Perfect hike for relaxing vacation. Mostly flat and only up & down to get to the walk on the crater itself. 3.3 miles around the rim (include walking across the crater). Lots of great views around the crater from all angles. And it was fun to be in the crater itself. You have to follow a path of stacked rocks else you won't find the place to exit the crater. It's a very doable hike for beginners; unless it's hot. Then it might be more challenging. There are several parking areas, but I didn't know that, so ended up parking on the edge of a closed street and 'finding' my own trail to get to the main trail. haha. read more

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This awesome 4 mile looped hike takes you to the bottom of a crater and provides beautiful views while it takes you through changing scenery and varying temperatures. You can start this hike in a counter-clockwise direction at Kilauea Iki overlook, number 4 on your map. You'll find more available parking here during peak times. You can start your hike clockwise from Nahuku, number 3 on your map, which is also the same location as the Thurston Lava Tube. Due to the popularity of the Lava Tube, parking here can be difficult. The distance between the two parking lots is .5 miles. We started our hike at Nahuku around noon in December. This moderate level trail started with a chilly walk through a forest of ferns down stairs and over roots with muddy spots throughout. Once you reach the bottom, you can walk across the crater and over lava rocks. The weather at this point was windy. Once we reached the end of the crater and climbed our way back up to the trail, we took a break and had some lunch overlooking the crater. From this point. It was a 2 mile hike up to the top. The weather changed once again, and my jacket was no longer needed. Make sure you bring or wear the following: -Layered clothing to adapt to the varying temps -Hiking shoes with good traction -Hat -Water -Snacks or lunch -Sunscreen Restrooms are available at both starting points, but the overlook location are porta potties. I suggest using the restrooms at the lava tube. We left the location around 2pm and it was pretty crowded. Best to arrive by noon to avoid crowds. - read more

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Visited 7/4/2021 Don't miss this trail ... it's a must! Just be prepared for a bit of a challenge, especially if you bring your little ones with you. It's about 3 1/2 miles (to 4 miles incl. the tubes) round-trip. Much easier to walk is the Devastation Trail to see the flowing lava after Sept. 29, 2021 at Halema'uma'u Crater. Add that to your must-see and do list while on the Big Island! read more

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If you are crunched for time and looking for just one thing to do in Volcanoes National Park, I'd say to do this hike. It's a moderate level hike with plenty of switchbacks and little bit of a steep level change. I recommend doing the loop counter-clockwise so that you can check out the Thurston Lava Tube in the end (which is a nice relaxing break). I took my time during the hike, and the trail loop plus the Thurston Lava Tube took me a little over 3 hours. The earlier you get here the better. Not just for the parking, but for a better experience. I got here early and had the lava lake pretty much to myself. By the time I got to my car, crowds of people were just starting at the trailhead. Note that there is a bathroom at the trailhead parking area. There is so much to see and you'll keep discovering new things along the way. The path in the lava lake is easy to follow. Just follow the neat pile of rocks! We experienced some rain along the way which was incredible. It was truly a highlight of our trip and something I'd want to do again the next time we're on the island. read more

Kilauea Iki - Hiking Near Me - Volcano, Hawaii

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The hike was a loop and took about 2 hours. Weather can change suddenly from sunny to pouring rain. We were glad that we had our rain coat on. Very rewarding hike and interesting to see the lava rocks up close in person. read more

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Great hike that lets you descend and ascend through a tropical forest, and walk the full length of a volcanic crater, guided by cairns, here called Aha. I ended the crater walk by Thurston Lava Tube, so I walked that, then hiked back to the Kilauea Iki trailhead. The whole walk took me about 80 minutes moving, with a few stops to take pictures. There's an outhouse at the start and by the lava tube, but none along Kilauea Iki, so it makes sense to stop off when you can. My watch said the elevation change was about 900 feet. Starting from here and going counter-clockwise, the descent is steep, on stairs, and the ascent is fairly sloped and gradual, not stairs. read more

