Some info about me: My name is Josh; I'm 32; I live off-grid; I moved to Big Island in 2018; I graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a degree in philosophy. The hike is composed of jungle, boulder fields, lava fields, & lava hills. Some parts of the hike are flat, others more rugged. A few sections require you to ascend/descend a small hill of solid lava rock. There's always a place to put your feet/hands & the lava is stable. I don't recommend this hike for anyone with a disability/children under 7. The exact lower age cutoff depends on the child/parent. There's no upper age cutoff or fitness requirement. Many people who are out of shape have succeeded. The tide pool is formed from a basin of lava rock. While it's often fully accessible, sometimes only certain parts are accessible. Almost always there's an area to submerge yourself. Rarely, the levels are too low or the conditions too rough for swimming. The conditions impact the height of the blowhole splash. There are no ticks and very few bugs or mosquitoes.