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- Kīlauea Caldera & Halemaʻumaʻu Overlook — The heart of the park: enormous crater rim views, steaming vents and a surreal lunar-like floor. When the volcano is active you can sometimes see a red glow at night from sanctioned overlooks, but even when quiet the scale and geology are jaw-dropping. Short, accessible viewpoints with interpretive signs make it easy to appreciate why people come from far away.
- Kīlauea Iki Trail — A roughly 4-mile loop (down into a crater and back up) that drops you onto a hardened lava lake from the 1959 eruption. You walk across smooth pahoehoe, under misty rain forest, and past steam vents—great mix of scenery and geology. My personal favorite: dramatic, varied, and leaves you feeling like you actually earned the view.
- Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube) — A short,
- Kīlauea Caldera & Halemaʻumaʻu Overlook — The heart of the park: enormous crater rim views, steaming vents and a surreal lunar-like floor. When the volcano is active you can sometimes see a red glow at night from sanctioned overlooks, but even when quiet the scale and geology are jaw-dropping. Short, accessible viewpoints with interpretive signs make it easy to appreciate why people come from far away.
- Kīlauea Iki Trail — A roughly 4-mile loop (down into a crater and back up) that drops you onto a hardened lava lake from the 1959 eruption. You walk across smooth pahoehoe, under misty rain forest, and past steam vents—great mix of scenery and geology. My personal favorite: dramatic, varied, and leaves you feeling like you actually earned the view.
- Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube) — A short, easy walk into a real lava tube cavern. It’s cool and otherworldly inside; bring a light jacket because it’s damp and noticeably cooler than the surface. Perfect for a quick contrast to the open vistas elsewhere in the park.
- Sulphur Banks (Haʻakulamanu) — A compact area of steaming fumaroles, colorful mineral stains and a strong sulfur smell. It’s raw volcanic chemistry on display—good for photos and geology nerding, but don’t linger if you’re sensitive to gases.
- Chain of Craters Road & Holei Sea Arch — One of the best scenic drives in the park: descending from the highlands to the coast, you pass fresh lava fields, viewpoints and black sand spots before reaching the dramatic Holei Sea Arch at the ocean. Sunset here is spectacular; bring water and expect minimal services along the way.
- Devastation Trail & Kipukapuaulu (Bird Park) — A short, accessible trail that showcases an area wiped by past eruptions and now in slow ecological recovery, followed by a sheltered kipuka where native trees and songbirds persist. Good spot for birdwatching—look for honeycreepers and, if you’re lucky, the nēnē (Hawaiian goose).
- Mauna Loa summit area (Pulama pali approaches) — The biggest volcano on Earth. Hikes here are high, remote and dramatic: alpine desert, sweeping vistas, and a sense of scale most trails don’t offer. This is for experienced hikers—weather can change fast, and permits/vehicle restrictions sometimes apply—so plan carefully.
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Big Island in a Day: Volcanoes Waterfalls Sightseeing and History
Hilo Shore Excursion: Volcanoes National Park & Black Sand Beach
Small Group Big Island Twilight Volcano and Stargazing Tour
Big Island Highlights: Coffee, Volcano, Black Sands & Waterfall
Big Island: Deluxe Volcano Experience with Restaurant Dinner
Hilo Shore Excursion: Active Volcano, Lava Tube, Waterfall and Gardens
Manta Ray Night Snorkel Experience of a Lifetime
Private Tour: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Eco Tour
Volcano Adventure: Hilo Sightseeing w/ Optional Helicopter Tour
Best Backpacking
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.