The Mauna Kea Trail is considered the easiest route to hike to the summit of Mauna Kea

Mauna Kea

Mauna Kea is a volcano on the island of Hawaii. Standing above sea level, its peak is the highest point in the state of Hawaii. However, much of the mountain is under water; when measured from its oceanic base, Mauna Kea is over tall—significantly taller than Mount Everest...

 volcano

Volcano

2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...

, the highest volcano on the island of Hawai

Hawaii (island)

The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...

. The trail is 6 mi (10 km) long and loosely follows an unmaintained dirt road

Dirt road

Dirt road is a common term for an unpaved road made from the native material of the land surface through which it passes, known to highway engineers as subgrade material. Dirt roads are suitable for vehicles; a narrower path for pedestrians, animals, and possibly small vehicles would be called a...

. Iron poles mark the path every 500 ft (152 m).

The trail starts at the visitor's center at the Onizuka Center for International Astronomy

Onizuka Center for International Astronomy

The Onizuka Center for International Astronomy, also known as Hale Pōhaku, is a complex of support facilities for the telescopes and other instruments that comprise the Mauna Kea Observatory atop Mauna Kea, on Hawaii island.-History:...

 at 9200 ft (2,804 m), at 19°45′42"N 155°27′22"W.
The trailhead is reached by car from the Saddle Road (Hawaii route 200) and then turning north on the Mauna Kea access road. From 10000 to 11000 ft (3,048 to 3,352.8 ) the path consists of scree

Scree

Scree, also called talus, is a term given to an accumulation of broken rock fragments at the base of crags, mountain cliffs, or valley shoulders. Landforms associated with these materials are sometimes called scree slopes or talus piles...

. From 11000 to 12800 ft (3,352.8 to 3,901.4 m) the area is predominantly a'a lava flows and is not as steep. At 13130 ft (4,002 m) the road forks, with one path going to Lake Waiau

Lake Waiau

Lake Waiau is a high-elevation lake located at 13,020 feet above sea level on Mauna Kea, on the island of Hawaiʻi. It is the seventh highest lake in the USA , and one of very few lakes at all in the state of Hawaiʻi. It is relatively small, only about 100 m across, and varies in size as the...

 and the other fork to the summit.

The summit region is typically very cold, and sunscreen

Sunscreen

Sunblock is a lotion, spray, gel or other topical product that absorbs or reflects some of the sun's ultraviolet radiation on the skin exposed to sunlight and thus helps protect against sunburn...

 for protection from UV rays is recommended. Water is also recommended, although Lake Waiau is also drinkable.