Updated: 26 minutes ago
If you only have time for three volcano national park hikes, make them Kīlauea Iki, Mauna Ulu and Puʻu Huluhulu, and the Kaʻū Desert walk to the Footprints. Kīlauea Iki crosses a crater floor that was liquid rock in 1959. Mauna Ulu climbs a cinder cone above five years of fresh lava. The Kaʻū Desert takes you to footprints left in volcanic ash more than 200 years ago.
Those three are just the start. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has more than 150 miles of trails across two active volcanoes, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. In one day you can walk through a rainforest trail, cross a lava field and look down into a steaming crater.
I’m Jennifer Bell, founder and lead guide of Volcanoes Hiking Guides. Our guides hike these trails every week under the park’s Commercial Use Authorization, and I’m a certified Wilderness First Responder.
Here’s what most hiking lists miss. Trails here close and reopen fast. In 2026 alone, storms closed bridges and roads, and summit earthquakes shut trails for weeks. So every hike below has a status line, along with the stats you need to choose.
Best Volcano National Park Hikes at a Glance
Here are all 20 hikes, compared by distance, time, climb and difficulty. Start with the summit trails if it’s your first visit. Save the backcountry for when you have a permit and a few days.
Trail | Area | Distance | Time | Elevation | Difficulty | Wheelchair or stroller |
Kīlauea Iki | Kīlauea summit | 3.3 mi loop | 2 to 3 hrs | 400 ft down and back up | Moderate | No |
Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube) | Kīlauea summit | 0.4 mi, or 1.5 mi round trip from Kīlauea Iki Overlook | 30 to 60 min | About 50 ft, with stairs | Easy | No, stairs |
Rim walk: Steaming Bluff to Kīlauea Overlook | Kīlauea summit | Up to about 4 mi round trip, or short sections | 1 to 1.5 hrs | Minimal | Easy | Partly, short paved and gravel paths |
Kūpinaʻi Pali (Waldron Ledge) | Kīlauea summit | About 1 mi round trip | 45 to 60 min | About 30 ft | Easy | Yes, paved |
Haʻakulamanu (Sulphur Banks) | Kīlauea summit | 1.2 mi round trip | 30 to 60 min | About 100 ft | Easy | Mostly, boardwalk |
Devastation Trail and Puʻu Puaʻi | Kīlauea summit | 1 mi round trip | About 1 hr | Gentle, with a few steep grades | Easy | Yes, with help |
Uēaloha (Byron Ledge) | Kīlauea summit | 2.2 mi round trip from Devastation | 1 to 1.5 hrs | About 200 ft | Moderate | No |
Halemaʻumaʻu Trail | Kīlauea summit | 1.6 mi round trip to the caldera floor | About 1 hr | 425 ft down and back up | Moderate | No |
Keanakākoʻi via old Crater Rim Drive | Kīlauea summit | 2 mi round trip | 1 to 1.5 hrs | About 130 ft | Easy | Partly, old cracked road |
Mauna Ulu and Puʻu Huluhulu | Chain of Craters Road | 2.5 mi round trip | 2 to 3 hrs | 210 ft climb | Moderate | No |
Puʻuloa Petroglyphs | Chain of Craters Road | 1.4 mi round trip | 1 to 1.5 hrs | Minimal | Moderate, uneven lava | No |
Kīpukapuaulu (Bird Park) | Mauna Loa Road | 1.2 mi loop | 1 to 1.5 hrs | About 175 ft | Easy | No |
Kaʻū Desert to the Footprints and Maunaiki | Kaʻū Desert, Highway 11 | 1.6 mi round trip to the shelter, 3.6 mi to Maunaiki | 1 to 2 hrs | Minimal | Easy to moderate | No |
Puʻu o Lokuana | Kahuku Unit | 0.4 mi loop | About 30 min | 130 ft | Short but steep | No |
Pit Crater Trail | Kahuku Unit | 4.8 mi round trip | 3 to 6 hrs | 1,165 ft | Strenuous | No |
Palm Trail and Kamakapaʻa | Kahuku Unit | 2.6 mi loop, plus 0.5 mi loop | 1 to 2 hrs | 310 ft | Easy to moderate | No |
Mauna Loa summit | Mauna Loa | 6.4 mi one way (Observatory route) or about 10 mi to the summit cabin (ʻĀinapō) | 1 long day to 4 days | Up to 13,681 ft | Strenuous | No |
Nāpau Trail | Chain of Craters Road | 6.2 mi one way to Nāpau Crater | Long day or overnight | About 200 ft | Strenuous, rough lava | No |
Halapē and the Puna coast | Coast | 8.5 to 11.3 mi one way | 2 to 3 days | Big drop to the sea | Strenuous | No |
Hilina Pali | Kaʻū Desert to the coast | 8 mi one way to Halapē | Overnight | About 2,000 ft down the pali | Strenuous | No |
Our top pick in each category
Best overall: Kīlauea Iki. Guests on our hikes remember walking across the old lava lake more than anything else.
Easiest walk: Kūpinaʻi Pali, a flat, paved path to one of the widest caldera views.
Best for kids: Nāhuku, a short walk through a lit lava tube.
Best geology hike: Mauna Ulu and Puʻu Huluhulu, where 1970s lava meets old forest.
Best for culture: Puʻuloa, with more than 23,000 petroglyphs.
Best for quiet: The Kaʻū Desert and the Kahuku Unit, where you’ll see far fewer people.
Hardest day hike: Kahuku’s Pit Crater Trail, with 1,165 feet of climbing.
Best overnight: Halapē, a remote beach you can only reach on foot.
How to read these distances?
Most mix-ups start with where a hike is measured from. We use park distances, but each trail has more than one starting point.
Round trip vs. one way: Backcountry trails are listed one way. Day hikes are listed round trip, unless the table says otherwise.
Trailhead vs. overflow lot: Parking farther away adds distance. Nāhuku is 0.4 miles from its own lot but 1.5 miles round trip from Kīlauea Iki Overlook.
Linked trails: Many summit trails connect, so it’s easy to add a mile without noticing. Check the junction signs and the park map before you set off.
Statuses change with storms, earthquakes and eruptions. Check the park’s alerts the morning you hike. Our volcano hiking safety guide explains what each closure means for your plans.
Best Hikes in Volcano National Park at the Kīlauea Summit (Hiking Kīlauea)
Nine of the best hikes in volcano national park start at the Kīlauea summit, within a few miles of the entrance. This is where the roads, parking lots and caldera views meet. You can walk a different side of an active volcano every hour.
Most summit trails circle Kaluapele, the Kīlauea caldera. Halemaʻumaʻu crater sits inside it. Hiking Kīlauea here means short, well-marked trails, most under 3 miles, with steam vents, craters and rainforest all within reach.
Wet side, dry side
The summit sits around 4,000 feet on a weather line. East of the caldera, trails run through wet rainforest of ʻōhiʻa trees and hāpuʻu tree ferns. West and south, the land turns dry and open as it drops toward the Kaʻū Desert.
So pack for both. A trail can start in misty forest and end on sunny, shadeless lava.
Crater Rim Drive West and East
Crater Rim Drive no longer loops the caldera. From the entrance, it splits two ways, and each side has its own set of summit hikes.
Side | Hikes on this side | Parking |
Crater Rim Drive West | Rim walk to Kīlauea Overlook and Uēkahuna, Steaming Bluff, Sulphur Banks, Kūpinaʻi Pali, Halemaʻumaʻu Trail | Usually more space |
Crater Rim Drive East | Kīlauea Iki, Nāhuku, Devastation Trail, Byron Ledge, Keanakākoʻi | Lots fill early |
Our tip is to hike one side before you cross to the other. Start at the Welcome Center at Kīlauea Military Camp, 1.2 miles past the entrance, for today’s trail status while the Kīlauea Visitor Center is renovated.
