Crater Rim Trail

Crater Rim Trail runs along the edge of the Kīlauea summit caldera in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, from Uēkahuna to just past Keanakākoʻi Crater. You can join it from several stops on Crater Rim Drive, including Uēkahuna, Kīlauea Overlook, Steam Vents and Volcano House, and how far you walk depends on where you start and stop. The park rates it easy, and the Kūpinaʻi Pali (Waldron Ledge) section is mostly paved, with some cracked and tilted stretches. Along the way you see what the summit collapse and later eruptions left behind, along with steam vents and rainforest. Cliffs, earth cracks and steam vents have unstable, slippery edges, so stay on the marked trail and keep well back. Sun, wind and rain can all come in the same hour, so be ready for hot, dry, wet and windy weather. Parts of the rim are closed: the park has temporarily closed the Keanakākoʻi area, including the trail to Keanakākoʻi crater, because of increased earthquakes and volcanic unrest, and the rim around Halemaʻumaʻu crater itself has been closed to the public for years. The Jaggar Museum at Uēkahuna has been removed, and the Kīlauea Visitor Center is closed for renovation, with a temporary Welcome Center at Kilauea Military Camp. Check the park alerts before you go.