See the GETTING THERE section on the MAIN PAGE.

From the Volcano House, follow the road leading to the Thurston LavaTube, just east of the lodge. You can park at either the Thurston Lava Tube or Kilauea Iki parking lots for this hike.

This hike takes most of the day and you may want to take some side jaunts, so start early to allow for time and to beat the heat (if you're there during the summer).

Route Description

This is a loop trip, which can be executed in either direction, with the understanding that your challenge comes at the end of the day when you must ascend 600 feet (total for both craters) back to your vehicle. This description executes the route in a clockwise direction.

If you begin at the Kilauea Iki Overlook parking area, assume the trail and head to your left for a half mile. This is a wonderful walk through a tropical forest. You'll then arrive at the Thurston Lava Tube area.

From the Thurston Lava Tube parking area, follow the Kilauea Iki trail west through the forest and toward the crater. The trail drops abruptly via switchbacks to the crater floor, where the thick foilage suddenly ends and you find yourself on another planet. The barreness of the crater floor will amaze you.

The route is worn and adequately cairned as it blazes west across the flat expanse of the crater floor. Steam vents and cracks formed by heaving plates will surround you. Follow this trail due west for 2.4 miles. The route will wind around a calamity of volcanic rock formations as it climbs steep and quick out of the Kilauea Iki crater.

At a trail junction with the Byron Ledge Trail, go left, for a short distance to another junction. At this junction, stay left. At the next junction, stay right, unless you want to take a side trip on the dead end trail to Pu'u Pu'ai, which adds an extra mile total to your day.

The trail drops without subtlety into the massive expanse of the Kilauea caldera. The trail then blazes west across a great expanse of lava that will hold you in awe. Along the way, fissures, vents and cracks will remind you to stay on the trail and that the land is potentially perilous and alive. This is an exciting place.

The trail will intersect with the Halema'uma'u trail after 1.5 miles. Going left will take you to the same named crater, alive with the smell of sulfur vents and the flurry of tourists, since it is easily accessed from the road. Add an extra .8 mile if you visit the crater, but you're better off to do that later as you drive by it on the Crater Rim drive (recommended) and continue with your hike.

At the junction, just shy of some interesting spatter cones, make a hard right and follow the Halema'uma'u trail due northeast back across the extensive caldera. You'll eventually come to a junction hiding in some scant brush just as the trail departs the caldera floor. Stay to your right. The trail contours south along the bottom of the east crater wall for half a mile before climbing quickly out of the crater and reaching yet another junction.

At this junction, stay left. The trail winds through tropical forest and you are soon walking along the north rim of the Kilauea Iki crater. You'll see your route that you took earlier below. The trail gets right on the edge and the drop is sudden and precipitous, so don't get too close. If you started from the Kilauea Iki trailhead, you've got .7 mile left from the last junction, and another half mile beyond that before returning to the Thurston Lava Tube parking area.

TOTAL DISTANCE: 8.3 miles Add more for side trips
GAIN: 600 feet Which is climbed when exiting the calderas

Essential Gear

Once out on the crater floor of either caldera, you'llbe exposed to the sun and the black surface will increase the heat, not to mention the heat coming from the vents. The ground around the vents is truly hot! Be careful what you touch with your bare skin!

Be sure to wear a hat, have plenty of sunscreen and bring layers of clothing for sudden weather changes. It can get cold at Volcano NP just as fast as any other mountain environment. Be prepared!

Be sure to take plenty of water. There is no water anywhere on this route.

Be sure your hiking boots are in tip top shape. The volcanic rock is sharp and cuts like glass!

Miscellaneous Info

If you have information about this route that doesn't pertain to any of the other sections, please add it here.