1. Kīlauea Iki: Walk Across a 1959 Lava Lake
Where: Kīlauea Iki Overlook, Crater Rim Drive East
Distance: 3.3 mi loop
Time: 2 to 3 hours
Elevation: 400 ft down to the crater floor and 400 ft back up
Effort: Moderate to challenging
Shade: Rainforest on the rim, none on the crater floor
Good for: Active hikers and kids who like to hike
Status: Open
This is the crater hike Hawaiʻi is known for, and the one our guests remember most. The trail drops through rainforest onto a crater floor that was a lake of molten lava in 1959. Rock cairns called ahu guide you across the hardened crust, past steaming cracks, to the base of Puʻu Puaʻi, the cinder cone that eruption built.
We hike it counterclockwise, turning right from the overlook, so the steepest climb comes at the end. Start at sunrise if you can. The crater floor has no shade, and early light keeps it cool. Nāhuku is right across the road, so many hikers add it for a loop of about 4 miles.
The overlook lot is small and often full by mid-morning. If it is, start from the Devastation Trailhead instead, which makes a 6-mile round trip via Byron Ledge (4 to 5 hours). You can also start near the Welcome Center and follow the Crater Rim Trail, a 5.3-mile round trip (3 to 4 hours).
For the trailhead, map, switchbacks and safety tips, read our full Kīlauea Iki Trail guide,
Hike it with a guide. Our 4.5-Hour Kīlauea Iki Hike runs daily at 8 or 10 am and includes Byron Ledge and Nāhuku. Want your own group and pace? Book a Private Kīlauea Iki Hike with a start time from 8 to 10 am.
2. Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube)
Where: Across the road from Kīlauea Iki Overlook, Crater Rim Drive East
Distance: 0.4 mi from the Nāhuku lot, or 1.5 mi round trip from Kīlauea Iki Overlook
Time: 30 to 60 minutes
Elevation: About 50 ft, with stairs
Effort: Easy
Shade: Full
Good for: Families and rainy days
Status: Open, with a new entrance bridge since August 2026
Nāhuku is a short rainforest walk into a lava tube about 500 years old. A river of lava once flowed through it, then drained away and left a tunnel big enough to walk through. On the way in, listen for ʻapapane and ʻamakihi in the canopy.
The lights inside are on from 8 am to 8 pm. The tube stays open after dark, so bring a real flashlight if you come late. When Lorrin Thurston publicized the tube in 1913, its ceiling was covered in lava drips. Souvenir hunters broke every one of them off, so please don’t touch the walls or the tree roots hanging from the ceiling.
The Nāhuku lot has only 14 spaces. Come before 9 am or after 5 pm, or park at Kīlauea Iki Overlook and walk over.
Nāhuku is included on our 4.5-Hour Kīlauea Iki Hike and our 6-Hour Volcano Adventure.
3. Rim Walk: Steaming Bluff to Kīlauea Overlook and Uēkahuna
Where: Crater Rim Drive West
Distance: Up to about 4 mi round trip from the Kīlauea Visitor Center area, or short sections between parking areas
Time: 1 to 1.5 hours for the full walk
Elevation: Minimal
Effort: Easy
Shade: Partial, with forest between the overlooks
Good for: First-time visitors and anyone who wants big views without a hard hike
Status: Open
This easy walk follows the western section of the Crater Rim Trail along the edge of the caldera. It links three viewpoints, so you can walk all of it or just one piece.
Wahinekapu (Steaming Bluff): Steam pours off the caldera wall just 0.1 mile from the Kūkamāhuākea (Steam Vents) lot. It’s thickest on cool, damp mornings.
Kapalikapuokamohoaliʻi (Kīlauea Overlook): This cliff is sacred to Kamohoaliʻi, Pele’s elder brother, and it has a wide view of Halemaʻumaʻu.
Uēkahuna: The Jaggar Museum stood on this bluff until 2024. It’s 0.4 mile along the rim from Kīlauea Overlook, and on clear days you can see Mauna Loa from here.
Short on time? Park at the lot nearest the viewpoint you want and walk just that stretch.
See this side of the caldera with a guide. Our 3-Hour Nature and Steam Vent Hike runs daily at 8 am, 12 pm and 3 pm. It covers 3 to 4 miles with about 150 feet of climbing.
4. Kūpinaʻi Pali (Waldron Ledge) on the Earthquake Trail
Where: Across from the Kīlauea Visitor Center, to the left of Volcano House
Distance: About 1 mi round trip
Time: 45 to 60 minutes
Elevation: About 30 ft
Effort: Easy
Shade: Little
Good for: Strollers, wheelchairs, seniors and families
Status: Open
This is the easiest hike at the summit, a flat, paved walk to one of the widest views of Kaluapele and Halemaʻumaʻu. A strong earthquake in 1983 broke this part of Crater Rim Drive, so the park turned it into a trail. You’ll still see painted road lines on the cracked, tilted pavement.
It sits farther from the vent than other overlooks, so it’s often quieter during an eruption. With a stroller, skip the first small overlook, because its path is steep.
Walk it with your kids. Our Keiki to Kūpuna family walk runs Friday to Sunday at 9 and 11 am. It’s 1.5 hours on the Crater Rim Trail with a scavenger hunt, and strollers and wheelchairs are welcome.
5. Haʻakulamanu (Sulphur Banks)
Where: Kūkamāhuākea (Steam Vents) lot, Crater Rim Drive West
Distance: 1.2 mi round trip
Time: 30 to 60 minutes
Elevation: About 100 ft
Effort: Easy, mostly boardwalk
Shade: Partial
Good for: Curious walkers without heart or breathing problems
Status: The bridge has been closed since the September 2026 storms. You can still reach the boardwalk from the Steam Vents side.
Haʻakulamanu means “gathering place for birds,” but most people come for the color. Volcanic gas seeps through the ground here and crusts the rocks bright yellow and red. The rotten-egg smell is hydrogen sulfide. A boardwalk with railings keeps you on solid ground.
The gas here also includes sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide. Skip this trail if you have heart or breathing problems such as asthma, if you’re pregnant, or if you have infants or young children with you.
Steaming Bluff is just across the road, so the two make an easy pair. Our easy rim day below links them with Kūpinaʻi Pali.
6. Devastation Trail and Puʻu Puaʻi Overlook
Where: Devastation Trailhead or Puʻu Puaʻi Overlook, Crater Rim Drive East
Distance: 1 mi round trip
Time: About 1 hour
Elevation: Gentle, with a few short grades steeper than 8%
Effort: Easy
Shade: Very little
Good for: Families, strollers, wheelchair users with a helper, and anyone short on time
Status: Open
The Devastation Trail is a paved, one-mile walk through a forest that was buried by falling cinder in 1959. Lava fountains from the Kīlauea Iki eruption showered this area for weeks. They also built Puʻu Puaʻi, which means “gushing hill,” the cinder cone that towers over the trail.
What you see today is a forest coming back to life. On one side of the path, the ground is still bare black cinder. On the other, ʻōhiʻa trees and ferns are slowly moving back in. Look closely at some of the surviving trees and you’ll spot aerial roots, which they grew to survive after the cinder buried their trunks. Keep an eye out for Pele’s tears and Pele’s hair, tiny drops and strands of volcanic glass, mixed into the cinder.
