This paved 1-mile trail on Crater Rim Drive takes you straight through what looks like an alien moonscape — the cinder field left behind by Kilauea Iki's explosive 1959 eruption. The contrast is wild: you're walking through this barren, Mars-like terrain while lush Big Island rainforest frames both sides. At the end, you get this incredible bird's-eye view down into the Kilauea Iki crater, where you can actually see hikers on the crater floor trail below. It's one of the most accessible ways to witness the raw power of Hawaii's volcanoes and see how ohia trees are slowly, stubbornly reclaiming the devastated landscape.
💡 Insider Tip
Walk all the way to the end for the killer crater overlook — that's where you'll get those epic album cover shots. There's actually closer parking if you drive a bit further past the main trailhead.
Open 24 hours
$30 per vehicle park entrance fee
Free at either trailhead
Morning for clear views