Kilauea Iki - Hiking Near Me - Volcano, Hawaii

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We were excited to be able to do this hike on a beautiful day when we were at the park this time (it was cold, rainy, and windy last time so we skipped it). It's a popular hike, so getting to the parking lot early is a good idea. The hike is about 4 miles and is easy-moderate. It's pretty flat except the hike down and back up from the crater. We did the hike counter clockwise which was a little steeper on the way down and a more gentle climb on the way up. It was cool to look down at the crater before hiking across the crater floor. The crater floor felt like hiking on another planet. It was really cool. The beginning and end are shaded, but the crater floor is very sunny. This was my favorite thing we did at the national park. It's definitely a great thing to do! read more

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Amazing!! We were staying at KMC and I headed out here early. Definitely was a great hike and was glad that the rain stopped and the sun came out. I went here twice and took two different trails. The stacked rocks are super helpful. Easy 4 miles or more. A great workout that got my heart rate going. read more

Most of this trail was shaded which was nice. The crater isn't though so make sure you bring a bunch of Sunblock. Allot between 2 to 4 hours for this. Depending on how fit you are and how many pictures you stop and take. We took a ton. Thurston lava tubes were closed when we went on Sept 9,2019. read more

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Short, beautiful hike overlooking Kilauea Iki. You can hike from the lower lot along this trail towards Thurston Lava Tube. read more

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Amazing experience!! Seeing an inactive crater and an active one where you can see some of the red of the lava flowing. The hike to the active crater is 3 miles round trip. Recommend packing water! Plenty of parking available. The hike isn't bad since the weather is so nice and they are some shady spots to stop and rest on the side of the road. The full road to the active crater is not open to cats since the latest eruption made the road collapse from what the park ranger was saying during our visit. read more

If you're only planning to visit Volcano National Park for a few hours, then the Kilauea Iki hike (4 miles RT, 2 hours or so) is a must-do. How often do you get a chance to hike along a volcanic crater? The friendly rangers at the visitor center recommend this hike as one of the best in the Park. I would say its probably one of the best in all of Big Island! I like this hike because its tough, but very doable for everyone. From the trailhead you'll first hike downhill through a rain forest, seeing the gigantic crater below. Yep, look closely and you'll see people walking across that crater. That will be you soon! The crater itself is the highlight. There will be some rocky surfaces but most of the trail is very flat. Its so vast and intimidating, so just follow the little towers of rock - they mark the "trail" for you. We also enjoyed seeing the multi-colored flowers that managed to grow from the volcanic soil. Also, getting up close to the steam vents was cool. Eventually, hiking through the crater you'll wind you way uphill through rain forest again until you arrive at the secondary (spillover) parking lot. If you parked at the main parking lot/trailhead, you'll walk a short 0.5 mile or so along the road back to where you started. read more

Kīlauea Iki was a lava lake in 1959 with fountains spewing molten lava up to 1900 feet in the air. Today, visitors can view the crater from the Kīlauea Iki Overlook. There is no longer molten lava here and the crater is vast (though compared to the main crater, it's small or 'Iki'.) It's a mile long and 400 feet deep. The 2018 eruption and its accompanying earthquakes damaged the Kīlauea Iki Trail. It was still closed when we visited, but partially re-opened the week after we were there. Hikers can now descend to the crater floor, parts of which are still warm to the touch. read more

Kilauea Iki - Kilauea Iki from the overlook - Hiking Near Me - Volcano, Hawaii

One of the most unique scenic places to visit is Kilauea Iki. The massive crater has a beautiful wide open landscape that I have spent hours sitting inside of. You can hear the cries of the Io (Hawaiian Hawk) and see new Ohia Trees and Ferns growing out in the lava. I only wish that tourists didnt have to prove themselves by screaming at the top of their lungs in a place that one should be respectful of NATURES greatness, not their own. But that isnt Kilauea Ikis fault. The best part about going to Kilaue Iki on a sunny day is the ability to "dry out" if you live or are lodging in Volcano since it can be humid and moist up here. The whole area is so peaceful and beautiful and offers some amazing air quality, even better than most places throughout the island chain. read more