From the Puʻu Puaʻi Overlook, you can look straight down into Kīlauea Iki crater. On a clear day, Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea both show up on the skyline.
Please stay on the pavement and don’t climb the cinder cone, because footsteps wear it down quickly. Drive slowly in the parking lot too. Nēnē, Hawaiʻi’s threatened state bird, often walk there.
7. Uēaloha (Byron Ledge)
Where: Devastation Trailhead, or from Volcano House by way of the Halemaʻumaʻu Trail
Distance: 1.1 mi one way from the Devastation Trailhead, or 2.2 mi round trip
Time: 1 to 1.5 hours round trip
Elevation: About 200 ft
Effort: Moderate
Shade: Partial, with rainforest on the descent
Good for: Hikers who want a longer loop and views of two craters at once
Status: Part of Byron Ledge closed after the October 2026 summit earthquakes, so check park alerts before you go
Byron Ledge is the ridge trail that connects the summit hikes. It runs along the narrow strip of land between Kīlauea Iki and the main caldera, so you get views into both craters from one trail. Puʻu Puaʻi stays in sight for most of the walk.
The trail starts in the open cinder near Devastation, then drops into rainforest along the caldera edge. Near the rim the ground falls away sharply, so stay on the marked path. Close to the Kīlauea Iki junction you’ll reach a pig-fence gate. Please close it behind you, because it keeps feral pigs out of the native forest.
Byron Ledge is how you turn a short walk into a big day. From the junction, you can drop into the Kīlauea Iki loop, then cross the road to Nāhuku. You can also link it with the Halemaʻumaʻu Trail and walk back to Volcano House.
Want the full summit loop without planning it yourself? Our 6-Hour Volcano Adventure links Waldron Ledge, Byron Ledge, the Kīlauea Iki crater floor and Nāhuku in about 7.7 miles.
8. Halemaʻumaʻu Trail and the ʻIliahi (Sandalwood) Connector
Where: Behind Volcano House, off the Crater Rim Trail
Distance: 0.8 mi one way to the caldera floor viewpoint (1.6 mi round trip), or 1.3 mi one way to the top of Byron Ledge
Time: About 1 hour round trip to the caldera floor
Elevation: 425 ft down and back up
Effort: Moderate
Shade: Mostly shaded until the caldera floor
Good for: Birders and hikers who want to walk below the rim
Status: Just reopened after the October 2026 closures
The Halemaʻumaʻu Trail takes you down through rainforest to the floor of Kaluapele, the Kīlauea caldera. It’s one of the park’s oldest trails. Visitors have walked a version of it since the 1840s. The descent follows steep, stair-like switchbacks under hāpuʻu tree ferns and ʻōhiʻa, and the forest here has grown back many times after eruptions.
Go early in the morning if you love birds. This is one of the best places at the summit to hear ʻapapane and ʻamakihi feeding in the canopy.
Please treat this trail with extra care. Halemaʻumaʻu is the home of Pele and a deeply sacred place. Walk quietly, and leave every rock where you find it. The trail stops at a viewpoint on the caldera floor. It doesn’t reach the crater itself, so stay within the signed areas.
Watch for gas: The plume from Halemaʻumaʻu can drift over this trail. If you see or smell volcanic gas, don’t go all the way down to the caldera floor. Turn around and head back up.
The ʻIliahi connector: The ʻIliahi (Sandalwood) Trail is a half-mile rainforest path named for the sandalwood trees along it. It links this area toward the Steam Vents side. It has been listed as closed, so check park alerts before planning a loop with it.
9. Keanakākoʻi Crater via Old Crater Rim Drive
Where: Devastation Trailhead parking lot, Crater Rim Drive East
Distance: About 1 mi one way, or 2 mi round trip
Time: 1 to 1.5 hours
Elevation: About 130 ft
Effort: Easy, on an old paved road
Shade: None
Good for: Eruption viewing, bikes and easy walkers
Status: Reopened
This easy walk follows a closed section of old Crater Rim Drive to the edge of Keanakākoʻi Crater, with wide views toward Halemaʻumaʻu. Cars can’t drive here anymore, so you’ll share the road only with other walkers and cyclists.
Keanakākoʻi means “cave of the adzes.” The crater is 115 feet deep and likely formed during big summit collapses in the 1400s. For centuries, Hawaiian master carvers quarried its hard basalt to make adze heads, until lava covered the quarry in 1877. It was covered again in 1974.
This is the spot where many of the best-known lava videos are filmed. When Kīlauea is erupting, it gets very busy, so come early.
How to get there: Park at the Devastation Trailhead lot. Then walk the old road that starts beside the restrooms. If the lot is full, the Puʻu Puaʻi Overlook lot adds about half a mile each way.
There’s no shade on the road, so bring water, a hat and sun protection. Watch for nēnē walking on the pavement. Volcanic gas can reach this side of the caldera too, so turn back if the air starts to burn your throat or smell like sulfur.
Hikes Along Chain of Craters Road
Chain of Craters Road runs about 18.8 miles from the summit down to the sea, and two of the park’s best hikes start along it. On the way down you pass pit craters, lava flows from the last 60 years and, finally, the open coastal plain.
Fill your tank and your water bottles before you leave the summit. There’s no food, water or fuel anywhere on this road. The only toilets are vault toilets at the Mauna Ulu trailhead and at the end of the road.
Two pullouts are worth a stop even if you aren’t hiking. Pauahi and Puhimau are pit craters that formed when the ground collapsed into empty space left by draining magma. Both have overlooks just a few steps from your car.
For every stop, the drive time and current road status, read our Chain of Craters Road guide.
10. Mauna Ulu and Puʻu Huluhulu
Where: Mauna Ulu parking area, about 3.5 mi down Chain of Craters Road
Distance: 2.5 mi round trip
Time: 2 to 3 hours
Elevation: 210 ft climb up Puʻu Huluhulu
Effort: Moderate, with one steep quarter-mile climb at the end
Shade: Very little until the forested cone
Good for: Geology lovers and hikers who want big views without a long day
Status: Open
This is the hike I’d point you to if you want to understand how a volcano builds new land. Between 1969 and 1974, Mauna Ulu, the “growing mountain,” erupted for five years straight. Its lava fountains rose about 1,770 feet, taller than the Empire State Building. This trail walks you right across what it left behind.
The route is marked by ahu and reflectors, so follow them closely across the lava. In the first stretch you’ll pass tree molds. These are hollow stone shells that formed when lava flowed around living trees and hardened before the trees burned away.
The trail ends with a short, steep climb up Puʻu Huluhulu, an older cinder cone that the lava flowed around and spared. That’s why its slopes are still covered in ʻōhiʻa forest. Walking from bare, glassy 1970s lava into green forest within a few minutes is what makes this such a good geology hike.
At the top, you look down into the steaming shield of Mauna Ulu. On a clear day, you can see Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea and the Pacific all at once.
Please stay on the marked route. Never move or add to the ahu, because hikers depend on them to find their way. Past Puʻu Huluhulu, the Nāpau Trail continues into the backcountry (see hike 18).
Want the full eruption story before you go? Read how five years of lava built Mauna Ulu.
11. Puʻuloa Petroglyphs
Where: Puʻuloa parking area, about 16 mi down Chain of Craters Road
Distance: 1.4 mi round trip
Time: 1 to 1.5 hours
Elevation: Minimal
Effort: Moderate, because the lava is uneven and sharp
Shade: None
Good for: History and culture lovers
Status: Open
Puʻuloa, the “hill of long life,” holds about 23,000 petroglyphs, the largest group of rock carvings in Hawaiʻi. The trail crosses a lava field that’s 500 to 550 years old, then ends at a boardwalk built over the carvings.
