Day Hike - Kīlauea Iki

Descend through a lush rainforest to the solidified lava lake on the floor of Kīlauea Iki crater. Peer into the vent that erupted to a height of 1900 feet during the eruption of 1959 located below Puʻupua‘i cinder cone.

• Difficulty: Moderate to challenging - Steep and rocky, descent & ascent 400 feet (122 m).
• Parking: Parking at Kīlauea Iki Overlook is extremely limited. During peak hours, there may be no parking available. If you are interested in a longer hike, you are strongly encouraged to begin your hike near Kīlauea Visitor Center parking area, Devastation Trailhead, or Puʻupuaʻi Parking Area.
• Distance and hiking time:
  • From Kīlauea Iki Overlook: 3.3 mile (5.3 km) loop. Plan for approximately 2 to 3 hours. Nāhuku lava tube can be included with this hike. Note: parking is extremely limited.
  • From Kīlauea Visitor Center parking area: 5.3 miles (8.5 km) round-trip "cherry stem" and loop. Plan for approximately 3 to 4 hours. Park along Crater Rim Drive West near Kīlauea Visitor Center. Take Crater Rim Trail towards Kūpinaʻi Pali to access Kīlauea Iki Trail loop. Hiking from the Halemaʻumaʻu Trail near the Volcano House is also possible.
  • From Devastation Trailhead: 6.0 mi (9.7 km) round-trip. Plan for 4 to 5 hours. Parking at Devastation Trailhead allows for a more scenic experience, letting you explore Uēaloha (Byron Ledge), the Kīlauea Iki loop, and Nāhuku lava tube all in one hike. Consider adding the 0.5 mile (0.8 km) Devastation Trail to the hike by parking at Puʻupuaʻi.
• Bring: Water, food, hat, sunscreen and rain gear. Be prepared for hot, dry, wet, windy weather conditions and steep and rocky terrain.
• Safety: Hiking on flow fields can be hazardous due to deep earth cracks, uneven and unstable terrain, and razor-sharp lava.

Download the Kīlauea Iki Trail Guide (pdf 921KB)

Leave rocks in their rightful place.
Park staff may use cairns (stacked rocks) to mark some trails and keep visitors safe. Please do not create new ones. The stacking of rocks can be culturally offensive, disorienting to hikers, and potentially against the law.