Devastation Trail (barren landscape!) in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (+ see nene Hawaiian goose?!) 🌋 Big Island Hawaii travel blog

ALOHA!

 

So there are 2 main roads in the main part of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park:

• Crater Rim Drive
• Chain of Craters Road

 

Crater Rim Drive is a relatively short road, and this is located near the park entrance. There are some “volcano” sights along Crater Rim Drive, and the main stops can be done within an hour, although it can take longer depending on how much walking/hiking you do.

The Devastation Trail is one of these volcano-related sights that you can get to from Crater Rim Drive.

 

According to the National Park Service:

For 5 weeks in late 1959, towering lava fountains blasted from Kilauea Iki Crater.

Heavier clots of molten lava dropped at the fountain’s base, but trade winds deposited lighter cinder for over 6 miles downwind.

As sheets of scorching cinder hailed down through the forest, birds and insects fled for their lives.

Unable to escape, some trees were buried alive while others were completely stripped of their leaves and bark.

 

 

The trail itself is an easy walk that’s about a mile round trip.

What Hawaii Volcanoes National Park says about Devastation Trail:

Witness the destructive creation of the 1959 eruption at Kilauea iki.

See where a forest was buried in the cinders that rained down from fountains of lava.

Marvel at Puu Puai, the new cinder cone that towers over the landscape.

 

 

You can make a walk on Devastation Trail as a part of your Crater Rim Drive.

First you can do a walking loop from the visitor’s center with the sulphur banks, steam vents, and crater overlooks. And then you can drive to Devastation Trail. There’s a parking lot right near where the trail starts.

 

 

On the way, you may consider stopping by the Kilauea iki crater overlook… and even hike into a former lava lake if you have time!

 

More for beyond your Devastation Trail hike

If you’re interested in Devastation Trail, then you may also be interested in these things in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park:

• Pu’u Loa Petroglyphs
• Thurston lava tube
• Crater Rim Drive
• Volcano House
• Kilauea Iki Crater Trail (former lava lake hike!)
• Things to do in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

 

More below about what the Devastation Trail is like!

 

🌋

 

 

 

And now…

Some of what you’ll see with a visit to Devastation Trail!

…a whole lot of devastation…

after a short walk through a tree-lined path

 

 

 

You also might see nene, the Hawaiian goose

 

 

And that’s a bit about what you’ll see on Devastation Trail!

 

 

And then after you’ve finished up your stops on Crater Rim Drive, you can continue driving through the national park on Chain of Craters Road! And remember to check out the former lava lake hike!

See the list of stops to make as you’re driving through Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

 

 

HAPPY DEVASTATION TRAIL WALK!