
How do you choose the best hikes in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park? After all, there are about a dozen trails in the main area of the park and another dozen or so in the Kahuku Unit of the park, which many fewer people visit.
Let’s see if we can narrow down the list for you. We’ve kept our list to five hikes. The trails we recommend have a few things in common…
- They are easy. Most people will have no difficulty with them.
- They are convenient. Most are near the Kilauea Visitor Center.
- They are interesting! Rainforests, volcanic craters, steam vents, etc.
- They are all recommended by the National Park Service, and they should know!
So, are you ready?
Published September 6, 2024…Updated January 8, 2025
Crater Rim Trail
Not only is Crater Rim Trail one of the best hikes in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, but it’s also one of the most visited trails in the park, though most people don’t actually hike much of it. (Most folks instead drive Crater Rim Road, which parallels the trail.)
The trail follows the north rim of the Kilauea Caldera (Crater) from the Kealakomo Overlook (a little past the Kilauea Visitor Center) to the Uekahuna Overlook.
At the beginning of the trail is a series of steam vents (called Kukamahuakea in the Hawaiian language, which translates to “upright steaming expanse”) on the summit of the Kilauea volcano. The underground rocks here are so hot that they vaporize the water that seeps underground, causing steam to escape from vents in the earth.

The views here of the Kilauea Caldera are spectacular! The caldera is a massive crater formed by the collapse of the surface following volcanic eruptions.
Pro Tip
- I know this is Hawaii, but trust me—the morning breeze can be a bit cool at this spot. You might want to wear a jacket.

Continuing on your hike, you will begin climbing the smooth, paved path. The trail is uphill here, but not difficult. Along the way, you will encounter a surprising number of colorful plants, including the bright red ‘Ohi’a blossoms.


The next stop is Kilauea Overlook. This area has a parking lot, restrooms, and a covered picnic area. Of course, again, the star of the show is the incredible view into the Kilauea Caldera.

Further up the trail, you come to the old Jagger Museum and Hawaii Volcano Observatory. Both of these buildings are being demolished after they were heavily damaged by the 2018 eruption of Kilauea and the thousands of earthquakes that followed it.
The Crater Rim Trail ends just past the museum at the Uekahuna Overlook. At one time, both Crater Rim Trail and Crater Rim Road continued on around the rim, but they are now closed to hikers and automobiles.


The Tale of the Trail
- Distance? 3.6 miles roundtrip from the Steam Vents to the Uekahuna Overlook
- Difficulty? Easy
- Duration? 1.5 – 2.0 hours
- Location? Drive west past the visitor center for 0.8 miles. There will be a parking area on your left.
The Sulfur Banks Trail
Fascinating, colorful, hot, and a little smelly are all words I would use to describe the Sulfur Banks Trail.
The Sulfur Banks Trail takes hikers to an area where volcanic gases rising from the earth mix with water to form sulfuric and hydrofluoric acids. The gases dissolve the rock, coloring it yellow.

Much of this trail is on a wooden boardwalk, acting to protect hikers from the brittle earth. All along the route are signs with interesting info about what you’re seeing…and warning you about the dangers of leaving the trail. There are few trees here, due to the extreme underground heat. We recommend you wear a hat to protect yourself from the sun’s rays.

The Tale of the Trail
- Distance? 1.2 miles roundtrip from the Kilauea Visitor Center
- Difficulty? Easy
- Duration? 45 minutes to 90 minutes
- Location? The Sulfur Banks Trail may be accessed from the Kilauea Visitor Center, in front of the Volcano Art Center, or from the parking lot at the Steam Vents/Crater Rim Trail

Pro Tip
- Wondering how to spell the name of this element – is it “sulphur” or “sulfur”? Actually, both are correct. “Sulphur” is the British English spelling, while “sulfur” is the North American English spelling. However, in 1990 the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry settled on “sulfur” as the preferred spelling.
- Do not step off the boardwalk or trail on this hike. The sulfur banks and vents are very hot and dangerous – they have been measured at 205 degrees Fahrenheit – and the ground around them can be brittle.
- The National Park Service recommends that anyone with respiratory issues, pregnant women, small children, or infants avoid this trail.
- Part of this hike is wheelchair accessible. Pick up the trail across the street from the Steam Vents parking area.
Kilauea Iki Trail
Kilauea Iki is the most interesting trail in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. My wife and I also think it’s the best hike in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. It crosses the floor of Kilauea Iki (meaning “small Kilauea”), a section of the larger Kilauea Caldera.
The trailhead(s) begin in the Kilauea Iki parking area. There are two trailheads – one by the restroom at one end of the parking area and the second at the other end of the parking area. This is a loop trail, so you can take either trailhead. We chose the second option.
The trail begins with a short walk along the upper rim of Kilauea Iki, which allows you to see what you’ve gotten yourself into! It’s a beautiful walk, with the crater on one side and the tropical forest on the other. We were especially impressed by the giant ferns and their unopened fronds.


