Hawaii Volcanoes by Land Sea and Sky

Description:

Kilauea Visitor Center, located just inside the park entrance, offers visitor information and exhibits. Park Rangers are on duty at this site during business hours. This is a good place to get information about current water and trail conditions and volcanic activity. Films and videos are shown in the auditorium throughout the day. Hawaii Natural History Association operates a bookstore at this location with an extensive selection of books, maps, videotapes, slides and other educational items.

Description:

Visitors to this national park can enjoy a diverse environment of volcanic mountains and craters, lava flows and rain forests. Over half of the park is designated wilderness and provides an unusual landscape for a variety of recreation opportunities.

Located just inside the park entrance, Kilauea Visitor Center offers visitor information and exhibits. Films and videos, highlighting the park's special features and current eruption, are shown in the auditorium. A schedule of Ranger-led walks/talks is posted on the Ranger Activities bulletin board in the visitor center at 9:00am each morning.

Located along Crater Rim Drive, three miles from the park entrance, the Thomas A. Jaggar Museum offers earth science displays and features murals depicting Hawaiian culture. An adjacent overlook offers a panoramic view of Kilauea Caldera and Mauna Loa.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is located on the Island of Hawaii, 96 miles southeast of Kailua-Kona and 30 miles southwest of Hilo.

Description:

Crater Rim Drive is an eleven-mile loop road that encircles the summit Caldera, passes through the Ka`u Desert and tropical rain forest and provides access to well-marked scenic stops and short walks. This road provides access to Kilauea Visitor Center, Jaggar Museum, Halemaumau Overlook and Thurston Lava Tube. Several trails are accessible from this route, including Crater Rim Trail, Devastation Trail and Ka'u Desert Trail. You should allow one to three hours to tour this scenic drive, depending on how often you stop. Turn to the left as you enter Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and follow signs toward the Kilauea Visitor Center. This is the beginning of Crater Rim Scenic Drive.

Description:

This road begins at Crater Rim Drive and leads 20 miles along the southeastern slopes of Kilauea to the Puna coast. Along the way it descends 3,700 feet and provides sweeping views of lava flows and coastline. The road ends abruptly where a 1995 lava flow crosses it. Depending on changing volcanic activity, there may be opportunities for viewing active lava flows. No food or fuel is available along the Chain of Craters Road. Follow the signs for Crater Rim Drive in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Chain of Craters Road leaves Crater Rim Drive between Thurston Lava Tube and Halemaumau Overlook.

Description:

This site lies on your left approximately .7 miles from Steaming Bluffs. It is marked as a picnic area, but is also a great spot for viewing the Kilauea Caldera and Halema'uma'u Crater. The view from this site is similar to that found at the Jaggar Museum, but it is usually much less crowded.

Description:

Halemaumau Trail begins at the Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, descends 400 feet through rain forest, crosses the desert-like Kilauea Caldera and ends at Halemaumau Overlook. The trail is three and a half miles long, one way and rated as moderately difficult by the Park Service. The return trip may be made via Crater Rim Trail or another combination of short paths. Interesting volcanic formations along the path include: pahoehoe lava flows, steam vents, spatter ramparts and craters.
The trail continues into the Calera from the Halemaumau Overlook.

Description:

The trail to Pu'u Loa Petroglyphs leads two miles eastward from Chain of Craters Road. This trail traverses older lava flows to one of Hawai'i's most extensive petroglyph fields. It is considered an easy to moderate hike by the Park Service and should take one and a half hours. The petroglyphs are fragile and hikers are encouraged to remain on the trail. Puu Loa Trail begins at the Pu'u Loa parking area between mile markers 16 and 17 on Chain of Craters Road.

Description:

Iliahi (Sandalwood) Trail leads through a rain forest, past steam vents and offers views of Kilauea Caldera, Halema'uma'u Crater and Mauna Loa. This hike is rated easy to moderate by the Park Service. It leads along a one and a half mile loop, that takes approximately one to two hours to complete. The trail begins to the right of the Volcano House Hotel. Conditions along this trail may be hot so bring plenty of water. The Park Service cautions visitors to stay on the maintained trail and beware of steam vents, earth cracks and cliffs along the route.
The trail begins to the right of the Volcano House Hotel in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Description:

Crater Rim Trail encircles Kilauea's summit Caldera closely following the path of Crater Rim Road. This is a challenging and long day hike, that passes through varied terrain, including a desert and rain forest. Views of Halemaumau and Keanakakoi Craters and Mauna Loa are excellent from this 11-mile path.

The trail begins at the Kilauea Visitor Center and leads along the northern crater rim. On the southern side of the crater the trail leads away from the rim, with the road between the trail and the crater. This obstructs hikers' views from The Jaggar Museum to the Thurston Lava Tube. A short spur trail leading north to the Halemaumau Overlook is accessible from Crater Rim Trail. Bring water and food and be prepared for hot and dry, and wet and windy weather. Expect sulfur fumes in the Halema'uma'u Crater and southwest rift zone area. To get there follow Crater Rim Road to the Kilauea visitor center. The trailhead begins from the visitor center parking area.