Lace up your hiking boots and prepare for an adventure I explore some of the best hikes on the Big Island of Hawaii.

From exploring the otherworldly landscapes of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to trekking through lush tropical forests, this is your complete guide to the best hikes on the island.

There is a hike in this post for everyone. Some are flat and paved, while others are more challenging perfect for adventurers. However, all of them are bound to leave you in awe of how beautiful Hawaii truly is.

In this list you will find hikes that take you to beaches, waterfalls, awesome snorkeling spots, across volcanic lava fields, and more!

After living on the Big Island for 4 months, these are the best hikes I’d recommend to anyone visiting the island. I know you will love them just as much as I did.

Pin this post for later!

1. Kilauea Iki Trail + Crater Rim Loop

• Mileage: 3.2 miles round trip
• Conditions: Can be foggy and rainy, decent elevation gain
• Parking: Parking lot at trailhead

I’ll start this list off with a hike at one of the most iconic elements of Hawaii: the volcanoes. The Big Island is home to the only active volcano which is located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Since this is a National Park, you will be subject to a $35 entrance fee which is charged per car. I opted to use my America the Beautiful Pass for free entry.

The Kilaeua Iki Trail + Crater Rim Loop is one of the more popular hikes in the park, but it’s for good reason.

This trail begins in a rainforest on the rim of a volcanic crater where you’ll descend down to hike across a solid lava lake.

The rainforests and barren landscapes you’ll see on this trail make this hike a great representation of the park.

So if you only have time to do one hike at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, make it this one.

2. Devastation Trail

• Mileage: 1 mile round trip
• Conditions: Paved, flat
• Parking: Parking lot at trailhead

The Devastation Trail is also located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and has some pretty spectacular views of the desolate landscapes of the park.

It’s short distance and paved path makes it suitable for hikers of all abilities.

The turnaround point of the trail is the Pu’upua’i Overlook which overlooks the Kilauea Iki trail, seen below.

This is the lava lake that you hike across on the Kilauea Iki Trail that we talked about previously. It’s pretty cool to see it from above on the Devastation Trail!

Detour to Kenanakako’i Overlook

Across from this trailhead, there is a road called Crater Rim drive. As of 2023, this road is closed to vehicles due to an earthquake from recent eruptions a few years back making it undrivable in certain spots. However, you can still walk on this road.

My friends and I walked down this road past the closed road signs after we hiked Devastation Trail.

We found a great lookout point of the steaming crater called Kenanakako’i Overlook. It was about another half mile each way down the road to view the crater seen below.

If you visit the island during an eruption, the above photo is is what this lookout looks like at night! This is the best spot for lava viewing in the park.

3. Papakolea Green Sand Beach

• Mileage: 6 miles round trip
• Conditions: No shade, flat
• Parking: Gravel parking lot at trailhead

If there’s one hike you must do on the Big Island, it’s the trail to the green sand beach. Also known as Papakolea Beach.

This island is home to 1 out of only 4 green sand beaches in the entire world! And let me tell you, it does not disappoint.

I’d recommend starting this hike early in the day to beat the heat, and the crowds.

I started the hike pretty early around 7 AM and got to the beach at 8:30 AM and I was the first one there!

The 3 miles to the overlook will take you across otherworldly plains where you will walk on lava rock, sand, and grass. Once at the overlook of the beach, you will begin the descent to the gorgeous green sand.

This consists of a few short narrow wooden staircases and a little bit of rock climbing to get down to the bottom. This is doable for most people and isn’t too challenging! It is definitely worth it to get to the bottom.

It’s a relatively small beach but there are some awesome rock formations to see.

Best of all, hiking to the green sand beach is completely free!

4. Captain Cook Monument Trail

• Mileage: 4 miles round trip
• Conditions: Steep, rocky, very little shade
• Parking: On the side of Napo’opo’o Road. Spots are limited

Make sure to bring your snorkeling gear with you on this hike because the Captain Cook Monument Trail leads you to a beautiful bay known to be one of the best places to snorkel on the Big Island.

You will hike down through a forested area full of lava rock.

I would recommend wearing hiking boots on the trail and bringing sandals/ water shoes with you that you can wear in the water to protect your feet from sea urchins and rocks.

Once you get down to the bottom, there will be a trail that goes left and an open area in the trees straight ahead where you can walk on some lava rock and go right into the water.

The trail to the left takes you to the Captain Cook Monument which is pretty cool to see, and it has good access points to get in the water too.

The underwater sea life is beautiful here. This was my first time snorkeling and all the vibrant colored fish, plants, and coral left me in awe.

We were in the water for hours and my friend even saw a small shark in the deeper parts of the ocean!

