Hawaii - Jeff Campbell [250]
Following are some of the most popular and/or recommended day hikes, along with a few backcountry possibilities and variations. Some of the park’S shortest hikes are mentioned in the descriptions of the park’S main roads (Click here).
KILAUEA IKI TRAIL
If you have time for only one hike, choose this one. It’S the park’S most popular trail (Map) for good reason – it captures all the summit’S drama and beauty in one manageable, moderate, 4-mile, two-hour package. The trail’S glossy brochure ($2) is a good investment.
The loop trail has multiple start points and trail junctions (making the hike easy to expand). Park at Kilauea Iki Overlook (avoiding the Thurston Lava Tube madness) and proceed counterclockwise along the crater rim. Passing through an ohia forest, you can admire the mile-long lava bathtub below before descending into it.
After almost a mile you descend onto Waldron Ledge; multiple trail junctions allow for quick explorations of the main caldera rim (highly recommended), or extend your loop by connecting with the Halema′uma′u and Byron Ledge Trails for an all-day adventure. Either way, once you reach the west end of the crater, descend 400ft to the crater floor.
Across the pahoehoe crust the trail is easy to follow, and ahu aid navigation. It’S possible to enter the vent beneath the Pu′u Pua′i cinder cone, where ohia trees now bloom. As you continue over the surface, consider that molten magma is a mere 230ft below (less than a football field). Once you reach the crater’S east end, ascend 400ft up switchbacks to the rim, and explore Thurston Lava Tube on your return to the Kilauea Iki Overlook.
HALEMA′UMA′U TRAIL
Halema′uma′u Crater was closed to hikers at the time of research, though portions of this trail along the rim were open. When open, this trail is an extremely rewarding 7-mile loop (Map) that starts near Volcano House (Click here). It quickly passes through ohia forest, and spends the bulk of its time traversing the ragged blankets of lava that cover Kilauea Caldera. The trail is completely exposed; depending on the weather, it’ll be hot and dry or chillingly damp. Bring lots of water.
If you think lava is simply lava, this hike will change your mind. You pass numerous flows on the trail – some old (1885) and some new (1982) – and the diversity is astonishing, as is the overall effect of the otherworldly landscape. Nearly 3 miles from the start, the trail ends at the steaming (currently closed) Halema′uma′u Overlook (Click here). You return on the Byron Ledge Trail, which allows for easy peeks of, or a side trip into, Kilauea Iki Crater.
CRATER RIM TRAIL
This 11.5-mile trek (Map) circles the summit, running roughly parallel to Crater Rim Drive (Click here), and, as with the road, large portions of this trail were closed at the time of research. If you do the whole thing, plan for five or six hours, but many people hike only portions. Overall, the trail is mostly level. On the north side, the trail is busiest as it skirts the view-licious crater rim, while on the south side, it runs outside the paved road (and away from caldera views) and you will likely see no one. Lots of side trips are possible, and you pass through a wide variety of terrains; one of the most beautiful sections is the forested southeast portion. Note that it’S acceptable – for hikers doing one-way hikes, either here or elsewhere – to hitch a ride to/from a trailhead, but it’S best to park at the end and hitch to the start, so you hike to your car.
MAUNA IKI TRAIL
For solitude in a mesmerizing lava landscape, take this trail (Map) into the Ka′u Desert, but start from the north, along what is sometimes labeled the Footprints Trail. From this approach, the trailhead access is easier, your initial commitment is low and variations allow great extensions of your route. This hike can be an easy 3.5-mile sampling, a moderate 7- to 8-mile