eight guests, a second guide is added.
What’s Provided and What to Know Before Your Hike
Equipment
★ Backpacks
★ Trekking poles
★ Rain jackets
★ First aid equipment
★ Garmin or cell-phone communication
Food
★ Light snacks depending on the experience
★ Gourmet trail lunch on the 6-hour group and private experiences
★ Breakfast is not included
Guests Should Know
★ Guests must bring their own water
★ Water is not provided
★ No specific route, attraction or active lava view is guaranteed
Why We Keep Groups Small
Group hikes are limited to a maximum of 10 guests. When more than eight guests from unrelated groups are participating, a second guide is added.
More Questions
More opportunities for guests to ask questions.
Better Communication
Clearer communication between guides and guests.
Better Terrain Monitoring
Easier monitoring of how everyone is handling the terrain.
Adaptable Pacing
A more comfortable pace based on the needs of the group.
More Interpretation
More time to understand the landscape while exploring.
Personal Attention Without the Rush
★ Less pressure to rush from one feature to another
★ Additional guide support when mixed groups become larger
★ Easier pacing and safety management
★ Private experiences for guests who want a dedicated guide
The goal is not to move the largest possible number of people through the landscape. The experience is designed around manageable groups, meaningful interpretation and time on the trail.
Find the Right Fit for Your Group
Compare our small-group and private hiking options to find the experience that best matches your preferred pace, available time and level of personal attention.
MEET YOUR GUIDES
The Guides Behind the Hikes
FOUNDER
Jennifer Bell
Founder & Lead Guide | Wilderness First Responder | Environmental Educator
Jennifer founded Volcanoes Hiking Guides to help visitors experience volcanic landscapes through hiking, education and personal connection with the natural world.
She holds a BA in Recreation Management from the University of Montana and has professional experience in outdoor education, forest and ecology work, Yellowstone National Park and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
Her guiding style focuses on making geology, ecology and eruption history understandable while adapting the experience to the group and current trail conditions.
Jennifer began working in the guiding industry in 1998 on the Missouri River in Wolf Creek, Montana, and began guiding in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park in 2021.
Credentials and Experience
Founder of Volcanoes Hiking Guides
BA in Recreation Management from the University of Montana
Former Yellowstone guide
Environmental educator
Extensive forest and ecology experience
Professional Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park guide
VOLCANO GUIDE & RESEARCHER
Yvonne
Guide | Lava Photographer | Volcanology Student | Former Park Ranger
Yvonne combines interpretive guiding with years of volcanic observation, professional photography and national park experience.
Her background includes three and a half years as a ranger at Zion National Park, a summer at Yellowstone National Park, ranger experience at Mount St. Helens and previous guiding with Epic Lava.
Her photography and field knowledge help guests recognize details in lava formations, craters, tephra deposits, native plants and changing volcanic terrain.
Yvonne guides in English and can provide German-language guiding by advance request when she is available.
Credentials and Experience
Professional lava photographer
Volcanology researcher and student
Published volcanic-feature researcher
Landscape photography featured in magazines
German-speaking guide
3.5 years as a park ranger at Zion National Park
Summer ranger experience at Yellowstone National Park
Ranger experience at Mount St. Helens
Tour guide for Epic Lava until the lava flow stopped in 2018
MOUNTAINEER & ENDURANCE ATHLETE
Cameron Wysocky
Part-Time Volcano Hiking Guide | Hiker | Mountaineer
Cameron guides for Volcanoes Hiking Guides during breaks from his university studies.
He is a graduate student in the Behavioral and Brain Sciences Program at the University of Georgia. His outdoor experience includes hiking, mountaineering, Ironman triathlons and climbing mountains above 14,000 feet.
On the trail, Cameron helps guests understand Hawaiʻi’s volcanic history, geology, Mauna Loa and plant life.
Credentials and Experience
Part-time volcano hiking guide
PhD student at the University of Georgia
Experienced hiker and mountaineer
Experience hiking 14,000-foot peaks
Ironman endurance athlete
Mauna Loa interpretation focus
Qualifications and Park Authorization
Volcanoes Hiking Guides is an authorized commercial hiking operator in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
National Park Service Authorization
Volcanoes Hiking Guides LLC holds a current National Park Service Commercial Use Authorization for guided frontcountry hiking in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
This authorization allows the company to provide commercial hiking experiences within the park while following applicable National Park Service requirements and operating conditions.
Jennifer Bell — Wilderness First Responder
Jennifer Bell holds a current Wilderness First Responder certification from Survival Med.
Her certification was issued on April 10, 2026 and is valid through April 10, 2028.
★ RESPONSIBLE HIKING
How We Care for the Places We Hike
Respect for Hawaiʻi’s volcanic and ecological landscapes is part of how the experiences are planned. Guides follow current closures, trail restrictions and park regulations and adjust routes when conditions require it.
On Every Hike
Guests are encouraged to:
✓ Remain on appropriate routes
✓ Respect closures and restricted areas
✓ Leave rocks, plants and cultural features undisturbed
✓ Give wildlife adequate space
✓ Carry waste out
✓ Arrive properly prepared
✓ Follow guide instructions
✓ Avoid expectations of guaranteed active lava or access to a specific feature
✓ Practice Leave No Trace
01
Growing With the Park and Our Guests
Guides collect litter when they encounter it on the trail.
Reusable food containers, silverware and rain gear are used where appropriate, helping reduce reliance on disposable items.
Sandwiches used for applicable tour meals are sourced from a local provider in Volcano, Hawaiʻi.
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Protecting Native Ecosystems
Guides clean their own shoes and guests’ shoes before entering the park as part of efforts to reduce the movement of invasive seeds and plant diseases.
The team has participated in Stewardship at the Summit, including volunteer ginger removal inside the park.
03
Supporting the Local Community and Conservation
Volcanoes Hiking Guides donates 10% of total revenue toward environmental causes.
Jennifer has supported the Hawaiʻi Food Bank and has previously donated to Leave No Trace and Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
GUEST PROOF
What Guests Say About Hiking With Us
Guests frequently mention the guides' knowledge, preparation, personal attention and ability to adapt the pace of the hike.
5-star reviews from travelers across the United States, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, Japan, Italy and around the World.
Tripadvisor
Travelers’ Choice
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Guest reviews
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