Things to do nearMauna Loa
Mauna Loa, on the Big Island of Hawaii, is the world's largest active volcano, drawing visitors with its raw volcanic landscapes, dramatic lava fields, and profound geological history.
Mauna Loa is the largest volcano on Earth by volume and covers more than half of the Big Island of Hawaii. It has been erupting for hundreds of thousands of years, and its most recent significant eruption occurred in 2022, adding new layers of lava to a landscape already shaped by countless flows. The volcano sits within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its geological story is inseparable from the formation of the Hawaiian Islands themselves.
Visitors exploring Mauna Loa encounter a terrain unlike almost anywhere else in the United States. The Mauna Loa Road leads through progressively older lava fields and native vegetation zones, offering a visible record of successive eruptions. At higher elevations, the landscape becomes spare and otherworldly, with ropy pahoehoe and jagged aa lava textures side by side. The summit caldera, Mokuaweoweo, is one of the largest in the world and rewards the multi-day hike required to reach it.
The trails on Mauna Loa are strenuous and high-altitude, making physical preparation important. The Observatory Trail and the summit route attract experienced hikers who come specifically for the challenge and the extraordinary views across the Pacific. Backcountry cabins along the summit trail are available by permit, allowing overnight stays in one of the most remote and elemental settings in Hawaii.
Mauna Loa represents a rare opportunity to stand on living geology and understand, in a direct and sensory way, how volcanic islands are born and grow. It is a place that rewards patience, preparation, and genuine curiosity about the natural world.
7-day forecast
Chance of rainTips for visiting Mauna Loa
Visit during the dry season, roughly April through September, when summit trails are more accessible and skies are clearer for viewing the volcanic landscape.
Bring warm, layered clothing even if temperatures at sea level are hot, as conditions near the summit can drop sharply and winds are often strong.
Start any hike early in the morning to avoid afternoon cloud cover that frequently rolls in and obscures views across the caldera and surrounding lava fields.
Stop at the Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park before heading toward Mauna Loa, as rangers can provide current trail conditions and safety information.
Carry more water than you think you need, as the high-altitude terrain is dry and exposed, and there are no reliable water sources along most of the upper trails.
Top tours & experiences near Mauna Loa
2-Hour Mauna Kea Guided Stargazing Tour
Deep-space views and included night-sky portraits with expert guides
Guided Hilo Bay Kayak Tour to Coconut Island
Paddle Hilo Bay with a local guide and visit Coconut Island
Cruise Hilo Coast Waterfalls & Sea Cliffs
Sightseeing cruise with waterfalls, sea cliffs, and Hilo history
Mauna Kea Solar Viewing & Stargazing Tour From Hilo
Solar viewing by day, stargazing by night on Maunakea from Hilo
Big Island Private Waterfall Swim Tour
A guided day of rainforest trails, island legends, and a private waterfall swim
Explore Kilauea Summit-to-Shore Guided Tour From Kona
See Kilauea from summit to shore on an 8-hour shared day tour
3-Hour Snorkel Cruise in Waikoloa
Sail, snorkel and enjoy lunch aboard a spacious catamaran
Kohala Coast Sunset Cruise
A relaxed luxury powerboat evening with refreshments, comfort, and small-group service
Kohala Coast Whale Watch Cruise
Spot humpback whales from a shaded powerboat along the Kohala Coast
Mauna Kea Sunrise & Stargazing Guided Tour
Stargaze with an astronomer, then watch sunrise from Mauna Kea’s summit
Sunset Cruise in Hilo Bay
Cruise Hilo Bay at sunset with time to swim and bring your own drinks
Private Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Shuttle Tour
Ride in comfort from North Hawaiʻi to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park in half a day
Explore Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on a 12-Hour Tour
Tour Kona coffee country, Black Sand Beach, and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Mauna Kea Solar Viewing & Stargazing Tour From Kona
See the sun by solar telescope, then stargaze on Mauna Kea in 6 hours
Explore Big Island on an 11-Hour Circle Island Tour
Circle the Big Island in a day with coffee, black sand beach, and Volcanoes National Park
Explore Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on a 11-Hour Tour
Circle the Big Island in a day, with Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and coffee country
Guided Kilauea Hike In Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Hike Kilauea lava flows and explore Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park with lunch included
Full-Day Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Guided Hike
Hike Kīlauea’s 1881–2018 lava flows with lunch and dinner included
Kona Big 5 Marine Life Snorkeling Cruise
Search offshore waters and snorkel Kona's reef habitats
Guided Big Island Black Sand Beach & Volcanoes Tour
Black sand, volcanic landscapes and Hilo sights in one day
ʻAkaka Falls & Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Guided Tour
Explore ʻAkaka Falls, volcano landscapes, and historic Hilo in one day
Fissure 8 & Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Tour
Walk the 2018 lava landscape and explore Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Mauna Kea UFO Night Sky Tour
Explore Hawaii’s night sky with night vision and satellite tracking
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park After-Dark Tour
Explore waterfalls, black-sand shores, and volcanic landscapes after sunset
Big Island Volcanoes & Waterfalls Guided Tour
Pair rainforest waterfalls with a guided journey through Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park