Hilo ATV Tour: Muddy Trails on a Working Family Ranch in Mountain View

The Hilo ATV tour is the muddiest two hours you can book on the Big Island, and that is a compliment. It runs on a working family ranch in Mountain View, in the wet green country between Hilo and Volcano, where the rain that makes the east side so lush also keeps the trails full of puddles.

This page covers what the ride is like, what it costs, how to fit it into a Volcano day, and why it is one of the few ATV tours in Hawaiʻi that a family with young kids can do together.

Why this made our list

Most ATV tours on the islands run on dusty tracks through dry ranch land. This one is different because of where it is. Mountain View sits in upper Puna, a few miles upslope from Hilo, in country that gets rain most days of the year. The ranch trails wind through tall grass, pasture and the edges of the forest, and they stay wet. If you want a dry, scenic ride, look elsewhere. If you want to come back splattered head to toe and laughing, this is it.

The second reason is that it is a working ranch run by a family, not a theme-park attraction, and the ride feels like a tour of their land rather than laps of a track. Tours are capped at 20 riders, and the rating sits at 4.9 across more than 900 reviews.

The third is the location. It is about 25 minutes from Hilo and 35 minutes from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, which makes it an easy add to a Volcano day. Ride in the morning, eat lunch in Volcano village, and spend the afternoon and evening in the park.

Why this operator

We looked at the ATV rides on the island for location, who can come, and what guests say afterward. We picked this ranch because it is close to Hilo and Volcano, it takes riders as young as 3, it offers free cancellation, and the guest reviews talk about the people as much as the ride. For a family staying in Hilo or Volcano, nothing else is as close or as easy.

What the Hilo ATV tour is like

The tour runs about two hours. Here is how it usually goes.

1. Arrive at the ranch in Mountain View. The address is 17 N Kulani Rd. Come dressed to get muddy and leave a towel and a change of clothes in the car.
2. Gear up. Helmets on, a look at the machines, and a safety briefing on how to ride and how to follow the guide.
3. Follow the guide. Riders head out in a line behind the guide, who sets a pace the group can handle.
4. Ride the ranch. The trails run through pasture and tall grass and along the edge of the forest, with plenty of puddles.
5. The mud. This is what people remember. Hit a puddle with some speed and the rider beside you gets a wave of red-brown water.
6. Back to the barn. You return to the start, take photos of how dirty you are, and change before the drive back.

Prices and what you get

The Hilo ATV tour is from $119 per person before tax and booking fees. Check the booking page for current rates for your group. That price covers about two hours of guided riding, the ATV and a helmet, and the safety briefing. You drive yourself to the ranch. Gratuity for your guide is extra.

Who it’s for (and who should skip it)

Families, couples and groups of friends who want something active and a little ridiculous on the Hilo side. Because the tour starts at age 3, it is one of the rare motor tours where young kids can come along; check the booking page for how younger children ride and what age drivers must be.

Skip it if you hate being dirty, because there is no clean version of this ride. Skip it if you are pregnant or have back or neck problems; the trails are rough and the machines bounce. And if you want sweeping ocean views, this is a ranch-and-forest ride, not a scenic coastal drive; the Hilo waterfall cruise or the Hilo waterfall hike are better picks for scenery.

Where to check in and how to get there

The ranch is at 17 N Kulani Rd in Mountain View, just off Highway 11, the road between Hilo and Volcano. From downtown Hilo it is about 25 minutes. From Volcano village and the national park it is about 35 minutes. From Kona, plan on about two and a half hours each way, which is why we suggest folding it into a night on the east side rather than driving over and back in one day. Our Kona vs Hilo guide helps you decide where to stay.

Mountain View is a small rural community, so fill up and grab snacks in Hilo or Volcano.

Best time to go

Time of day. It rains on the Hilo side at any hour, so pick the slot that fits your day. A morning ride leaves the afternoon and evening free for Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, where the crater glow shows best after dark when the volcano is active.

Time of year. Any month. Hilo gets more than 125 inches of rain a year, so the trails are muddy year round. Winter can be a little wetter and cooler, which only adds to the mud.

Local tips before you book

• Dress for ruin. Old shorts or pants, an old shirt and closed-toe shoes you can throw away if you have to.
• Pack the car first. Towel on the seat, a full change of clothes, and a plastic bag for the muddy ones.
• Wear glasses. Sunglasses or clear glasses keep the spray out of your eyes when the rider in front hits a puddle.
• Pair it with Volcano. Ride in the morning, then head up the hill to the park. Our volcano e-bike tour is another way to see the park the same weekend.
• Bring a rain jacket. You will still get wet, but you will be warmer.
• Book the whole family on one tour. With up to 20 riders, groups can usually ride together if you book early.

The verdict

If you are spending time on the Hilo side and want something with a bit of adrenaline, book this ride. It is a real working ranch, it is rated 4.9, it takes kids from age 3, and it is muddier than anything on the Kona side. Pack a change of clothes, ride in the morning and spend the evening at the volcano.