Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park · Hawaii

Kaʻū Desert Trail

9.9 mi of trail, end to end · about 1,400 ft of climbing · 1,740 ft–3,045 ft · native surface · trail class Developed, Moderately Developed · hiking

1,744 ft 3,027 ft · 7.3 mi high 3,027 ft

Trailhead Kau Desert 3,045 ft Drive there

Footprints Area the Park Service's write-up

1-2 Hours · no dogs

Start Kaʻū Desert Trailhead

Two people walking on a paved path through a lava landscape at sunset

In 1790, a dramatic explosion occured at the summit of Kīlauea. The eruption involved a torrent of hot gas, ash, and sand that rained down on the Kaʻū Desert. Caught in the middle of this deadly, suffocating storm were groups of Native Hawaiians travelling through the region on long-used trails. In the newly fallen layer of ash, these groups left behind footprints that we can still see today— a reminder that Hawaiians have beared witness to the geological drama of this island for centuries.

A shelter with an exhibit about these footprints is accessible via an easy walk about .8 miles (1.3 km) from the Kaʻū Desert Trailhead on Highway 11.

Read more about the story of the Footprints area

Trailhead: the Kaʻū Desert Trailhead on Highway 11

Difficulty: Easy walk between the Kaʻū Desert Trailhead on Highway 11 and the Footprints shelter

Distance: .8 mi (1.3 km) from the Kaʻū Desert Trailhead to Footprints shelter

Bring water, food, hat, sun protection and rain gear.

Accessibility Sections of trail are paved, but with steep inclines and occasional deep sand and uneven surfaces.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 50 trails in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National ParkFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.