The Kilauea Iki Trail is one of the must-do hikes in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Big Island. It’s a great day hike to add to your itinerary. You’ll be hiking through a pre-historic-looking Hawaiian rainforest and down to a volcanic landscape with steam rising through the cracks. Yes, it’s as cool as it sounds!
The parking lot with a great view of the crater is situated along the rim.
We hiked the trail counterclockwise (recommended) and it’s about 3.3 miles or 5km roundtrip.
Upon descending from the rim, you’ll be greeted by a lush green forest.
After about a mile, you will find yourself on a blackened terrain with sprouts of green here and there. This is the crater floor.
You will find several steam vents on the crater floor. They are especially obvious after a good rain. The big one is from the 1959 eruption it spewed molten lava from up to 1900 feet. Apparently, it belched so much lava that you can still see the bathtub rings on the crater wall.
Follow the stacked rocks on your way up. And there you have it! You just hiked on the world’s most active volcano! It’s definitely one for the books!
Stuff to bring:
- Water
- Hat (the trail is exposed)
- Rain Gear
- Sunscreen (take care of your skin!)
- Snacks (also important)
Full detailed hike:
Get more information about the trail here.