Kilauea Craters Trail, Hawaii Volcanoes NP

The Thurston Lava Tubes parking lot is an ideal location to begin this hike, and if you have enough time we recommend a detour to the lava tubes across the road also.

Walk into lush dense woodland to begin your hike of the craters. Our route initially traces the Northern flanks of the smaller of the two Kilauea craters.

The trail that skirts the rim of the Kilauea Iki Crater rewards with views of this surreal bowl-like feature.

The lava exposed at the surface here is from around 1954, meaning there has been time for half a century worth of hiking boots to define a trail across it's surface which should be plain to see. This will be part of the last leg of our hike today.

Leave the Crater Rim Trail behind and downhill towards the Kilauea Caldera proper.

At this T-junction bear right and take a few more steps onto the lava surface inside the caldera of one of the most active volcanoes on the planet.

At this point the route should be quite obvious despite the fact that you're walking on solid rock. Head out into the wide desolate expanse of the lava beds and across a lava flow that was created in 1974.

Spot the contrast in terrain here? Up until now you've been hiking on a lava flow that was formed in 1974, but now you're on a much older pre-1924 lava bed.

Here you'll begin to see increasing evidence of life taking hold again with occasional flourishes of green and even the occasional flower!

Make a note of this point, which is where we'll be departing from the trail on our return from our side-trip to Halema'uma'u Crater.

Local lore tells us that Kilauea is the home of the legendary volcano goddess called Pele. Offerings are left by the side of Halema'uma'u Crater to appease her.

In recent years this half-a-mile wide crater-within-a-crater has begun to see renewed activity. Vents of steam and sulfur have accelerated and explosions of ash and debris rocked the area in 2008. Perhaps Pele tires of offerings of fruit and flowers and would instead prefer a new iPod?

Once you're sufficiently impressed with Halema'uma'u, head back to the last junction and take a right turn onto the Byron Ledge Trail.

Back in the forest it's in some ways a relief to be back on a more conventional trail. Enjoy the color of the foliage here, before we head into another crater.

The final 2.4 mile stretch along the Kilauea Iki Trail takes us across more lava beds, initially rough in terrain but smoothing out over time.

This lava surface may not have seen much action recently, but the smell of sulfur tells a different story. Stick to the trail, complete the switchbacks to exit the crater and soon you'll be back at the trailhead again.