Hawai'i Volcanoes Wilderness

The Big Island of Hawaii is home to Hawai'i Volcanoes Wilderness and its volcanoes. This Wilderness is fragmented into four areas lying within Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. The northwestern extension holds Mauna Loa; to the southwest, a large chunk includes several miles of coastline. In order to protect humans from hazardous fumes, the areas surrounding erupting vents are closed to travel. More than 150 miles of trail crisscross the park, mostly within Wilderness. The Ka'aha Trail leads hikers down the fault scarps of Hilina Pali to the ocean. The Napau Trail crosses lava from the Mauna Ulu Lava Shield (1969-1974) and follows above the path of magma flowing to the vent on Kilauea's east rift.