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This trail was recommended to us by good friends and it did not disappoint. Our kids are 7 and 9 and they were able and excited to hike down the rainforest into the crater, and also hike back out. We started on the non-steps side, at the trail head across from the Thurston Lava Tube. Overall it took us about 2.5 hours. Being in the crater is otherworldly. Sound travels differently there. And there is a calm. It was an overcast day so we didn't get hit by the sun, but hats and sunscreen are a must. Plus water. And snacks for the keiki. After the hike our 7-year old fell asleep on the drive down the mountain and slept until the next morning. The hike is a workout, with some challenging areas, but overall doable. My in-laws also made the hike, starting at the trailhead, going down to the crater and coming back up the way they came down, skipping the stairs. Something for everyone. Such a memorable and unique experience. read more

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One of the best hikes we've done in Hawaii, if not of all time. Think of a combination of incredibly lush jungle with bizarre, moon-like fields of lava and rocks, coupled with intermittent biting winds, soft drizzling, humid breezes, and expansive views at nearly every turn. That's Kīlauea Iki. At the main entrance to the park, follow the map very carefully to actually get to the Kilauea Iki trailhead; there are a ton of craters and other attractions to distract you but the crater is very accessible if you're actually following the map provided on entrance. Once inside the National Park, definitely head over here early on, because the parking lots nearby fill up quickly for the nearby viewpoints and lava tubes. Once you're at the main lot, park anywhere - like a lot of books and prior reviews have suggested, approach the circuit counterclockwise to enjoy some of the best views on the first main downhill leg. So, the first third is downhill, actually descending down the jungle-y wall of the crater to the floor. Incredibly dense rainforests with rays of light peeking through and frequent views of the crater off to he side make for some pretty spectacular and photo-worthy moments. After 20-30min of the descent, the landscape changes drastically and you eventually find yourself on the Spartan and alien terrain of the crater. While not as gorgeous and breathtaking as the hillside you just walked through, it is still an eerily beautiful panorama of geothermal art, with funky and foreboding rock formations surrounding you as you walk through it. The weather on the floor of the crater is so drastically different than the weather while scaling both down and up the forested slopes (which is even different than the calm sunny weather at the main trailhead) - far more windy, with some intermittent biting gusts of rain and fog. Layers layers layers will save you from both freezing or overheating. Once you begin to exit the floor of the crater on the far side, you'll start climbing up the last uphill leg of the crater, again through jungle yet not quite as scenic (although that could've been because we were pretty tired and going uphill at that point). You'll still get a few last minute peeks at the crater floor below, and the near-constant shade is very welcomed as the cloud and fog could be disappearing at this point. Bring layers, snacks, and water, and it'll be one of the most outstanding and unusual hikes you'll ever experience! read more

This is a fun, four-mile hike across a volcanic crater. It's not a particularly complex or taxing hike, although it can feel long; there are uneven, steep-ish stone steps on the path on one side of the crater (at the end nearest the gap in the crater rim); and the majority of the hike is across the unshaded crater floor. (For some of you -- and you know who you are... -- I recommend wearing a hat!) The rainforest on the crater rim keeps you mostly shaded on the hike down and up, and nice views include the steaming Halemaumau in the distance. Informative signs tell you about some of the plants along the hike. Numbered posts also allow you to hear recorded information by cell phone related to the hike at given points. (A brochure found at a stand near the main parking lot also gives the same information, numbered for the same points.) I recommend going down to the right of the parking lot (facing the crater) to start the loop -- this allows for the more steady ascent to be on your way out of the crater. Remember that the only/nearest bathrooms are at Thurston Lava Tube parking lot near the beginning/end of your hike. read more

Kilauea Iki - Looking down on Kilauea Iki. (The light line across the crater floor -- in the middle-left of the photo -- is the trail.) - Hiking Near Me - Volcano, Hawaii