Most of the carvings are poho, small cup-shaped holes in the rock. Many families placed a newborn’s piko, the umbilical cord, in one of these holes and prayed for the child to live a long and healthy life. You’ll also see kiʻi pōhaku, carved images of people, circles and canoe sails. This is still a sacred place, so treat it as one.
Stay on the boardwalk. Stepping on the lava can break carvings you can’t even see. Don’t touch, trace or rub the petroglyphs, and don’t stack rocks.
The lower slopes of Chain of Craters Road get hot, sunny and windy, and there’s no shade on this trail. Go early in the morning or late in the afternoon. The heat is easier then, and the low light makes the carvings easier to see. Bring water, a hat and sun protection, and watch your footing for cracks in the lava.
Hikes Beyond the Main Roads: Mauna Loa Road, Kaʻū Desert and Kahuku
Most visitors never leave Crater Rim Drive and Chain of Craters Road, so these trails are where you’ll find quiet. Each one shows a side of the park the summit can’t. There’s an old forest saved from lava on Mauna Loa Road, a dry desert holding footprints from 1790, and a former cattle ranch on Mauna Loa’s southern slopes.
Storm damage in 2026 hit this part of the park the hardest, so the status lines below matter more than usual. Mauna Loa Road is closed indefinitely past the Kīpukapuaulu gate. The Kahuku Unit is open, but parts of its upper road are not.
12. Kīpukapuaulu (Bird Park)
Where: Kīpukapuaulu parking area, Mauna Loa Road, off Highway 11 just west of the main entrance
Distance: 1.2 mi loop
Time: 1 to 1.5 hours
Elevation: About 175 ft of gentle ups and downs
Effort: Easy, on a dirt path
Shade: Full forest shade
Good for: Birders, families and anyone who wants a quiet forest walk
Status: Closed indefinitely for hazardous trees and hanging limbs after the 2026 storms. The park is working on a plan to reopen it.
Kīpukapuaulu is a kīpuka, an island of old forest that lava from Mauna Loa flowed around and left alone. Cut off for centuries, it kept a forest unlike anything else in the park, with more native tree species per acre than any other forest here. Big koa and ʻōhiʻa trees shade the trail. Locals call it Bird Park for good reason.
Workers from the Civilian Conservation Corps built this loop in 1934, and it’s been a favorite walk for birders ever since. Early mornings are best for hearing ʻapapane, Hawaiʻi ʻamakihi, ʻōmaʻo and ʻelepaio. The ʻelepaio is the bold little flycatcher that often follows hikers out of curiosity. You’ll probably also see kalij pheasants, which were brought in from Asia and now compete with native birds.
About halfway around the loop, a short side path leads to a lava tube opening. It’s at least 8,600 years old and home to cave-adapted spiders and crickets, so look from the edge but don’t go inside. Interpretive signs along the trail name the plants as you pass.
Dogs, horses and bikes aren’t allowed on the trail. There are pit toilets at the picnic area nearby.
With Bird Park closed, our Mauna Loa Ancient Forest and Bird Hike is the best way to see the same kind of native forest right now.
This private hike follows the Puʻu ʻŌʻō Trail at about 6,500 feet, outside the national park. It winds through old koa and ʻōhiʻa forest, where ʻiʻiwi and ʻapapane feed. Plan on about 5 hours and 7 to 8 miles, with an early start for the best birding.
13. Kaʻū Desert Trail to the Footprints and Maunaiki
Where: Kaʻū Desert Trailhead on Highway 11, southwest of the main entrance
Distance: 1.6 mi round trip to the Footprints shelter, or 3.6 mi round trip to Maunaiki
Time: About 1 hour to the shelter, or about 2 hours to Maunaiki
Elevation: Minimal
Effort: Easy to the shelter, moderate beyond it on rough lava
Shade: None
Good for: History lovers and anyone after solitude
Status: Open
This short desert walk leads to footprints pressed into volcanic ash more than 200 years ago. In 1790, an explosive eruption at Kīlauea’s summit sent hot surges of gas and ash across this desert at up to 100 miles an hour. Hawaiian accounts tell of Keōua, a chief whose warriors were crossing the area at the time. The middle group of his army was caught in the eruption, and none of them survived.
For years, the footprints were linked to those warriors. Newer research shows the story is bigger than that. Many of the prints were likely left by everyday travelers who used this trail long before and after 1790. Either way, they’re a rare record of Native Hawaiians walking this land. A shelter with a small exhibit protects them, about 0.8 mile from the trailhead.
Keep going to Maunaiki, 1.8 miles in, if you want more. It’s a low lava shield from the 1919 to 1920 eruption. Past Maunaiki, look for golden strands of Pele’s hair caught between the rocks.
Before you go:
Protect your eyes and lungs: Bring eye protection and a dust mask. Wind can lift fine ash left by the 2018 summit collapse.
Carry water: There’s no shade or water. Bring plenty of water, a hat and sun protection.
Follow the ahu: They mark the route across broken lava, so follow them closely.
Leave strange objects alone: Don’t touch anything that looks like a shell. Old World War II ordnance has turned up in the Kaʻū Desert. If you see some, leave it alone and report it to a ranger.
Stay on the trail: The ash layers are fragile, and the footprints are protected.
14. Puʻu o Lokuana (Kahuku Unit)
Where: Kahuku Unit, near the visitor contact station at the start of Kahuku Road, Highway 11 near mile marker 70.5
Distance: 0.4 mi loop to the summit, or a 2 mi loop on the longer Puʻu o Lokuana Trail
Time: About 30 minutes for the short loop, or 1 to 1.5 hours for the longer loop
Elevation: 130 ft
Effort: Short but steep
Shade: None
Good for: Big views for very little effort
Status: Open Thursday to Sunday, 8 am to 4 pm
Puʻu o Lokuana is a small cinder cone you can climb in a few minutes, with one of the widest views in the Kahuku Unit. The short loop climbs through an old cinder quarry to the top. From there, you look out over the ranch pastures, Mauna Loa’s long southern slope and the ocean beyond.
Kahuku was one of Hawaiʻi’s largest cattle ranches for more than 150 years. Then, in 1868, a deadly Mauna Loa eruption poured lava across the pastures. Today you’ll find ranch roads, stone walls from early Hawaiian farms and very few people.
For a longer walk, take the 2-mile Puʻu o Lokuana Trail. It loops past old ranch roads, a hidden pasture, tree molds, the 1868 lava flows and an old airstrip before reaching the cone.
Kahuku is about an hour’s drive from the main entrance, and it has no drinking water, so bring your own. Stop at the visitor contact station and ask for the free 15-minute ranger orientation before you start.
15. Pit Crater Trail (Kahuku Unit)
Where: Kahuku Unit, Pit Crater Trailhead past the boot cleaning station on upper Kahuku Road
Distance: 4.8 mi round trip, plus an optional 1.7 mi loop
Time: 3 to 6 hours
Elevation: 1,165 ft of climbing
Effort: Strenuous, with a very steep start
Shade: Little, until you reach the forest near the crater
Good for: Strong hikers who want solitude
Status: Check before you go. Upper Kahuku Road beyond the boot cleaning station has been closed since the 2026 storms.
If you want a real crater hike in Hawaiʻi with almost nobody around, this is it. The trail climbs through open pasture to a pit crater with walls about 250 feet high. Inside is a rainforest unlike anything else at Kahuku.
The steep walls have protected the forest for generations. Cattle, pigs and people cleared most of the native forest around it, but they couldn’t get down into the crater.
