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Kilauea Volcano

The Big Island is home to the most active volcano on earth, Kilauea Volcano. Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is truly a fascinating place unlike anywhere you have ever been. In the park, volcanic craters, lava tubes, sulfurous steam vents, pristine rain forests, indigenous Hawaiian birds and plants, and not to mention the possibility of seeing an active lava flow are all waiting to be explored. You can spend a few hours to multiple days hiking and exploring all that Kilauea has to offer. At around 4,000 ft above sea level, don't forget your jacket and come discover the wonders of an island still being born.

Visitor's Center (Open 7:45 am-5:00pm): Get an introduction to the park, a quick history on how the islands were formed, and the most up to date information about the current lava flow by talking to one of the park rangers. Conditions change on a regular basis.

Crater Rim Road: This 11 mile drive leads you around the Kilauea Caldera and has numerous geological anomalies to explore like sulfur banks, a walk-through lava tube, and multiple volcanic craters. Also along this road are the Jaggar Museum & Bookstore, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, and various hikes & trails.

Chain of Craters Road: Located off the Crater Rim Road, this 20 mile drive to the ocean leads you through Big Island's most recently formed terrain, where you have the opportunity to view active lava, conditions permitting.

Hikes & Trails: See ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs, indigenous plants, and birds, or hike into a volcanic crater. Witness firsthand the power of lava and the devastation and beauty it brings. In Volcano, many trails are easy strolls while others are more challenging. Detailed maps and information on hikes and trails are available at the Visitors Center or see our "Resources" column.