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| Flowing lava from Kilauea volcano around Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. |
Haleakalā National Park
Say “Hawaii” and you probably think warm tropical beaches. A day hike up a volcanic summit on the island of Maui, however, will greatly broaden your perception of the Aloha State, however. The half-mile Hosmer Grove Loop Trail in Haleakalā National Park heads through what many have labeled “The Alien Forest”…not because it looks otherworldly but because most of the trees here aren’t native to the Hawaiian Islands.
Keonehe'ehe'e Trail (aka Sliding Sands Trail)
Haleakalā National Park
Though many hike the mountain tops of Haleakalā National Park to enjoy fantastic sunrises, there’s another romantic sight to see there: rainbows. Dormant for at least four centuries, the national park’s Haleakalā volcano is massive, soaring more than 10,000 feet in the sky, its crater almost 7 miles across, 2 miles wide, and half-a-mile deep. If lucky enough to hike the volcano after or near a rainstorm, you stand a good chance of being treated to rising mist that reveals a rainbow. For many, it’s an awe-inspiring, inspirational moment, especially amid the ashen remains of the extinct cinder cones being walked.
Best trails to see Haleakalā National Park’s wonders
Among the best ways to see Haleakalā National Park’s top sights is via a day hike. Just five short trails will allow you to enjoy each of the park’s highlights – the rim and crater of a volcano, the world’s most romantic sunrise, a waterfall with scenic pools downstream, the rare Hawaiian goose, and a grove of alien trees.
Kilauea Iki Trail
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
Families can hike to the center of a lava field that still emits steam and boasts hot rocks at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. The 4-mile Kilauea Iki Trail loop is a study in contrast, opening with a walk through a lush green rain rain forest and ending with a path across a desolate black crater.
Video of Hawai'i Volcanoes lava flow to ocean
Perhaps one of the most dramatic sights at any of America’s national parks are the lava flows at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. As the hot liquid rock streams down black rock, some of it falls into the splashing waters of the Pacific Ocean, releasing a gush of scalding steam.
Best trails to see Hawaii Volcanoes’ wonders
Among the best ways to see Hawaii Volcanoes National Park’s top sights is via a day hike. Just five short trails will allow you to enjoy each of the park’s highlights – the world’s largest volcano, lava flows, petroglyphs, rainforests, and smoking rock banks.
Learn more about national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks series.
