To see tree molds, walk through a forest tunnel, see fascinating lava formations around a deep…read morefissure and have expansive views away from the crowds, take the hikes from the Maunaulu pullout. The Pu'uhuluhulu hike is 2 miles round trip and has several tree molds, a forest tunnel for shade, walks across lava, and views of Napau and Maunaulu in the distance. This hike has uneven footing and some elevation gain so boots or good soled shoes are needed. At this same turnout is the 1969 Fissure formation where lava poured into a deep crack in the crust.

This is a pretty long drive with many scenic turn out points. You won't regret coming here! Drive…read moreall the way to the end which should be the sea arch. You'll get to experience many of the great things the national park has to offer along with getting many picture moments.

This zipline must have the most beautiful views near Hilo and Reed and Kanani were exceptional…read moreguides allowing us to try fruit direct from the tree and capturing our photos for happy memories! Also included were a pretty botanical garden and maze to challenge you. :) It was an awesome experience and the whole crew is super knowledgeable and friendly!

Super fun, thoughtful crew; Nick, Avery and Myra!! Beautiful park and a great value. We learned…read moreabout some flora and fauna as well!

Go for lunch and the art. The owner, Ira Ono, is sweet and fun. A wonderful place to spend the…read moreafternoon. Beyond the art shop and restaurant, walk around the grounds. I'd give this place 11 stars if I could

Interesting gardens Very friendly and helpful staff Many different gift items for yourself and…read moreothers back home.

Although the visitor station was closed, the Art center was open and had souvenirs and jewelry to…read morepurchase at the entry to the park.

A wide variety of selection from various artists at varying price ranges make this a good place for…read moreanyone to shop. The staff was extremely helpful and made sure our purchase was adequately packed for travel. Great to see so many artists featured in one gallery.

What's not to love about visiting a national park? We came here to see if perchance we could catch…read morethe volcano erupting however we missed it by a day and only got to see the steam flowing out of the mountain and the steam vents. This is a huge park with lots to do. We went to the crater rim side to hike the trails out there and check out the lava tube. We also visited the visitor center to get more info about the park and other places to go. My family earned their hiking credits here and we spent about 3 hours here exploring before heading back to the hotel. We were on the top part of the island so it was a 2 hour drive, however I recommend leaving before dark as the roads get dark, there is no light and it's often zero visibility.

What an overload for the senses. There are trails of all lengths and difficulty so plan well. Bring…read morelots of water, closed toed shoes and pack food if you plan to make a day of it. The view of the active volcano is spectacular and the rangers are helpful with answering any questions. The parking is sufficient although you may have to drive around for a moment if it's busy. We did the long hike and it was rigorous, but not impossible as long as you do not have mobility issues. There are stairs and steps at the beginning and the end, but walking across the lava field is amazing. Follow the rock formations for your directions. At the end, we wanted to wash our hands, but the only place for a sink is in the volcano house. All other areas are just out houses so plan accordingly. Every purchase in the gift shops supports the Rangers and the park so be kind and pick up an item or two and even feel free to give an additional donation when you check out. There are not many gas stations on the road to the volcano coming from the south around the bottom of the island. However, gas is cheaper when you do find it then you may find in Kona.

if wanting an in depth experience at the national parks tour and the volcano, this tour is for you…read more Eric did a great job,

Kilauea Eco Guides = Top. We selected the 5 hour tour and we have absolutely no regrets. With a…read moreguided tour by Kilauea Eco Guides, you'll learn how the volcano's complex geology ties together with the flora, fauna, and culture of the Hawaiian islands. We were lucky to have the lead guide/proprietor, Erik, as our guide - Erik has tremendous credentials as a trained geologist and academic in Hawaiian language and culture. Erik is extremely knowledgeable and friendly, and he made our park experience a great one. The main benefit of a private tour is that there are countless details that would be easy to overlook as an inexperienced visitor. Want to hold a real life example of "Pele's Tears"? No problem. Curious about how a traditional Hawaiian bandage is made from native plants right on the trail? Done. Think that is just a crack in the lava surface? It is likely 3,000' deep. If you are on the fence, go for it.

Way cool stop after our guided tour of the caldera rim and a short hike from the rim. Drinks are…read moreavailable and JUST what I needed. I'm not used to the altitude or using this much energy at this altitude. The gift shop has a good variety for what you will likely need. There are park rangers to answer your questions. I fond just standing back and listening in, there is a lot to learn!

The visitor center had historically been the first venue you come across when arriving to the park…read more Now that it is under construction, you are diverted to the former military facility that has barracks for rent. There are still guides there to greet you and manage the Junior Rangers program and to instruct you of the hazards associated with the active volcano.

