Devastation Trail
add photosApproximately one mile from the Keanakako'i Overlook, Crater Rim Road intercepts Chain of Craters Road on your right. The 40 mile round-trip down Chain of Craters Road descends 3,700' to the coast and dead-ends where a 1995 lava flow crossed the road. Allow 3 or more hours for this driving trip. Note, there are no services along this route.
The Devastation Trail parking area is on your left. You can park your car here and take a 30-minute walk through the cinder outfall of the 1959 eruption of Kilauea Iki. This 1/2 mile (each way) paved trail is wheelchair and stroller accessible. You can have the driver of your car proceed on to the Pu'u Pua'i Overlook located 1/2 mile away and meet your group.
Kilauea Visitor Center is open daily from 7:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Trailhead 1 to Trailhead 2:
Total hiking length = .5 miles
Total climbing distance = .2 miles
Difficulty : Medium
Casual Hiking Pace: .5 hours
Fast Hiking Pace: .25 hours
Trailhead 2 to Trailhead 1:
Total hiking length = .5 miles
Total climbing distance = .1 miles
Difficulty : Easy
Casual Hiking Pace: .5 hours
Fast Hiking Pace: .25 hours
2 Reviews for Devastation Trail
63
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'10, '11
1 family found this helpful
"Easy walk, and interesting"
It's almost like walking on the beach, but it's a long way from the ocean, and instead of sand there's lava cinders. The trail itself is a boardwalk across a corner of a much bigger area. The many dead tree trunks remind you that it was a forest before the volcano covered it up, and the sprouts and saplings remind you that the forest hasn't given up yet. It's an out-and-back trail (unless you park an extra car at the far trailhead, which isn't worth the trouble). There's no shade -- devastation, remember -- so wear a hat and/or sunblock. As a bonus, you get a great view of Mauna Loa, which means "Long Mountain," and understand why it was so named.
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0 families found this helpful
"Bring your camera!"
This paved path, well suited for children, travels for 1⁄2 mile through an ohia forest that was damaged by the lava but continues to hold fast to the landscape. The stark trunks and leafless stems contrast sharply with the black, desolate landscape, and this is among the most photographed sites in the park.
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