Great, relatively easy hike. I used my Garmin and it was 3.43 miles and took us an hour and 49 minutes. We are in shape but my husband has a broken foot so we were going slower than normal. We went counterclockwise but I think deciding which way to go will depend if you prefer shorter but steeper switchbacks on your way up or more of a gradual climb up. We went the direction on the $2 guide which is available at the Visitors Center or the trailhead. You start on a dirt path in the forest alongside the crater. It's a really easy hike suitable for anyone at this point. Eventually you make it down and get to the opening of the crater. It's amazing! You really feel like you are on another planet. The first part is choppy and the path isn't always super obvious. Just keep following the rock formations. There were enough people on the trail that we could always tell where to go next. Maybe halfway through it flattens out and is like the pictures you tend to see of the trail. Crazy to think you are sitting on 400'of old lava and ash. It is another 400' back up switchbacks. This will take a bit more effort and the only part of the trail I started sweating. You pass through the Thurston Lava Tube parking lot and continue on the trail to the lookout. I'd recommend sneakers and maybe a little water. It feels warmer than the temperature says it is. Unlike other reviewers I didn't think the $2 guide was necessary but I didn't mind supporting the park. Overall a great hike that is definitely a must do! read more

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Have you ever wanted to walk through a pit crater? If so here is your chance. This is an easy 4 mile round trip hike. We did this hike first thing in the morning and we highly recommend you do that as well because there are no trees and it gets really hot on this black lava trail. First you walk through the jungle and then you will descend onto the crater floor where you walk along steaming vents. The ground is black with no vegetation, it is right over the hill from an active volcano. Then you will come to piles upon piles of sharp lava rocks and towards the end of this trail your back to the lush green rainforest. In our opinion this unique trail is one of the best hikes on the Island. read more

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A wonderful 4 mile roundtrip hike to the Kilaeua crater. Its mainly switchbacks going down but a fairly easy hike on a beautiful rainforest shady path. 1.3 miles to the crater floor and a .7 mile flat walk to the crater which is pretty cool. If you only have time for one hike when visiting the park this is it. The Thurston Lava tube entrance is across the road so only downside is the parking and there isn't a lot of it. Recommend coming earlier or waiting. Definitely worth seeing both. read more

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This is a must do hike if you are visiting Big Island. It's a unique opportunity to climb down into a caldera and traverse a solidified lava lake! It's actually still smoldering deep down so you can see smoke coming up out of various cracks along the hike. I was fascinated to see the beautiful little flowers and baby ohia trees that were somehow growing out of the solid lava! Very cool volcanic experience. We went down using the switchbacks and came back up using the stairs on the other side. Most people say it is easier to do it opposite, but the stairs weren't that bad . read more

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Located inside volcano national park is the mysterious 414 ft deep crater. Once upon a time, this was full of lava and since has settled making this amazing crater. There are two options, 4 mile loop trail or the shortcut 1.2 mile from lookout #15 to #13. Having a toddler in tow we opted for the shortcut and parked directly across from the entrance of the Thurston lava tube. The trail is easy, switch backs through rainforest terrain with staggered log steps. Once reaching the bottom follow the rock formations out to the middle where marker #13 is located. Before turning around we walked a little farther to the big rock piles and steam vents past #12. It's amazing to be at the lookout and then find yourself on the floor looking up. Really puts its size into perspective. Easy hike that most can do. Worth it if you have the time. read more

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If you don't have time to do the full hike, I posted a map that shows a "shortcut" into the crater...click on photo of map below to enlarge. The shortcut is 1.2 miles hike, vs the 4 miles round trip. For this shortcut, park your car at Thurston Lava Tube. The trail is ON THE OTHER SIDE of the road from the lava tube. The shortcut is from stop #15 to #13...and then back when you are done (see map that I posted). read more

Kilauea Iki - Map of trail. Shortcut is to hike from stop #15 to #13, and then back...1.2 miles long. #15 is on the other side of the road from lava tube. - Hiking Near Me - Volcano, Hawaii

Definitely one of the best hikes of Volcano national park. There is quite a bit of it that is very exposed so be sure to bring lots of sunscreen, water and a hat. There are areas that are jungle/rainforest and you may run into plenty of mosquitoes so insect repellent is also key. It is best to start early. The parking area is quite huge and accommodating but you never know how many people will want to do that hike on your day. We went counter clock wise (flat forest area, down into the crater and up the switch back rain forest like area) and I thought it was fine. If your knees aren't so great you may want to head the other way. Once you are in the crater, there is no real "trail" but you are essentially just walking to the other side. Good luck out there! read more

