Mauna Loa

Mauna Loa, located on the Big Island of Hawaii in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, is the largest active volcano in the world, with the largest mountain mass on earth. You can hike through Mauna Loa's rugged high altitude wilderness area or inspect cinder cones, gaping chasms, active floes and barren lava wrought into fantastic shapes.

Mauna Loa means "Long Mountain"—and boy does its name do it justice! At 60 miles long and 30 miles wide, it makes up half of Hawaii's Big Island. The flanks of Mauna Loa sit on the sea floor about 16,400 feet deep. The height of this volcano in relation to the sea floor is approximately 30,080 feet! According to scientists, over recent years the summit has been steadily inflating, suggesting that the magma reservoir within the volcano is swelling. Earthquake activity beneath Mauna Loa occurs about 10 times a week. We know that all large land masses push down on the Earth's crust due to their enormous weight, so directly beneath Mauna Loa, the sea floor on which it sits is depressed by an additional 26,000 feet.

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is opened 24 hours a day, year round. There are about 2.5 million visitors a year with summer, Christmas and Easter as peak visitation periods. Activities in the Mauna Loa Wilderness include backpacking, camping, interpretive talks, nature walks, star gazing, slide shows and exhibits on volcanoes, hiking and backcountry fishing. Rangers give several walks and talks explaining about the park's natural and cultural resources. To better understand Hawaiian volcanoes, visit the Thomas A Jaggar Museum, Located along Crater Rim Drive, three miles from the park entrance, the museum offers earth science displays and features murals depicting Hawai'ian culture. An adjacent overlook offers a panoramic view of Kilauea Caldera and Mauna Loa.

Backpacking to Mauna Loa needs to be taken very seriously. You should be adequately equipped, experienced in wilderness/high altitude trekking, and physically fit. The Mauna Loa trail ascends 6,600 feet in 18 miles over rough, unstable 'a'a and pahoehoe lava. Hiking time from the Mauna Loa trailhead to the Pu'u 'Ula'ula cabin is four to six hours, and from there to the Mauna Loa cabin is 8 to 12 hours. Allow 1 hour per mile when hiking Mauna Loa. Be prepared for severe winter conditions, including blizzards, high winds, and whiteouts. Snow or driving rain are possible at any time. High altitude storms can occur without warning. Keep in mind that temperatures are below freezing at night all year round. Also, remember that eruptions can occur at any time, so hiking is really at your own risk. If, after reading all that, you're still up for braving the magnificent hike, check with the visitors center for maps and a packing list of wilderness hike essentials.

The Mauna Loa cabin, on the rim of Moku'aweoweo at 13,250 feet, provides simple accommodations perfect for backpackers. There are 12 bunks with mattresses and pit toilet facilities. The site has water catchment tanks, though all water must be treated before drinking. The Mauna Loa Road crosses areas containing very flammable grasses and brush, so campfires are not allowed. Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park also has two drive-in campgrounds where camping is available, free of charge. Campsites are assigned on a first-come basis, and no reservations, permits or check-in are necessary. Stays are limited to 7 days in a month. For visitors who prefer less minimal sleeping arrangements, spend the night in the Volcano House Hotel, across from the Kilauea Visitor Center on the caldera rim. You can rent a rustic cabin, and enjoy the hotel gift shop, restaurant and snack bar.

Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park is located on the Big Island of Hawai`i, off Highway 11. It is a 45 minute drive from Hilo and 2 1/2 hour drive from Kailua-Kona. Several international and mainland airlines provide service to Hilo and Kona International Airports. ATA offers direct flights from the continental U.S. and Canada to Hilo.