About
Length (round trip)1 mi
ShapeOut-and-Back
DifficultyEasy
Elevation gain50 ft up
Typical time45 min
TrailheadDevastation trailhead, Crater Rim Drive
SurfaceFully paved, wheelchair accessible
Best seasonYear round. The summit area is cool and wet; the coastal and Kau Desert sections are hot and exposed.
DogsNot allowed
AccessibilityWheelchair and stroller accessible, though there are sections of this paved trail that have grades greater than eight percent (8%).
What you'll see 🌄 Big views

Stroll on a paved path through a starkly beautiful recovering landscape that was buried by falling cinder from the spectacular lava fountains of the 1959 Klauea Iki eruption. Witness life returning to this once devastated area. Difficulty: Easy - Wheelchair and stroller accessible, though there are sections of this paved trail that have grades greater than eight percent (8%). Distance and hiking time: 1 mile (1.6km) round trip, approximately 1.0 hour. Trail begins: Either at the Pu'upua'i parking lot or the Devastation Trail parking lot, both off of Crater Rim Drive. Stay on the paved trail. Do not climb the Pu'upua'i cinder cone. Bring: Water, hat, sunscreen and rain gear. Be prepared for hot, dry, wet, windy weather conditions. The threatened and federally protected nn (Hawaiian geese) frequent this area. Please use caution when parking. Don't feed the nn.

Tips
Fully wheelchair accessible. The bleached tree skeletons and the slow return of ohia and ferns make this the clearest lesson in volcanic recovery in the park.
Location

Devastation trailhead, Crater Rim Drive

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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.