So inside, koa and ʻōhiʻa lehua grow taller than anywhere else on the old ranch, along with many rare and endangered Hawaiian plants. Please admire it from the trail and stay well back from the edge. The crater rim is unstable, and the forest inside is fragile.
Clean your boots before you go. At the Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death station, spray the soles of your shoes with the rubbing alcohol provided. Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death is a fungus that’s killing Hawaiʻi’s native ʻōhiʻa trees, and it can spread on muddy boots.
The start from the Pit Crater Trailhead is very steep. For a gentler and more scenic climb, start from the Pali o Kaʻeo Trailhead instead, which adds about 2.4 miles. The walk crosses uneven, grassy pasture with no water, so carry plenty. Pets aren’t allowed.
16. Palm Trail and Kamakapaʻa (Kahuku Unit)
Palm Trail
Where: Lower Palm Trailhead on Kahuku Road, Kahuku Unit
Distance: 2.6 mi loop
Time: 1 to 2 hours
Elevation: About 310 ft
Effort: Moderate
Shade: None
Good for: Hikers and mountain bikers who want history and wide views
Status: Open Thursday to Sunday, 8 am to 4 pm. Kahuku Road above the Lower Palm Trailhead is rutted from heavy rain, so use a 4WD if you drive higher.
The Palm Trail loops through old ranch pastures and along the fissure that opened during the 1868 Mauna Loa eruption. It’s the only trail at Kahuku open to both hikers and bikes. Along the way you cross a main lava channel from that eruption, where a river of lava once poured downhill toward the coast. On a clear day, the views stretch over Kaʻū to the ocean.
Start at the Lower Palm Trailhead and hike uphill. From the upper trailhead, follow the road back down to your car, so you finish on the easier stretch. Expect uneven rock and grass with some real hills, and wear sturdy shoes.
Kamakapaʻa Trail
Distance: 0.5 mi loop
Elevation: About 40 ft
Effort: Easy
If you only have a few minutes at Kahuku, Kamakapaʻa is the gentle option. It loops through grassy meadows to a small cinder cone with views over lower Kaʻū. It’s an easy walk for kids and anyone who wants a taste of Kahuku without a climb.
Both trails show how Kahuku has changed. Native Hawaiians farmed these slopes for centuries, and you’ll still see stone walls from that time. Later, paniolo (Hawaiian cowboys) ran cattle here for more than 150 years. Today the park is slowly bringing native forest back.
Backcountry Hikes and Overnight Trips
Backpacking in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park means a permit, a safety briefing and carrying almost all of your own water. The park’s wilderness covers about 123,000 acres, from the summit of Mauna Loa to remote beaches on the Puna coast. These overnight hikes are some of the most rewarding in Hawaiʻi, but they’re also some of the least forgiving.
How to get a backcountry permit:
Book online: Reserve on Recreation.gov up to 90 days ahead. About 75% of permits are released online. The rest open in person seven days before the start date.
Pay the fee: It’s $10 per trip for up to 12 people, plus the park entrance fee. The office no longer takes cash.
Check in: Pick up your permit at the Backcountry Office, open daily from 8 am to 4 pm, up to seven days before your trip. You’ll get a safety briefing about current conditions.
Know the limits: You can stay up to three nights in a row at one site and up to seven nights per permit.
Plan for water. There are no streams in this part of the park. Some shelters and cabins collect rain in catchment tanks, but those tanks rely only on rainfall, and they can be empty. Ask the rangers how full they are when you pick up your permit. Carry at least 4 quarts per person per day, and treat any catchment water before you drink it.
17. Mauna Loa Summit
Where: Mauna Loa Observatory trailhead off Saddle Road, or the ʻĀinapō Trailhead through Kapāpala Ranch
Distance: 6.4 mi one way to the summit from the Observatory trailhead, or about 10.2 mi one way to the summit cabin on the ʻĀinapō Trail
Time: 1 long day to 4 days
Elevation: To 13,681 ft
Effort: Strenuous
Shade: None
Good for: Very experienced, self-sufficient hikers only
Status: Open by the ʻĀinapō Trail or the Observatory trailhead only. Mauna Loa Road is closed indefinitely past the Kīpukapuaulu gate, and the summit cabin can’t be reached from the Mauna Loa Trail since the 2022 eruption.
Mauna Loa’s summit is the hardest hike in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and it’s only for the very best hikers. The trail climbs to 13,681 feet over rough, loose lava, and rescues on this mountain aren’t rare. Altitude sickness, freezing nights and sudden whiteouts are all real risks.
The lava up here is brutal on gear. My son Cameron, one of our guides, does this hike often. Last year he started it in a brand-new pair of hiking shoes, and by the end the sharp ʻaʻā lava had shredded the soles. If you go, wear sturdy boots you trust.
The summit cabin sits right on the rim of Mokuʻāweoweo, Mauna Loa’s summit caldera, at about 13,250 feet. It’s one of the most remote places to spend a night in Hawaiʻi.
Two ways up right now:
Observatory route: About 5.9 miles to the summit cabin and 6.4 miles to the summit, starting high on the mountain off Saddle Road. It’s the shorter climb, but you start at high altitude.
ʻĀinapō Trail: About 2.7 miles to Halewai Cabin at 7,750 feet, where most hikers spend the first night, then 7.5 miles more to the summit cabin. You reach the trailhead on an 8-mile, high-clearance 4WD road through Kapāpala Ranch. This route needs a state cabin permit and a ranch access form on top of your park permit, and the park calls it extremely grueling, rocky and steep.
Altitude is the biggest danger. If you notice more than one symptom of altitude sickness, like a pounding headache, nausea or dizziness, go down right away. Descending is the only cure.
Children under 16, pregnant women and anyone with a serious health condition should talk to a doctor before attempting this hike. Bring a sleeping bag rated to 0°F, real rain gear (a poncho won’t keep you dry) and enough water for every day you’ll be up there.
For trails, permits and how to plan a visit to the mountain, read our guide to visiting Mauna Loa.
18. Nāpau Trail to Makaopuhi Crater
Where: Mauna Ulu parking area, about 3.5 mi down Chain of Craters Road
Distance: 6.2 mi one way to Nāpau Crater
Time: A long day or one night
Elevation: About 200 ft of overall change, with rolling ground along the way
Effort: Strenuous, on rough lava
Shade: Little, until the rainforest past Makaopuhi
Good for: Strong hikers who want to see young lava and big pit craters
Status: Open. The September 2024 eruption covered most of the Nāpau campsites, and only one campsite remains.
The Nāpau Trail starts where the Mauna Ulu hike ends and keeps going into some of the youngest land in the park. From the Mauna Ulu lot, follow the ahu past Puʻu Huluhulu and across open lava for a little over 2 miles. Then you reach the edge of Makaopuhi Crater, a huge pit crater that erupted in 1922, 1965 and 1972. Past Makaopuhi, the trail enters rainforest before ending at an overlook above Nāpau Crater.
Be very careful out here. Lava erupted near Nāpau Crater in September 2024. The area can still have hot spots, and new vents can open without much warning. You now have to cross fresh lava to reach the overlook. Stay on the marked route and stay back from every crater edge.
Sign in at the trail register near the trailhead before you go. The lava is sharp and glassy, so wear long pants and good boots. There’s no water anywhere on the trail, so carry 3 to 4 quarts per person per day. To camp at the one remaining Nāpau campsite, you’ll need a backcountry permit. The site has no toilet, so plan to dig a cathole.
