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 (philosophy). The hike is composed of jungle, boulder fields, lava fields, & lava hills. The lava is rough & jagged. 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. In terms of difficulty, some rate the hike as intermediate while others rate it in between intermediate & difficult. Some sections require light scrambling. I don't recommend this hike for anyone with a disability/children under 7. The exact lower age cut-off depends on the child/parent. There's no upper age cut-off or fitness requirement. Many people who are out of shape have succeeded. The tide pool is formed from a basin of lava. The lava is rough & jagged. While the pool is often full, sometimes it's partially full. Almost always there's an area to submerge yourself. Rarely, the levels are too low or the conditions too rough for swimming (and there's still plenty to explore in the area then). There are no ticks and very few bugs or mosquitoes.