The most popular hike in Volcanoes national park with a reason! Go early morning, to avoid people or catch it at sunset for a delightful treat! read more

This hike is absolutely amazing and gorgeous. The crater level is pretty even, but still watch your footing. The hike down into the crater and up from are a little steep, but manageable. The views into the crater are fabulous and everyone below seemed so tiny from above. I would do this hike again, and again! read more

volcano Inn staff told me about this one. such a nice hike, close to Inn, watch the weather though! it is a rainforest guys!

If you want to go down to a crater and walk on it a bit, this is your chance! It's a really easy walk down, just 1.2 miles from the Lava Tube parking lot down to the crater, gently sloping. It's a 4-mile roundtrip walk though, and since we were a bit pressed on time, we didn't opt to do that. The walk down was nice, and being in the crater was pretty cool I guess. I wouldn't prioritize this if you're constrained on time, because the crater looks like a crater from inside the crater. Unique experience though! read more

This is a wonderful four mile hike which is longer than more tourists want but enough of a challenge for more serious hikers... Most of the folks were clearly prepared... Sunscreen, hats, dark glasses, closed toe shoes and bottled water are the minimum. The trail is moderately easy, but the hike across the crater can be "un fun" in the direct sunshine. If you're planning on taking little kids, plan on carrying them because this is too much for most of them.. The crater is still steaming in places and is wonderfully stark... Big debate is which way to hike... I've done counter clockwise both times... But I'm beginning to think "Clarence" entry makes a lot of sense about hiking clockwise... You hike the switchbacks early in the hike, cross the crater then climb more gradually to the rim.. The other advantage is hitting the rim portion--which is forest covered--at the sunniest time of the day... read more

Take your time. Take a lot of water. And take a lot of photos. Don't be afraid to wander off the main path to the steam vents to check them out. Awesome environment! My teenage kids even liked it! read more

If you're coming to the Big Island, and you like to hike, you must do this one. It's really all that's necessary, I bet. Totally fun, interesting topography, lots of people (it's true) who are really nice because we're all so excited about what we're doing. read more

This was a fun, fairly easy 4 mile loop hole that brings you into and across the iki. It starts out in the rainforest and connects with the Bryce Ledge hike about 0.5 miles from the crater floor. The weather was perfect when we hiked it, slightly overcast and breezy. Don't forget sunblock and water, the walk across the iki can be hot. You'll walk around the other side of the pu'u you'll see on the Devastation Trail, and make sure to follow the marked path. Some people were going off to climb the steam vents, which only contributes to destroying the landscape. Have respect for where you are and the awesome destruction that began here. read more

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Kilauea Iki is a crater in the Volcano National Park. The entire hike travels a loop around the rim of the crater and then through the bottom of the crater. The crater descends about 400 feet and the descent (or ascent) as I did it, is challenging but not terribly so. The trail is wide and well-maintained. Once you cross the bottom of the crater, the landscape is amazing, with sulfur gas rising from the ground, dynamic cracks, and ohia blooming. There are fissures and cracked pahoehoe lava that were formed into small hills from seismic activity. This is one of my favorite hikes to do in the park. As with any area in Kilauea or all of Hawaii for that matter, tread lightly and take special care of the delicate surroundings. read more

Great little trail. Most of the scenic overlooks are in the first half mile on the northern loop of the trail. Not super strenuous, but will get your heart rate up when climbing back out of the caldera. Bring sunscreen, the portion through the caldera has no shade. read more

Kilauea Iki - View from the parking lot at the trailhead. - Hiking Near Me - Volcano, Hawaii

