Mauna Loa Trail
~3 days · 15.7 mi · moderate · Point-to-point
Quick facts
What the Mauna Loa Trail is known for
A 38-mile out-and-back ascent of Mauna Loa (13,679 ft), the world's largest volcano, through Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. The trail climbs through treeline and across ancient lava flows to Red Hill Cabin (10,035 ft) and then the summit North Pit Cabin (13,250 ft), making this a 3-4 day alpine-equivalent adventure in the tropics. Altitude sickness is a real risk; free cabin reservations through NPS are required.
Elevation profile
Elevation ranges from 21,883 ft to 42,776 ft over 15.7 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).
- Uphill 15.5 mi · 99%
- Downhill 0.0 mi · 0%
- Flat 0.1 mi · 1%
Ridgefold breaks every route into uphill, downhill, and flat — see the full per-day breakdown in the app.
How hard is the Mauna Loa Trail?
On the Ridgefold Difficulty Index, the Mauna Loa Trail scores 39/100, a relative rating across the 569 trails we've mapped, blending distance, elevation gain, and steepness. It is a comparison within our set, not an official rating.
Frequently asked questions
How many days does the Mauna Loa Trail take?
Most backpackers hike the Mauna Loa Trail in about 3 days (2 nights out) over its 15.7 miles, though pace varies with fitness and conditions.
How much elevation gain is on the Mauna Loa Trail?
The Mauna Loa Trail climbs roughly 6,404 ft total — about 408 ft per mile, topping out near 13,038 ft.
Related trails
Sources & attribution
Route geometry and stats derived from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) — source relation. Stats are approximate and may differ from official surveys; permit rules and conditions change — verify with the managing authority before your trip. Last reviewed July 2026.