The Best Hikes in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes for Every Skill Level
Hiking in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes takes you through landscapes found nowhere else on Earth: a steaming caldera, black lava fields stretching to the horizon, a lava tube several hundred feet long, and a sky that changes every couple of hours. The trails literally begin at an active geological laboratory.
If you only do one hike, make it the Kīlauea Iki Trail, a 4-mile loop that drops into the crater and crosses the hardened lava at ground level. For a short first outing, Sulphur Banks Trail is an excellent add-on. It's less than 1.2 miles, flat, and lined with spectacular steam vents. Hikers looking to get away from the crowds should head for Nāpau Trail or Kīpukapuaulu in the Mauna Loa area.
Preparing for Your Hike in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes
Volcanic Gases: A Risk You Shouldn't Underestimate
The park's number one danger isn't heat. It's volcanic gas. Volcanic activity constantly releases sulfur dioxide (SO₂). The resulting volcanic haze is called vog. It irritates the lungs, eyes, and airways, even at low concentrations. Check the SO₂ alerts issued by the NPS before every outing. If you have asthma or a heart condition, talk with your doctor before you visit.
Near the coast, where recent lava reaches the ocean, a plume called laze forms. The name combines “lava haze.” It contains hydrochloric acid and volcanic glass particles. View it from a distance. Never stand underneath it.
Permits and Entrance Fees
You don't need a permit for day hikes. The entrance fee is $30 per vehicle, valid for 7 days, and covers all the trails. Camping or backcountry camping requires an NPS permit. The Hawaiʻi Volcanoes camping guide explains how it works.
Dogs
Dogs aren't allowed on park trails. This rule protects endemic birds, especially the nēnē, Hawaiʻi's native goose, which is still recovering. Dogs are allowed in parking areas and campgrounds as long as they're leashed.
Water, Gear, and Terrain
There are no water sources along the trails. Bring at least 2 liters per person. Sun and wind dry you out quickly, especially on the coastal plain at the end of Chain of Craters Road. Pack a light windbreaker. Kīlauea's summit sits at about 3,900 feet and can be 22 to 27°F cooler than sea level. Closed-toe shoes with good traction are required on ʻaʻā lava, which has a rough, sharp surface. Stay on marked trails. The lava crust may be thin, with cavities underneath.
The Best Hikes, Area by Area
Kīlauea Caldera Area
All five trails below are less than a 10-minute drive from the Visitor Center. This is where you'll find the park's busiest and most spectacular trails.
Kīlauea Iki Trail
Loop · 4 miles · about 400 feet of elevation gain · moderate · 2 to 3 hours
This is the park's signature hike. The trail first descends through a forest of tree ferns and ʻōhiʻa lehua, then crosses the floor of Kīlauea Iki Crater over lava hardened during the 1959 eruption. Cairns mark the route across the open lava. The setting feels unreal. You walk across a frozen sea beneath 400-foot walls, with steam vents escaping here and there.
Trailhead: Kīlauea Iki parking area, about 1.2 miles from the main entrance. Arrive before 9 a.m. to find a parking spot and avoid the midday crowds. Tip: hike the loop clockwise so you finish along the rim and get the best view as you come out.
Crater Rim Trail (Steaming Bluffs to Uēkahuna section)
Round-trip · about 3 miles · negligible elevation gain · easy · 1.5 hours
This section of Crater Rim Trail follows the caldera rim past Steaming Bluffs, which have impressive steam vents in the morning, Kīlauea Overlook, and the Hawaiian sacred site of Uēkahuna. Be aware that several sections of the full Crater Rim Trail may be closed depending on volcanic activity. Check current closures on the entrance sign or the NPS website before you set out.
Sulphur Banks Trail (Haʻakulamanu)
Loop · 1.2 miles · flat · very easy · 30 to 45 minutes
A short trail alongside deposits of bright yellow sulfur. Steam vents fill the air with a distinctive rotten-egg smell. It's a good way to start or end the day. The paved section is stroller-accessible.
Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube)
Loop · 0.5 mile · very easy · 20 minutes
About 500 years ago, a lava flow formed the tube. The surface hardened first, then the lava drained from inside. The interior is lit and slightly damp. The forest loop around the tube passes through beautiful ʻōhiʻa trees. A second, unlit section continues into the tube's dark interior. You'll need a headlamp for this extension.
Devastation Trail
One-way · 1 mile · flat · very easy · 30 minutes
This paved trail crosses a landscape of ash and tree trunks bleached by the 1959 eruption. It's contemplative and highly photogenic, even in the wind. It's useful for groups with two cars: leave one at each end of the trail, then everyone walks in the same direction.
Chain of Craters Road Area
The road drops 1,800 feet to the coast. It's a spectacle in its own right, and the two trails below reward anyone who follows it all the way down.
Puʻu Loa Petroglyphs Trail
Round-trip · 2.5 miles · flat · easy · 1 to 1.5 hours
This trail leads to the largest petroglyph field in the Hawaiian Islands, with more than 23,000 figures carved into the lava by Native Hawaiians over the centuries. A wooden platform lets you view them without damaging them. The terrain is flat, but midday heat on the coastal plain can be exhausting. Go in the morning.
Trailhead: Puʻu Loa parking area, at the end of Chain of Craters Road.
Nāpau Trail
Round-trip · about 14 miles · about 1,000 feet of elevation gain · difficult · full day
This is for experienced hikers who want to get away from the crowds. The trail crosses recent lava flows and ends at Nāpau Crater. There are no water sources along the route. Bring at least 3 liters per person and sturdy shoes. You need an NPS permit to enter the crater or camp overnight. Check current NPS alerts before you go.
Mauna Loa Area: Kīpukapuaulu
Kīpukapuaulu Trail (Bird Park Trail)
Loop · 1 mile · very easy · 45 minutes
This quiet trail crosses a kīpuka, an island of forest spared by the surrounding lava flows. The native vegetation is dense and nearly untouched. You may spot nēnē and several species of honeycreepers in rare quiet. This is one of the park's most peaceful hikes and one of the best choices for birders.
Trailhead: Kīpukapuaulu parking area on Mauna Loa Road, about 1.9 miles from the junction with Highway 11.
Kahuku Area
The Kahuku Unit, in the southwest section of the park, is open Thursday through Sunday only, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. It's far less crowded than the main area.
Palm Trail
Round-trip · 3 miles · moderate elevation gain · moderate · 2 hours
The trail crosses old ranch pasture, then enters koa forests. You pass over lava flows from different eras, offering a clear look at how volcanic activity has changed the landscape over time. The trail ends with views of Mauna Loa's slopes.
Easy and Family-Friendly Hikes
Three trails stand out if you're traveling with kids or less experienced hikers:
- Sulphur Banks Trail: impressive steam vents, a flat path, and less than 1.2 miles. It makes an impression without tiring little legs.
- Nāhuku: a taste of caving with no real effort. Kids love walking through the tube.
- Kīpukapuaulu Trail: ideal if your kids are interested in birds or quiet nature.
Our Family page covers activities specifically designed for kids in the park, including the Junior Ranger program.
Challenging Full-Day Hikes
Two trails stand out for hikers looking for elevation and solitude:
- Kīlauea Iki Trail: the park's best effort-to-reward hike. The descent into the crater and the crossing over hardened lava will stay with you long after you return.
- Nāpau Trail: a full day and 14 miles immersed in recent lava flows. It's for hikers used to long distances and uneven terrain.
Nēnē are often spotted near parking areas and in open areas. Our Wildlife page explains which species to look for and how to behave around them.
