Hiking the Puʻu Loa Petroglyphs Trail in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Distance: 1.3 miles / 2.1 km
The Puʻu Loa Petroglyphs Trail is very different compared to the many trails surrounding the Kīlauea Caldera.
While most of the trails on the east side of volcano pass through a dense tropical rainforest, Puʻu Loa is between 3,000-4,000 ft. (914-1,219 m) lower than the rest of the park, meaning that it’s not only warmer down by the coast but also significantly drier.
However, outside of backpacking and the once-flowing Kalapana 'Firehose,' the Puʻu Loa Petroglyphs Trail is the best hike down by the coast off the Chain of Craters Road.
U.S. National Park Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
Puʻu Loa Petroglyphs Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Puʻu Loa Petroglyphs Trail is located directly off of Chain of Craters Road.
That being said, be careful while in this parking area, as cars tend not to slow down for the trailhead when going down or back up the volcano.
Google Maps Directions: Puʻu Loa Petroglyphs Trailhead
My Hawaiʻi Hiking Checklist
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Sun Shirt w/ Hood - A quality sun shirt can be your best friend on a trail with minimal shade, which can be found in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Puʻu Loa Petroglyphs Trail
The Puʻu Loa Petroglyphs Trail follows a mostly straight trail from the trailhead directly to the Puʻu Loa boardwalk.
While it could be easy to get lost in this vast open lava field, there should be plenty of rock cairns or Ahu to mark the trail as you go.
As you can see, there is no shade on the Puʻu Loa Trail, which is why I encourage hiking with a long-sleeved hooded athletic shirt, especially if you’re planning on doing multiple hikes over the course of your time in the park or on the Big Island.
Even though the Puʻu Loa Petroglyphs Trail isn’t nearly as forested as the upper elevations of the park, there are still a number of different native Hawaiian plants along the trail, which I’ll talk more about at the end.
Puʻu Loa Petroglyphs
After about 0.6 miles (1.0 km), the Puʻu Loa Trail ends at this boardwalk around the most significant petroglyphs within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
My only advice is to walk the boardwalk slowly, as there are a number of Hawaiian petroglyphs surrounding the trail that can be easy to miss if you’re moving too fast.
Native Plants on the Puʻu Loa Trail
Regardless that Puʻu Loa is not in the same wet forest environment as other areas in the park, there are still a number of low elevation dry forest species to look out for.
Some of these include ʻUhaloa, ʻAʻaliʻi, and ʻIlima, to name the most prominent three.
To learn more about these as well as tons of other native species from across the Hawaiian Islands, you can read more in my separate post.
Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide
More Hawaiʻi Volcanoes Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing adventures within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, check out my separate posts below!
Best Hotels & Vacation Rentals on Hawaiʻi Island
Since Hawaiʻi Island is such a big island, I recommend starting your search on VRBO to find places in both Kona and Hilo.
This way, you can plan your adventures on all sides of the island without having to drive too far.
Island of Hawaiʻi
Hawaiʻi Island Airport-Hotel Shuttle
Prices on ride-share apps like Uber/ Lyft cannot beat the price of booking your hotel or vacation rental shuttle prior to arrival.
That being said, the shuttle option below is incredibly cheap, and it’s a great option to get to accommodations across the Kailua-Kona side of the Big Island!
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
One of my favorites!
Visiting Other Islands
If you are visiting Hawaiʻi Island or heading to another island, check out some of my personal recommendations for Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, Molokai, Lānaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island) in these separate posts.
If you’re trying to decide which island is right for your visit, check out my overview about each island in the post below.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Hawaiian Island to Visit?
What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
The weather in Hawaiʻi can often appear to be warm and beautiful throughout the year, but in my experience, there is a lot more to consider when planning what time of year to visit the islands, such as what island you are considering, what sides of each island do you plan to stay, what activities are you most interested in, the wildlife, and countless other nuanced variables that can all impact the type of trip you can expect to have.
For these reasons, I highly recommend reading through my separate article to not only understand my thoughts regarding the best time of year to come to Hawaiʻi but also what you need to consider based on the time of year that you plan to visit.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
Safety
All hikes in Hawaiʻi should not be compared to trails outside of the islands, and hikers should exercise due caution on every adventure, given that many are extremely dangerous.
By this, I mean that Hawaiʻi is known for hot, humid weather, steep, dramatic, and unstable cliffs, and flash floods, which can occur without warning. Therefore, it is important that you check the local forecast, understand the physical condition of your entire group, and pack sufficient food and water before attempting any hike.
Disclaimer
All information provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for information or advice from qualified professionals or managing agencies.
Noah Lang Photography LLC makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information provided here, and readers should use their own discretion, judgement, and seek professional advice where needed.
Furthermore, Noah Lang Photography LLC shall not be held responsible for any injuries, lost individuals, or legal issues arising from the use of information provided on this website, and if applicable, the above safety disclaimer should be referenced to provide a generic overview of the risks involved.
All said, the content on this blog is for the sole use of Noah Lang Photography LLC, and unauthorized use or reproduction of this content is strictly prohibited.
U.S. National Parks Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
More U.S. National Parks
If you’d like to read more about some of my best recommendations when visiting other U.S. National Parks, check out some of my other posts below!
Disclosure
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However, some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission if a purchase is made through one of those links. This commission comes at no additional cost to you, and I only recommend products that I personally use and believe will add value to my readers. Thank you for your support, which enables me to continue creating more!
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