The only challenging part of this hike is climbing down into the crater and then climbing back out of the crater. One end is a series of switchbacks, and the other is a series of stone steps. Once you’re on the floor of the crater, it’s all flat…
…and more than a little “otherworldly”! The ground is crusted lava, with numerous cracks in the surface. The sides of the crater rise above you. Large cairns (piles of rocks) mark the trail.

But the crater has its own sense of beauty. Plants push their way up through the lava, providing a colorful contrast to the grays and browns of the hardened lava.



The Tale of the Trail
- Distance? 3.2-mile loop
- Difficulty? AllTrails ranks this trail as “Moderate”
- Duration? 2-3 hours
- Location? The parking area is 1.7 miles down Crater Rim Dr., on the eastern end of the park
Pro Tips
- The weather in the park can change at a moment’s notice. Throw a rain jacket in your backpack—we got soaked on this hike.
- Wear closed-toe shoes (preferably boots) on this hike. One end of the crater requires walking over sharp hardened lava. Protect your toes!
- Don’t forget your water or your camera. You’ll want both with you.
Devastation Trail
Devastation Trail provides a wonderful view of Kilauea Iki from the top of a cinder cone formed by the eruption of Kilauea in 1959.
If you begin in the Devastation Trail parking area, the paved trail begins as a walk through a lush, green forest. Then it becomes mostly volcanic “gravel”, punctuated by mounds of pink flowers, which the birds greatly enjoy.
And then, you become aware of the cinder cone. When the volcano erupted in 1959, lava shot up into the air as high as 1900′! It cooled in the air and fell back to earth as cinders, forming a huge cone.



In essence, the large hill is just a really big pile of volcanic ashes.

At the end of the trail (or the beginning, if you start at the Puʻupuaʻi parking area) is the Puʻupuaʻi (meaning “gushing hill”)Overlook, where you can enjoy spectacular views of the crater.

The Tale of the Trail
- Distance? 1.0 roundtrip
- Difficulty? Easy
- Duration? 30 – 60 minutes, depending on how often to stop to take photos
- Location? You can begin this hike at either end of Devastation Trail – one trailhead is at the parking lot for the Puʻupuaʻi Overlook, on Crater Rim Rd, past the Thurston Lava Tube parking area; the other trailhead begins in the Devastation Trail parking area where Crater Rim Rd becomes Chain of Craters Rd.
Pro Tip
- Take time to notice the flowers, ferns, trees, and birds along the forested section of this trail – there’s a lot to see!


Mauna Ulu Eruption Trail
If you’ve ever wondered what it must be like to hike on the surface of Mars, this may be it!
This rugged landscape was created by the 1969 to 1974 eruption of Mauna Ulu and the subsequent lava flow.

This trail is not pretty. The landscape is rugged and barren, filled with fissures in the earth and bizarre shapes sculpted by the lava. But it is interesting!

The Tale of the Trail
- Distance? 0.6-mile loop; adding the section of the trail that leads to the Pu‘uhuluhulu (“hairy hill”) cinder cone makes the total distance 2.5 miles
- Difficulty? Easy; adding the Pu‘uhuluhulu cinder cone requires a 210′, 0.25 mile climb
- Duration? 30 minutes – 3 hours, depending on how much of the trail you hike
Pro Tip
- It is surprisingly easy to get turned around on this trail—we missed a lot of it! Look for the ahu (piles of stones) set up to guide you. I would also recommend downloading the trail map into your AllTrails app.
- AllTrails shows this trail is 0.6 miles long, but the National Parks Service website states it is 2.5 miles roundtrip. The AllTrails info does not include the section of the trail leading to the Pu‘uhuluhulu (“hairy hill”) cinder cone, which requires a 210′ climb to the top.
Questions?
- Can I take my “illio” (dog) hiking with me? Sorry, dogs are not allowed on trails in the park
- How should I dress to hike in the park? We suggest…
- Wear a hat and sunscreen.
- Wear boots, or at least closed-toe shoes, and good hiking socks.
- Bring along a rain jacket. The weather here changes quickly.
- Some hikes are out in the open, where the sun is bright. Sunglasses are helpful.
- What should I bring on the trails?
- Water
- Nutritious snacks (Clif Bar, Banana, etc.)
- Phone/Camera
- My wife uses hiking poles, and she says they are a great help
The Verdict – Experience the Best Hikes in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Naming the above-mentioned trails as “the best hikes in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park” may be a bit subjective, I know, but we think they are valid choices.
There are others, of course. Holei Sea Arch is stunning, but it’s not really a hike – it’s a walk down an asphalt road. And Thurston Lava Tube is a “must-see” attraction at the park, but it’s just a short walk.
We’ve given you some legitimate hikes here—they’re easy for almost anyone, easy to get to, and interesting! Give them a try.
Aloha, and Happy Hiking!
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The Author
Jeff Powell is the Creator/CEO of National Park Ventures. He and his wife, Mary Ellen, are on a venture to visit every national park in the United States and share what they experience with their readers. Their goal is to help their readers maximize their own national park ventures.
Jeff and Mary Ellen have two sons, two grandkids, and two dogs. They live in the mountains outside Blue Ridge, GA.