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This review covers Volcano National Park in general. There are so many hikes in the park that it is impossible to have each one of them in Yelp. So I'll try and cover all that we did while here. The Good: - The visitors center right as you enter the park is great. Take a few minutes to look around and read some of the signs. Also, make sure you get a maps of all the trails and ask the ranger what sections of the park are closed that day. - LOTS of hiking areas around. There are some short ones, some long ones. Some that go into the craters, some that ride the ridge. There is something for everyone. - Very kid friendly. All my kids, including the 2 year-old, were able to walk the trails. - The vegetation changes! Some places are barren, others are a tropical rain forest. - Steam vents, smoke from the caldera, sulfur deposits, all kinds of things to see at Volcano. - Miles of road to travel and see other areas of the park. - Plenty of other trails around the park, not just around the main Kiluaea crater. - Food options just outside the park. - Military can get a free park pass. Come and go as you please. - Road leads you to the end of the road where a lava flow blocked everything. You can get out and walk around. The Not So Good: - Not very many lodging opportunities right there, though there are a few. - Recent activity has closed some sections of the park. Check with the visitors center. Bottom Line: come here if you go to the Big Island. We spend 2 days wandering around and I could have spent longer, though my kids were getting tired of it. Lots of trails on AllTrails.com for this location. Check them out. read more

AWESOME You start at the lookout where you can see into the crater and see the steam rising from the current active eruption. The hike itself is fairly low impact. You spend the first 1/2 hour on a slow descent through the awesome fern forest. You emerge on to the bed of the Kiluaea crater and follow a trail marked by stacks of rock across. From the lookout, the crater's surface seems uniform and somewhat boring, but once you get down there it's a different story. There are some active vents you can spot because the area around them is darker with the moistness of the steam. There are picturesque solitary plants growing out of the petrified magma. There are fissures from the surface ripping apart in past eruptions. When you get to the other side of the crater is when you hit the hard part. The last bit of the train is a steep incline zig-zagging back up the crater wall, but at least the steeper parts have built in stairs to the trail for easier navigation. The whole thing takes 1.5-2 hours (if you meander) and is full of awesome sights. Unless you require a wheelchair or have a hard time doing anything for 2 hours, you can probably make this trail. It is fairly easy and has sure footing throughout. read more

This hike is definitely a must do for anyone visiting the the Volcano. The Hike took around 4 hours to complete the 4 miles. You start off at the parking lot and pretty much hike a giant look into the crater and out. It does not really matter which way you you decide to start the hike. Either direction you will start of easy, hiking down the mountain in a zig zag fashion. Along the way you will see lookouts to peak through the forest to take nice pictures of the crater itself. When you get to the bottom of the crater you will see the actual scale of the crater. It is definitely a jaw dropping sight to behold. If at this point you are already tired and winded I would suggest you turn back now. This is only 1/4 of the journey. Inside the crater the landscape changes from lush forest to baron landscape. The craters surface is almost like a giant lava paved road. There are large stacks of lava rocks inside the crater that you can climb to the top of but be careful because everything is sharp and dangerous so if you get hurt you will probably need to be airlifted out of the crater. This hike will definitely be an adventure but expect to get a real workout. Make sure you bring plenty of water and snacks for the journey and bring a camera to capture the experience. read more

Excellent, excellent hike. I think the entire loop is about 4 miles. We thought we'd do only the first half that goes through the rainforest (starting counterclockwise from the parking lot where you can access the trail), but after we got down to the crater floor we were so intrigued by the change in the landscape that we decided to walk across it and finish the loop. It was a fun little adventure and we're so glad we had and took the time to do the entire loop. The hike is not particularly strenuous--we saw kids as young as 6 or 7 doing it, but you have to be in shape somewhat to do the whole thing. We both have Merrell Manistee water shoes that we bought from REI after explaining that we'd be hiking/walking in Hawaii, and the shoes were great, so I don't think serious hiking boots are required to do this trail. read more

This is pretty cool. We went the wrong way so it was hard the last leg of the hike but taking small breaks made it ok. This is a cool loop but be sure to end at the lava tubes. We made the mistake of starting there and going down that side instead of starting on the other end. Take plenty of water and a lite rain cover. read more

Amazing hike. Through rainforest then across a lava lake.... once in a lifetime sort of experience. "Must do" if you have some time in Volcanoes National Park. read more