Access, Trailheads, and Parking
The park is 30 miles southwest of Hilo, about a 45-minute drive on Highway 11, and 96 miles from Kailua-Kona, a 2- to 2.5-hour drive. There is no shuttle between areas, so you'll need a car.
The main parking areas:
- Visitor Center: trailhead for Crater Rim Trail and Steaming Bluffs.
- Kīlauea Iki parking area: direct access to the park's busiest trail. It fills by 9 a.m. during peak season.
- Nāhuku parking area: for the lava tube, accessed from Crater Rim Drive.
- Puʻu Loa parking area: at the end of Chain of Craters Road, about 45 minutes from the entrance.
- Mauna Loa Road (Kīpukapuaulu): a poorly marked turnoff from Highway 11, 1.9 miles from the trail.
For real-time road conditions and section closures, see the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes access page.
When to Hike in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes
The main area is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. At elevation around the Kīlauea caldera, about 3,900 feet, winter mornings can be cool and foggy. On the coast at the end of Chain of Craters Road, summer brings heat and wind, with occasional showers possible in any season. Rain can fall in any month, so a light rain jacket is always worth carrying.
For month-by-month details and seasonal alerts for each area, our When to Visit page has the full breakdown.
Which Hike Is Right for You?
| Hiker profile | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| First visit | Kīlauea Iki Trail |
| Family with kids | Nāhuku + Sulphur Banks Trail |
| Beginner, less than 1.2 miles | Sulphur Banks Trail or Kīpukapuaulu |
| Birders looking for endemic species | Kīpukapuaulu (Bird Park) |
| Volcanic landscapes and photography | Crater Rim Trail (Steaming Bluffs) + Devastation Trail |
| Challenging full-day hike | Nāpau Trail |
| Cultural and archaeological interest | Puʻu Loa Petroglyphs Trail |
Our complete guide to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes provides the geological and cultural context that makes these landscapes even more meaningful on foot.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best hikes in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park?
Based on our experience in the field, the best hikes are Kīlauea Iki Trail, a moderate 4-mile loop through the crater; the Steaming Bluffs section of Crater Rim Trail, an easy route with caldera views; and Puʻu Loa Petroglyphs Trail, an easy hike to a field of Hawaiian carvings. Kīpukapuaulu is our favorite for anyone looking for nature away from the crowds.
Can you hike on a volcano in Hawaiʻi?
Yes. Kīlauea Iki Trail crosses the floor of a volcanic crater over hardened lava. Some areas may be inaccessible depending on current activity, so always check NPS alerts before you set out.
Is Kīlauea Iki Trail difficult?
Kīlauea Iki Trail is rated moderate. The challenge comes from the descent, about 400 feet of elevation loss, and the uneven hardened lava, not the distance. It's a 4-mile loop, and most reasonably fit hikers complete it in 2 to 3 hours without much trouble.
Do you need a permit to hike in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes?
No permit is required for day hikes. The $30-per-vehicle park entrance fee is all you need. An NPS permit is required only for backcountry camping and access to certain sensitive areas, such as inside Nāpau Crater.
Is hiking safe in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes?
Hiking is safe on marked trails as long as you follow two rules. Monitor SO₂ gas alerts, since vog can reach dangerous levels depending on volcanic activity, and stay strictly on the trails because the lava crust may be hollow. Avoid the coast during laze emissions.
Are there loop hikes in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes?
Yes. Kīlauea Iki Trail, Sulphur Banks Trail, and Kīpukapuaulu Trail are loops. Nāhuku Loop, through the lava tube, is another. Longer trails such as Nāpau Trail are most commonly done as out-and-back hikes.
Can you hike with your dog in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes?
No. Dogs aren't allowed on park trails, which protects endemic wildlife, especially nēnē. They're allowed in parking areas and campgrounds as long as they're leashed.
When is the best time to hike in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes?
The best time to hike depends on the area you're visiting and how well you tolerate changing conditions at elevation. Our When to Visit page explains conditions month by month for every part of the park.