About
Length (round trip)2.5 mi
ShapeOut-and-Back
DifficultyModerate
Elevation gain500 ft up
Typical time1 hr 30 min
TrailheadMauna Ulu parking, Chain of Craters Road
SurfaceCairned route over lava, then cinder cone
Best seasonYear round. The summit area is cool and wet; the coastal and Kau Desert sections are hot and exposed.
DogsNot allowed
AccessibilityRough and uneven terrain with steep incline up Puuhuluhulu cinder cone.
What you'll see ⛰️ Summit🌄 Big views🌲 Old growth

Maunaulu is a prominent lava shield formed during the 1969-1974 eruption. This significant geological event, centered just downhill from Puuhuluhulu cinder cone, dramatically surrounded most of the cinder cone over five years. Puuhuluhulu cinder cone is accessible via a short day hike beginning at the Maunaulu parking lot. In reference to its vegetation-covered slopes, Puuhuluhulu means "hairy hill" in Hawaiian and stands out in stark contrast to the adjacent lava flows of Maunaulu. Today, the top of Puuhuluhulu features an observation deck that provides a view of the Maunaulu lava shield that formed during the eruption. Puuhuluhulu cinder cone is accessible via beginning at the Maunaulu parking lot. A Maunaulu Trail Guide is also available (pdf- 7.63 MB) A restroom is available at the Maunaulu parking lot.

Tips
Follow the cairns carefully - the lava all looks the same and people do get disoriented out here. The forested kipuka on top of Puuhuluhulu is a striking contrast to the black rock all around.
Location

Mauna Ulu parking, Chain of Craters Road

Other Hikers
No one has logged this trail yet.
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Trail data: USGS National Map / PAD-US, the National Park Service, state agencies, and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Access and conditions change — check with the managing agency before you go.