It totally depends on where the lava is flowing - for a long time, no lava has flown inside the national park, only in the fields around Kalapana. The only way to see that lava is during the authorized evening viewing hours from the viewing area, or by taking a guided tour with someone who has the right to enter Kalapana, and those tours leave in the middle of the night.

Lava flows change daily, even by the hour - so once you're on the island, you can research where it's flowing - but never go hiking over lava with a child strapped to you. A fall on hardened lava is just like falling on a pile of broken glass - the injuries are extensive, and often horrific.

There are paved trails or decent unpaved pathways to most of the scenic spots on the Big Island - waterfalls, vistas, beaches, petroglyphs, etc.