19. Halapē and the Puna Coast (Keauhou, Kaʻaha)
Where: Puʻuloa trailhead on Chain of Craters Road (Puna Coast Trail), the Mauna Ulu area (Keauhou Trail) or Hilina Pali Overlook (Hilina Pali Trail)
Distance: 8.5 to 11.3 mi one way, depending on the route
Time: 2 to 3 days
Elevation: A big drop from the uplands to the sea
Effort: Strenuous
Shade: Almost none
Good for: Experienced backpackers who want a remote beach
Status: Open with a backcountry permit
Halapē is one of my favorite backpacking trips in the park. After miles of hot, open country, you reach a small sandy beach with coconut palms, sea turtles resting on the shore and a three-walled shelter for shade. It feels a long way from the summit crowds.
How to get there:
Puna Coast Trail: 11.3 miles one way from the Puʻuloa trailhead along the ocean. It’s the longest route, but it’s the one I recommend.
Keauhou Trail: 8.5 or 9.2 miles one way, crossing rough lava fields.
Hilina Pali Trail: 8 miles one way from Hilina Pali Overlook, with a steep descent down the pali.
Lately the trails haven’t been well maintained, and it’s easy to get disoriented on the way down the pali. That’s why I suggest the coastal route. Ahu mark all of these trails, but they can be hard to see in rain or mist and impossible to follow in the dark. Plan to arrive in daylight.
Once you’re at Halapē, look for the deep crack in the lava filled with brackish water, home to tiny shrimp. It’s a lovely place to cool off. Rinse off all soap and sunscreen first, because they can harm the shrimp and other rare life in brackish pools. Keep a respectful distance from the turtles, and avoid the open ocean. The surf and currents are usually rough.
Know the risks:
Heat: Temperatures reach the high 90s °F, and there’s almost no shade. Avoid hiking from about 10 am to 2 pm.
Water: Halapē, Keauhou and Kaʻaha have catchment tanks, but they can run dry. Check the levels when you get your permit.
Earthquakes and tsunamis: This coast can drop suddenly. In 1975, a magnitude 7 earthquake lowered the land at Halapē by about 11.5 feet, and the tsunami that followed drowned two campers. After any strong earthquake, move to high ground immediately.
Other coastal campsites:
Keauhou: Reached over rough lava fields.
Kaʻaha: Reached by a steep trail with many switchbacks.
All three campsites need a permit and allow up to three nights in a row.
20. Hilina Pali
Where: Hilina Pali Overlook, 9 mi down Hilina Pali Road from Chain of Craters Road
Distance: About 7 mi one way to the Keauhou Trail junction, or 8 mi one way to Halapē
Time: Overnight for most hikers
Elevation: About 2,000 ft down the pali, and the same back up
Effort: Strenuous
Shade: None
Good for: Fit backpackers and anyone who wants the overlook view without hiking
Status: Hilina Pali Road is open to vehicles as far as the overlook. Until November 19, 2026, it’s closed to cars Monday to Thursday from 6 am to 4:30 pm for roadwork. Hikers, cyclists and permit holders can still use it during those hours.
Hilina Pali is a huge cliff above the coast, and the trail down it is one of the toughest climbs in the park. The pali is the edge of the Hilina fault system, where Kīlauea’s south flank is slowly sliding toward the ocean. From the overlook at about 2,280 feet, you look down over the Kaʻū coast and out to the Pacific.
The overlook is worth the drive even if you don’t hike. Hilina Pali Road is a narrow, one-lane road with no services. Between about 0.9 and 3.5 miles in, you can see the cracks and low cliffs of the Koaʻe Fault beside the road. It’s also one of my favorite bike rides in the park.
The trail drops about 2,000 feet down steep switchbacks on loose lava rock. It’s hard on the knees, so trekking poles help. Below the pali, the trail can be overgrown, with tall grass hiding unstable rock. Watch for the ahu, because the path is easy to lose.
Our guide Yvonne wrote about hiking down the pali to the Kaʻū coast. She describes hot wind strong enough to throw you off balance, glare off the dark lava and a nearly 1,600-foot climb back to the top. Most hikers make this an overnight trip to Halapē or Kaʻaha with a backcountry permit.
Which Hike Is Right for You? (Easy, Family, Accessible and Hard Hikes)
The best hike for you depends on who’s with you and how much time you have. Here are our picks by group, from easy hikes with kids to the hardest hike in the park.
If you are... | Best hikes | Good to know |
First-time visitors | Kīlauea Iki, Nāhuku, the rim walk to Kīlauea Overlook | Allow about half a day for all three |
Families with kids | Nāhuku, Kūpinaʻi Pali, Devastation Trail, Puʻu o Lokuana | Skip Sulphur Banks with infants or young children, because of the volcanic gas |
Strollers and wheelchairs | Kūpinaʻi Pali, the short paths to Kīlauea Overlook and Wahinekapu, most of Sulphur Banks from the Steam Vents lot | Devastation Trail works with a helper, since a few grades are steep |
Seniors | Kūpinaʻi Pali, the rim walk, Devastation Trail, Kamakapaʻa | Flat or gently sloped, with benches and restrooms close by |
Birders | Halemaʻumaʻu Trail and the rainforest path to Nāhuku early in the morning, plus Kīpukapuaulu once it reopens | ʻApapane and ʻamakihi are most active around sunrise |
Photographers | Steaming Bluff on cool mornings, the Kīlauea Iki floor at sunrise, Puʻuloa in low light, Hilina Pali Overlook at sunset | Keanakākoʻi is the classic spot for eruption photos |
Geology fans | Mauna Ulu and Puʻu Huluhulu, Kīlauea Iki, the Kaʻū Desert to Maunaiki, Keanakākoʻi | You walk on lava from 1959, the 1970s and 1919 in a single day |
Serious hikers | The Pit Crater Trail, the Kīlauea Iki and Byron Ledge loop, the Nāpau Trail, Halapē | The Mauna Loa summit is harder still, and only for very experienced hikers |
Two hours or less | Nāhuku, Kūpinaʻi Pali, Devastation Trail, Keanakākoʻi, the Footprints, Puʻu o Lokuana | All are short hikes under 2 miles round trip |
Rainy days | Nāhuku, under the forest canopy | Rain at the summit often means sun at the coast, so try Mauna Ulu or Puʻuloa |
Accessibility tips
Borrow a wheelchair: The Welcome Center at Kīlauea Military Camp lends wheelchairs for free, first come, first served.
Find a restroom: Accessible restrooms or vault toilets are at the Kīlauea Iki trailhead, the Devastation lot, Mauna Ulu and the end of Chain of Craters Road.
Book an ASL interpreter: Request one for a ranger program at least 14 days ahead by calling (808) 985-6011.
Grab a Junior Ranger booklet: Kids 12 and under can pick one up free at the Welcome Center and earn a badge as they hike. Booklets sometimes run out, so ask early in your visit.
How to Combine Hikes Into One Day?
Many summit trails connect, so you can link two or three short hikes into one big day. Here are three day hike plans our guides know well, from an easy half day to a full day across the park.
The big summit loop: Kīlauea Iki, Byron Ledge, Devastation and Nāhuku
Distance: About 7 mi
Time: 4 to 5 hours
Effort: Moderate to challenging
Start at the Devastation Trailhead, where parking is easier. Walk the Devastation Trail, then follow Byron Ledge along the ridge between the two craters. Drop into the Kīlauea Iki loop and cross the old lava lake. Climb out, walk through Nāhuku and return along the rim.
Pack a lunch and plenty of water, and start early so you’re crossing the crater floor before the midday sun.
Prefer a guide? This loop is close to the route of our 6-Hour Volcano Adventure.