The hike back up from the beach can be pretty brutal especially in the heat so be sure to have plenty of water and snacks with you.

This is another must-do hike when you visit the Big Island.

5. Pololu Valley

• Mileage: 1 mile round trip
• Conditions: Steep & rocky trail
• Parking: Parking lot at trailhead

If you’re looking for a quick hike with some amazing mountain views and a beach at the end, then look no further than the Pololu Valley Trail!

This hike is located on the very northern tip of the island.

Even from just the parking lot you get a really stunning view of the coast. Plus, it’s free to park and hike.

When you first set out on the trail, there may be a ranger at the trailhead making sure visitors are prepared with water and are capable to do the hike. This is because this trail is pretty steep and they want everyone to be safe.

He also tells you that there is no swimming at the beach due to the dangerous waves and rocky nature of the beach. Numerous people have died here in the past so please don’t attempt to go in the water!

Once at the bottom the trail continues on along the beach and into a wooded area. It does add on about another half mile if you continue on here but it was a nice walk.

This was definitely one of the best hikes on the Big Island and worth driving to whether you’re in Kona or Hilo despite how far north on the island it is.

6. Akaka Falls

• Mileage: 0.5 mile loop
• Conditions: Paved, little elevation gain
• Parking: Parking lot at trailhead, costs $5

Akaka Falls is a bit of a more touristy hike, but when you walk up to the 442 foot tall waterfall, you’ll understand why.

It’s a great little stop if you’re in the Hilo area. I think it’s a must see when you’re on the Big Island.

The loop path leading you to the falls is completely paved so it’s perfect for people of all ages and abilities.

There are some stairs required so keep that in mind, but there are handrails throughout the trail to help visitors with mobility issues.

7. Kau Desert Footprints Trail

• Mileage: 4 miles round trip
• Conditions: Flat, no shade
• Parking: Pull off on Highway 11. Coming from Hilo it will be on your left. From Naalehu it will be on the right

The Kau Desert Footprints Trail is technically considered part of the National Park, but it’s completely free!

You don’t have to go through the main entrance of the park to get to the trailhead as it’s right off Highway 11, several miles south of the National Park entrance.

This hike will take you across miles of lava rock which makes you feel like you’re walking on a different planet.

It’s very flat and the end of this trail will lead you to a junction of two other trails that are optional if you want to make it a longer hike.

You are also able to see the wonderful Mauna Loa here if it’s a clear day.

This is definitely one of the most unique hikes on the Big Island.

The Kau Desert Footprints Trail also isn’t as packed as some of the other trails at the National Park can get which is perfect if you’re looking for some solitude.

8. White Road Hike

• Mileage: 5 miles round trip
• Conditions: Foggy, cliff drops, high elevation
• Parking: At the end of White Road in Kamuela. It is in a neighborhood near Waimea

Alright, I am going to conclude this list with a bit of a more secret hike on the Big Island.

A hike for those of you who crave adventure. It’s not one you’ll find on AllTrails or in most travel articles because this 5 mile trail is technically located on private property.

With that being said, please use your own discretion when planning to do the White Road Hike. It actually is a pretty popular spot for locals and my friend and I even ran into a few others on their way up.

It’s good practice to leave a little aloha gift for the property owners for letting us do this amazing hike on their land. Many people will leave $10 at the gate or if the owner is there hand it straight to him.

The hike is located in the Kohala Mountains in Waimea so you’ll see amazing views of the lush expansive mountains amidst the fog.

This trail will take you through lush green forests along the cliffside and over large water pipes.

However, the main attraction here isn’t the dramatic cliff drops or the overlooks of the valley, it’s actually the waterslide.

In the 1800’s this area was part of a sugarcane plantation which used these water ditch systems to carry water through the mountains.

The “waterslide” is actually just a water flume that carries water from up on the top of the mountain down and through tunnels below.

One of the tunnels you actually hike through as part of the trail (pictured above). So, make sure to bring a light source and shoes that you don’t mind getting wet, because you’ll be walking through about a foot of rushing water.

The end of the tunnel system will eventually lead you to the end of the trail and spit you out right at the base of the waterslide.

The slide itself is pretty intimidating looking but once you climb up, the only way back is to slide down. The water is fast. It was terrifying but a ton of fun.

I suggest if you set out to do this hike you 1) don’t go alone and 2) you bring along an inflatable inner tube that you can blow up right before you go down the slide. You won’t regret it!

I hope you enjoyed this complete list of the best hikes on the Big Island! This is by far my favorite island in Hawaii because of all the variety of landscapes you’ll find here.

The Big Island is one of the best destinations for hikers of all experience levels. I hope you were able to add a few more hiking trails to your Hawaii itinerary from this article. Thank you for reading!