Last updated: June 15, 2021
Thing to Do
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 at Kīlauea Visitor Center, 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. Note: parking is extremely limited.
- From Kīlauea Visitor Center: 5.3 miles (8.5 km) round-trip "cherry stem" and loop. Plan for approximately 3 to 4 hours. Take Crater Rim Trail towards Kūpinaʻi Pali (Waldron Ledge) from Kīlauea Visitor Center to access Kīlauea Iki Trail loop. Connections from the Halemaʻumaʻu Trail near the visitor center are 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)
Details
Duration
2-4 Hours
Activity
Hiking
Pets Allowed
No
Activity Fee
No
Park entrance fee applies. There are no additional activity fees.
Location
Several trailheads in the Kīlauea summit area
Kīlauea Iki can be accessed from several trailheads, including from the Devastation Trailhead parking lot, Kīlauea Iki Overlook, Halemaʻumaʻu Trail, and Puʻupuaʻi.
Reservations
No
Time of Day
Day
Accessibility Information
Moderate to challenging trail. Steep and rocky with a 400' descent and ascent.
Leave rocks in their rightful place.
Park staff may use ahu (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.
Read more about one of the most striking eruptive events of the 20th century