The easy rim day: Steaming Bluff, Sulphur Banks and Waldron Ledge
Distance: About 3 to 4 mi in total
Time: 2 to 3 hours with stops
Effort: Easy
Park at the Kūkamāhuākea (Steam Vents) lot. Walk out to Wahinekapu (Steaming Bluff), then follow the boardwalk into Haʻakulamanu (Sulphur Banks), which you can still reach from this side while its bridge is closed. Afterward, drive to the Volcano House area and stroll the paved path to Kūpinaʻi Pali (Waldron Ledge). You get the steam vents, the sulfur deposits and one of the widest caldera views, without a single steep climb.
Summit morning, coast afternoon
Distance: About 7 to 8 mi in total, plus driving
Time: A full day
Effort: Moderate
Hike the Kīlauea Iki loop first thing, while the lot has space and the crater floor is cool. After lunch, drive down Chain of Craters Road and hike Mauna Ulu and Puʻu Huluhulu. Finish at the Puʻuloa Petroglyphs in the late afternoon, when the light is softer and the lava is cooler. Fill your tank and water bottles at the summit first, because there are no services on the road.
Want more than hiking in your day? See our 20 things to do in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, or follow our one-day itinerary for the park.
Best Time to Hike in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
You can hike here year-round, but the best time of day matters more than the month. Start before 9 am. Mornings bring the clearest crater views, the easiest parking and cooler lava underfoot. Our own first hikes of the day start at 8 am for exactly that reason.
Dry season vs. wet season
April to October is often called the dry season, and trade winds blow more steadily from May through September, which can mean clearer air. Winter is usually cooler and wetter at the summit, with more rain, wind and fog. Still, the summit sits around 4,000 feet, and it can rain on any day of the year.
Is it hot hiking in Volcano National Park?
It depends on where you hike. The summit runs about 12 to 15°F cooler than the coast, so mornings can feel chilly and damp. Down on Chain of Craters Road and in the Kaʻū Desert, it’s often hot, dry and windy, with no shade. Pack layers and a rain jacket for the summit, and sun protection and extra water for the lower trails.
How to avoid the crowds?
Arrive early: Popular lots can fill by about 10 am, especially in December, January, June and July.
Skip Tuesdays if you can: That’s when a weekly cruise ship docks in Hilo, and the summit gets busier.
Expect crowds during eruptions: Trails and overlooks near the caldera get much busier when Kīlauea is erupting.
Try quieter months: September falls between the summer and winter rushes.
For month-by-month weather, crowds and lava timing, read our guide to the best time to visit Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
Trailhead Parking: Where to Start Each Hike
Parking is the hardest part of many hikes here, especially at Kīlauea Iki and Nāhuku. Lots fill early in December, January, June and July, and during any eruption. Arrive before 9 am and you’ll usually find a spot.
Parking lot | Spaces | Hikes from here | How fast it fills |
Welcome Center (Kīlauea Military Camp ball field) | 100 | Rim walk, Sulphur Banks, eruption overlooks | Most space at the summit |
Uēkahuna | 70 | Rim walk to Kīlauea Overlook | Usually has room |
Kīlauea Overlook | 36 | Rim walk | Usually has room |
Kūkamāhuākea (Steam Vents) | Not listed | Steaming Bluff, Sulphur Banks | Busy midday |
Kīlauea Visitor Center | 38 | Kūpinaʻi Pali, Halemaʻumaʻu Trail | Fills fast |
Kīlauea Iki Overlook | 64 | Kīlauea Iki, Nāhuku | Often full by mid-morning |
Nāhuku | 14 | Nāhuku | Fills first |
Puʻu Puaʻi Overlook | 28 | Devastation Trail, Kīlauea Iki | Fills fast during eruptions |
Devastation Trailhead | 30 | Devastation, Byron Ledge, Keanakākoʻi | Fills fast during eruptions |
End of Chain of Craters Road | 37 | Coastal walks | Rarely full |
Where to park for the busiest hikes?
Kīlauea Iki: Start from the Devastation Trailhead or the Welcome Center area instead. Hike 1 has the distances for both.
Nāhuku: Come before 9 am or after 5 pm, or park at Kīlauea Iki Overlook and walk over.
Keanakākoʻi: Park at the Devastation Trailhead, or at Puʻu Puaʻi Overlook if it’s full.
During an eruption: Skip the Devastation lot. Park at the Kīlauea Military Camp ball field instead, then cross Crater Rim Drive at the crosswalk. Several overlooks are a short walk away, and it’s usually less crowded.
If the lot is full
Don’t give up right away. People come and go often, especially around hikes that start at 10 am or later, so wait a few minutes and a spot usually opens. If nothing clears, move on to your next hike and come back later.
Never park on the shoulder. Park only in marked stalls. Cars that block traffic lanes can be towed, especially on eruption nights.
Hiking Safety: Volcanic Gas, Weather, Footing and Closures
Hiking in Volcano National Park is safe when you stay on open trails, watch the air and check conditions that morning. The real risks here are volcanic gas, sharp lava, sudden weather and closures. Our volcano hiking safety guide covers each one in detail. Here’s what matters most on the trail.
Volcanic gas and vog
Kīlauea releases sulfur dioxide, which forms vog (volcanic smog). Gas can affect a trail even when you can’t see any lava.
Who should take extra care: People with asthma, heart or lung conditions, infants, young children, older adults and pregnant women.
Masks won’t protect you: Regular masks, even N95s, don’t filter sulfur dioxide.
Watch the wind: Normal northeast trade winds push the plume away toward Pāhala and Kaʻū, and the park stays clear. When the wind comes from the south, the gas can drift over the trails.
Turn around early: If you start coughing, your chest feels tight or your eyes and throat burn, head back.
Footing, cracks and cliffs
Lava is sharp, loose and uneven, and it can hide earth cracks, thin crust and lava tubes. Stay on the marked trail and follow the ahu, even when the ground beside it looks solid. Keep well back from crater rims, cliff edges and steam vents. Never cross a barrier for a photo.
If you feel an earthquake, stop and move away from the caldera edge and any cliffs. Don’t run on uneven ground. Wait for the shaking to end, then check that your trail still looks safe before you continue.
Weather, heat and cell service
Weather changes fast: Rain, fog and wind can roll in within an hour, and wet lava gets slippery.
Lava fields get hot: There’s no shade on open lava, so carry more water than you think you need.
Cell service is patchy: Download offline maps before you arrive. Hike with someone, and tell someone your plan.
Closures and hiking during an eruption
Check park alerts and the USGS Kīlauea update the morning you hike, not the week before. Closed areas hide real dangers, and entering one can get you a citation. It also means a much slower rescue if something goes wrong.
You can still hike during an eruption, but trails near the caldera may close, and gas levels can change quickly. Falling tephra and Pele’s hair are fine bits of volcanic glass that irritate the eyes, skin and lungs. Wear eye protection and long sleeves, and don’t touch any of it.
Stop at the Welcome Center before you start. Rangers can tell you which trails are open and how the air looks that day.
In an emergency:
Life-threatening emergency: Call 911.
Lost, overdue or injured hikers: Call park dispatch at (808) 985-6170.
What to Bring on a Volcano National Park Hike?
Dress for rain at the summit, sun on the lava and rough ground everywhere. These are the ten essentials we’d pack for any hike in the park.
Closed-toe shoes with good grip: Use hiking boots or trail shoes. Leave flip-flops and sandals in the car, because sharp lava cuts.
Warm layer: The summit is much cooler than the coast, and wet clothes chill you fast.
Rain jacket: It can rain any day of the year.
Water: At least 2 quarts per person for day hikes, and more for long or hot trails. For overnight trips, plan on 4 quarts per day.