I am a top-level reviewer on TripAdvisor, and we travel the world A LOT; I review most things…read morereally highly! I was so excited for this tour for my family. BUMMER that I didn't get to do my usual high-star review... It seems to come down to spoken words not matching with contract. I frankly wonder if our awesome planning phone conversation was perhaps under "compromised" conditions, as I know I was clear & sober, and I believed what was said... And that is where our mis-communication occurred. The only reason we are coming to the big island is the Volcanic National Park. I am sad to report that my interaction with Hayley went poorly - we didn't get a chance to take the awesome tour, as although I made reservations many months ahead, she dumped us 6 weeks out. Given my many years in customer service, I was hoping she would at least help us with the crunch we were left in due to mis-communication and we could just continue on with the plan; I took responsibility for my part of the misunderstanding, she replied with "...it is in both of our best interest to cancel this reservation..." Actually, NO, it's NOT in both of our best interest, just her CYA, as apparently there's a crackdown on tour agencies offering taxi-like service, etc. We are now left 6 weeks out with plane reservations in and out of the big island, a motel reservation, with only the intent of coming to the big island to tour the Volcanic National Park, and now NO TOUR. We were going to pay her $850 for the day! Apparently she didn't like what I had to say regarding our mis-communication. I HATE to post bad reviews, I am assuming we are a "bad day/night" exception and she just didn't want to actually deal with it. Sounds like otherwise she rocks. Wish we could have been another 5-star review. But now I'm SCRAMBLING to get a tour to accommodate the flights and hotel we have already booked... It just wasn't that hard to make this right. I am happy to copy the back-and-forth emails to anyone who would like more details on what happened. Just know words over the phone mean nothing, only what's in writing or email matters. Not a problem for most if it's a simple agreement by email. TravelPhotoWriter... at.... g... mail... dot com UPDATE: I think ultimately it worked out GREAT that she cancelled us! We booked a replacement excursion with the company that rates higher than this one on T.A., very professional service & $100 less!!!

we had such an amazing tour, I was sorry to hear the previous experience, but we were able to fit…read morein on a tour that canceled last minute and had a tour beyond our expectations. Tyler was the best guide, relaxing and extremely informative. would do again next time we come. highly recommend

This trail is not for the faint of heart! We joked on the way back that we were devastated by…read moredevastation trail. Lots of beautiful areas to hike and we went down this one trying to get to Ike the hard way I guess. Gravel trail. We found the stairs to Ike and they were treacherous so we didn't go down. We took the easier oath by the lace tubes a few days later. But this one will definitely give you some different viewing points.

This trail is easy, it's a paved road to probably the best lookout we've seen at Volcanoes national…read morepark. It is also the busiest. Parking is scarce so it's best to come early. We got here and watched the sunset then waited for it to get dark. It does get cold so I would recommend bringing warm clothes if you will be here once the temperatures start cooling. When we went they had rangers rotating visitors because like I said earlier it gets really busy so if you stay for a while they will ask you to move around to the back so others can get a good view as well. Once you park, there are signs directing you to the actual trail. Using your GPS will have you walking in the opposite direction.

Perfect hike for relaxing vacation. Mostly flat and only up & down to get to the walk on the crater…read moreitself. 3.3 miles around the rim (include walking across the crater). Lots of great views around the crater from all angles. And it was fun to be in the crater itself. You have to follow a path of stacked rocks else you won't find the place to exit the crater. It's a very doable hike for beginners; unless it's hot. Then it might be more challenging. There are several parking areas, but I didn't know that, so ended up parking on the edge of a closed street and 'finding' my own trail to get to the main trail. haha.

This awesome 4 mile looped hike takes you to the bottom of a crater and provides beautiful views…read morewhile it takes you through changing scenery and varying temperatures. You can start this hike in a counter-clockwise direction at Kilauea Iki overlook, number 4 on your map. You'll find more available parking here during peak times. You can start your hike clockwise from Nahuku, number 3 on your map, which is also the same location as the Thurston Lava Tube. Due to the popularity of the Lava Tube, parking here can be difficult. The distance between the two parking lots is .5 miles. We started our hike at Nahuku around noon in December. This moderate level trail started with a chilly walk through a forest of ferns down stairs and over roots with muddy spots throughout. Once you reach the bottom, you can walk across the crater and over lava rocks. The weather at this point was windy. Once we reached the end of the crater and climbed our way back up to the trail, we took a break and had some lunch overlooking the crater. From this point. It was a 2 mile hike up to the top. The weather changed once again, and my jacket was no longer needed. Make sure you bring or wear the following: -Layered clothing to adapt to the varying temps -Hiking shoes with good traction -Hat -Water -Snacks or lunch -Sunscreen Restrooms are available at both starting points, but the overlook location are porta potties. I suggest using the restrooms at the lava tube. We left the location around 2pm and it was pretty crowded. Best to arrive by noon to avoid crowds. -