About
Length (round trip)1.4 mi
ShapeOut-and-Back
DifficultyEasy
Elevation gain100 ft up
Typical time1 hr 15 min
TrailheadChain of Craters Road
SurfaceCairned route over rough lava, then boardwalk
Best seasonYear round. The summit area is cool and wet; the coastal and Kau Desert sections are hot and exposed.
DogsNot allowed
AccessibilityTrail is over uneven, solidified lava fields
What you'll see 🌄 Big views🏛️ Historic site

More than 23,000 images are carved into this lava. Many are piko holes, where families placed a newborn's umbilical cord stump for a long life. A boardwalk protects the main panel.

Tips
This is a sacred place - stay on the boardwalk and never walk on or touch the carvings. The lava crossing is rough and there is no shade at all; go early or late.
Location

Chain of Craters Road

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Trail data: USGS National Map / PAD-US, the National Park Service, state agencies, and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Access and conditions change — check with the managing agency before you go.