Sun protection: Bring a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses. Clouds don’t stop sunburn on open lava.
Snacks: There’s no food on most trails, and none at all on Chain of Craters Road. Our trail food guide has easy ideas.
Headlamp or flashlight: You’ll need one for Nāhuku after 8 pm, or if you’re out near sunset.
Binoculars: Bring them for native birds and crater views.
Dust mask and eye protection: These are for the Kaʻū Desert, where wind lifts fine ash.
Phone with offline maps and a small first aid kit: Save your maps before you leave.
For a full list, read what to bring on a volcano hike.
Hike Respectfully: Mālama ʻĀina on Volcano Trails
Mālama ʻāina means caring for the land. For us, it means treating these trails the way you’d treat the home of someone you love. This volcano is a living place and deeply sacred to Native Hawaiians. A few simple habits protect it, and they keep you safe too.
Honor sacred places: Halemaʻumaʻu is the home of Pele. Walk quietly near the caldera, and leave every rock as you found it. At Puʻuloa, stay on the boardwalk and never touch, trace or rub the petroglyphs.
Leave the ahu alone: Rangers use these rock cairns to mark routes across lava. Don’t build new stacks, and don’t move or add stones. Extra stacks confuse hikers and can be culturally offensive.
Don’t take anything home: Lava rocks, sand, Pele’s hair, plants and feathers all belong here. Taking them is illegal in a national park, and many Hawaiians see the rocks as part of Pele.
Never feed nēnē: Stay at least 60 feet away. Birds that get fed learn to walk up to cars, and cars are the leading cause of death for adult nēnē in the park.
Stay on the trail: Shortcuts damage fragile plants and cultural sites, and they can put you on unstable ground.
Clean your boots: Most trailheads have a boot brush and a spray bottle of alcohol. Scrub off the soil and spray your soles to help stop Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death from spreading between forests.
Pack out everything: That includes fruit peels and anything labeled biodegradable.
On every hike, we start with a short conservation briefing, clean our boots at the trailhead and pick up any litter we find along the way. Read how we practice Leave No Trace on every trail.
Hike With a Local Guide
You can hike every trail in this guide on your own, but a guide changes what you see on them. Our guides check gas levels, closures and weather every morning, then choose the best open route for that day. On the trail, we explain the lava lake you’re crossing, the plants coming back to life and the Hawaiian stories behind the place names. I’m a Wilderness First Responder, and we never take groups into closed areas.
Here’s how our guided hikes match the trails above:
Tour | Trails you’ll hike | Length | Best for |
Crater Rim Trail, steam vents and Sulphur Banks views | 1.5 hours, 1 to 2 miles, about 30 ft of climbing. Fri to Sun at 9 and 11 am | Families, strollers and wheelchairs | |
Steaming Bluff, Sulphur Banks, Kūpinaʻi Pali (Waldron Ledge) | 3 to 4 miles, about 150 ft. Daily at 8 am, 12 pm and 3 pm | Easy walkers and first-time visitors | |
Kīlauea Iki, Byron Ledge, Nāhuku | About 7 km. Daily at 8 or 10 am | Active hikers who want the lava lake | |
Waldron Ledge, Byron Ledge, the Kīlauea Iki crater floor, Puʻu Puaʻi, Nāhuku | About 7.7 miles, about 1,000 ft, lunch included. Daily, 8 to 10 am | Fit hikers who want the full summit day | |
Puʻu ʻŌʻō Trail on Mauna Loa, outside the national park | About 5 hours, 7 to 8 miles | Birders and hikers who want old koa forest and solitude |
Good to know before you book:
Group hikes are small, with no more than 10 guests.
We don’t offer hotel pickup, so you’ll drive to the meeting point.
Park entry isn’t included in the tour price. Our meeting locations and park entry page explains which fee applies.
Browse our guided volcano hikes. If you’d like your own group, pace and start time, book one of our private volcano tours.
Frequently Asked Questions About Volcano National Park Hikes
Which volcano hikes are best for first-time visitors?
Start with Kīlauea Iki, Nāhuku and the rim walk to Kīlauea Overlook. Together they show you an old lava lake, a lava tube and the active caldera in one morning. If you’d rather keep it easy, swap Kīlauea Iki for the paved walk to Kūpinaʻi Pali.
Can you hike Kīlauea without a guide?
Yes. Trails at the Kīlauea summit are marked, and you can hike them on your own with just the park entrance pass. A guide adds the geology, Hawaiian culture and plant life behind what you’re seeing. Your guide also knows which routes are open and safe that day, which matters when trails close fast. Read why hike with a guide.
Do you need a permit to hike in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park?
Not for day hikes. You only need a park entrance pass. Overnight trips need a backcountry permit, which costs $10 per trip on Recreation.gov and covers up to 12 people. You then pick up the permit and a safety briefing at the Backcountry Office.
Are dogs allowed on trails?
No. Pets aren’t allowed on any trail in the park, frontcountry or backcountry. Leashed dogs can go on paved roads, in parking areas and at Nāmakanipaio Campground, on a leash no longer than six feet.
What is the longest trail in the park?
Among the trails in this guide, the longest single route is the Puna Coast Trail to Halapē, at 11.3 miles one way. Many backcountry trips link several trails over two to four days.
How many miles of trails are there?
More than 150 miles. That covers short summit walks, long desert and coastal routes and multi-day climbs on Mauna Loa, which makes the range of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park hikes wider than most visitors expect.
Can you hike to see lava?
Not directly. No open trail goes to active lava, and the eruption area itself is closed. When Kīlauea is erupting, you can watch the glow over Halemaʻumaʻu from open rim overlooks, best after dark. Check the USGS update the morning you go, because lava is never guaranteed. See what Episode 50 looked like from the rim.
Are there trails for running or biking?
Bikes aren’t allowed on hiking trails. You can ride on Crater Rim Drive, Chain of Craters Road, the old road to Keanakākoʻi and the Palm Trail at Kahuku. Running is fine on open trails, but watch your footing. Lava is sharp, and a fall here hurts more than on dirt.
What is the hardest hike, and which has the most elevation gain?
The Mauna Loa summit is both. It climbs to 13,681 feet over rough lava, with freezing nights and real altitude risk. Rescues on this mountain aren’t rare, so it’s only for very experienced hikers. The hardest day hike is the Pit Crater Trail in the Kahuku Unit, with 1,165 feet of climbing.
Plan Your Hike
Remember those three picks from the start? Kīlauea Iki, Mauna Ulu and Puʻu Huluhulu, and the Kaʻū Desert to the Footprints are still where we’d send you first. Just remember that this park never stands still. Trails close and reopen with storms, earthquakes and eruptions. The hikers who get the most out of the best hikes in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park plan around today’s conditions.
Here’s your plan, in order:
Check the status: Look at park alerts and the USGS Kīlauea update the morning you hike.
Pick by group: Choose two or three hikes from our “Which hike is right for you?” table that fit your time and fitness.
Start early: Be at the trailhead before 9 am for open parking, clear crater views and cooler lava.
Want a guide on the trail? Book one of our guided volcano hikes, or send us a message and we’ll help you choose.
Which of these 20 trails are you hiking first?
About the Author
Jennifer Bell is the founder and lead guide of Volcanoes Hiking Guides. She holds a BA in Recreation Management from the University of Montana. Before Hawaiʻi, she worked as a guide in Yellowstone and in environmental education. Jennifer is a certified Wilderness First Responder. She is also listed as an owner and guide on the company’s Commercial Use Authorization. Together, our guides bring more than 20 years of combined professional guiding experience.
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