The Kilauea Visitor Center is our first stop on our tour of Volcanoes National Park and a great place to get oriented. While you're there, you can grab a park map, ask about current conditions, get hiking information and find out about ranger-led activites. Take advantage of the restrooms, and remember to fill up your water bottle before heading out. If you didn’t bring a jacket, you might want to pick one up in the gift shop as temperatures vary drastically across the park. 

Note: The visitor center closes at 5:00 p.m.

Please note: Due to construction, the visitor center may be closed or housed in a temporary location.

More of a stroll than a hike, the Mauna Ulu Fissure Hike is at the site of a 1969 eruption that spewed lava up to 200 feet in the air, destroying an 'ohi'a forest in the area. As you walk you’ll see lava trees and a variety of volcanic formations. The trail is marked with stacked rocks.

One of our favorite stops on the tour is the Pu’uloa Petroglyphs Hike. As you walk along this trail, you’ll see ancient petroglyphs. These simple carvings in the lava rock tell the story of Hawaii's past. The hike takes about 20 minute each way and ends at a well maintained wooden boardwalk that circles many of the 23,000 petroglyphs in this area. In fact, this site is home to the largest grouping of petroglyphs in Hawaii! As you walk along, remember to respect the sacredness of this place.

Note: This hike can get hot, and there's no shade. Remember to bring water.

The Ha'akulamanu (Sulphur Banks) Trail is an easy 1.2-mile round trip hike. Stroll along the paved path where you’ll see steam rising dramatically from the ground in this fascinating thermal area. Ha'akulamanu is known for birds colorful deposits and clouds of steam.

The combination of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide gases create the distinct rotten egg smell.

Here you can get a wonderful aerial view of the Kilauea Iki Crater. Continue down the road to see Nahuku Lava Tube and to get to the shorter hike to Kilauea Iki Crater.

Does seeing the views of massive volcanic craters ever get old? We didn’t think so! Chain of Craters Road got its name from the handful of massive craters with viewpoints along the road.

Puhimau Crater was likely formed around 1500-1800 AD. It’s a gigantic pit crater, and in our opinion, it’s one of the best views on the tour. What’s a pit crater you ask? It’s when an empty volcano collapses and forms a giant hole.

Take a short walk to the boardwalk where you can take an epic photo in front of Pauahi Crater -- another huge pit crater that’s roughly 360 feet deep and 1,600 feet long.

Some people call this pit crater the best kept secret in the park. You won’t see signage, so be sure to listen closely to the tour. There’s a 5-minute walk to the crater’s edge but when you get there you’ll see a 165-feet deep and 150-feet wide crater. Be sure to keep your distance from the edge — there’s no railing.

Pull over and get out of your car for a quick stop at Muliwai a Pele. In Hawaiian, Muliwai means river of lava. This lookout might just appear to be more lava rock, but from a bird’s-eye view you can actually see how the Maunaulu eruption flowed from this volcanic cone about 5-miles down into the ocean... truly a river of lava.



Kealakomo overlook is a platform built on top of holei pali, a steep cliff with a 2,000 foot (600 m) drop. If you brought a picnic, there are tables at the overlook. Note it can sometimes get a little windy here at this overlook.

At the Kealakomo lookout, in addition to the panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean, you will also have an expansive view of the lava flows from the Maunaulu eruption that buried a portion of the ancient Hawaiian village of Kealakomo.

This overlook is the last view from this high up before you descend to the ocean level.

The Alanui Kahiko Lookout is easiest to access on the way up the Chain of Craters Road. Look out for the sign and a large, paved shoulder to pull over. While at the lookout, to your right you will see an epic view of lava that once cascaded down this mountain during its march to the ocean. You can actually see both types of lava side-by-side: the smooth and ropey pahoehoe and the rough and jagged 'a'a.

To your left, about 50 feet away from the lookout, you will see the old road covered by lava that I just mentioned. It was buried in the 1969-1974 eruption of Maunaulu. 

Fun Fact: In Hawaiian, Alanui Kahiko literally means "old road"! This is one of the only places in the park now to take a picture of a lava-covered road.

Located at the end of the Chain of Craters Road is a fantastic view of the Holei Sea Arch. This 90-foot arch was formed roughly 500 years ago from an ancient lava tube that hardened as it entered the ocean. Over the years, the sea sculpted the impressive arch shape.

There is an observation area about 1,000 feet past the gate at the end of the road. You will also find vault restrooms and picnic tables. 

You’ll feel like you’re on Mars as you take in the terrain on your walk along Devastation Trail. This one-mile trail takes you along the path of a destructive and explosive eruption dating back to 1959.

Along the way, you’ll see spots where life is beginning to regrow. Next to the Kilauea Iki Crater, you'll also see the giant Pu'upua'i Cinder Cone that formed during that same 1959 eruption. In Hawaiian, Pu'upua'i means "gushing hill." It's the perfect example of how Mother Nature forms new mountains.

Even though this trail has a name hard to pronounce, this hike is THE best nature walk in the park. The word "kipuka" in Hawaiian means an older area of vegetation that is surrounded by a recent lava flow. Think of it like a forest island surrounded by lava.

What you will find here are many beautiful old growth trees with lush tropical vegetation. You will see a huge diversity of rare plants, trees and even animals such as peasants and a type of quail that forage the floors here.

The trail is an easy 1.2-mile loop trail that is located on Mauna Loa Road, just past the Lava Tree Molds Drive. There is parking near the trailhead and restrooms (vault toilets) at the nearby Kipukapuaulu Picnic Area.The hike should take about 30 minutes and has informative placards for various native plants and trees along the way.

Kilauea Overlook boasts the most dramatic views of Kilauea caldera and Halema'uma'u crater--the "fire pit" or collapsed crater within the caldera. During the 2018 eruption, powerful earthquakes rocked the summit and caused Halema'uma'u crater to collapse. The crater grew from 280 feet deep to about 1,600 feet deep and doubled in width. 

In 2019, a first-ever lake of water formed in the crater! But in 2020, it was replaced by a 600-foot deep lake of lava. In 2023, the crater erupted briefly again followed by a period of quiet. However, Kilauea is not finished yet--and chances are, the next time you come back, this summit caldera and its collapsed crater will have changed shape again.

From the overlook, you can take the Crater Rim Trail and hike around the eastern rim of Kilauea.

Stop and stare at a cloud of steam formed from underground water meeting hot volcanic rock.

The Kilauea Military Camp dates back almost 100 years and offers accommodations near the park for military families. Although civilians can’t stay at the camp, the game room and cafe are open to the public if you need to make a pit stop.

As soon as you enter this area, you will notice the vegetation looks dead. Pull over to the side of the road to learn about this fascinating thermal hot spot where magma is believed to be just 500 feet below the surface.

Pull over quickly and try to look for South Point in the distance. On clear days you might be able to catch a view.