Hotspots > Hawaii Volcanoes National Park > Hiking >

Distance: 7 mile (11.5 km) / Level: Strenuous / Time: 4 hours

Drive down the Chain of Craters Road and turn to the Mauna Ulu parking area where the Napau trail starts. On the beginning section of this trail, you will view the 400-foot Mauna Ulu (growing mountain) Lava shield which was created from repeated lava flows and the accumulation of spatter and cinder from major eruptions along the east rift of Kilauea in 1969. Cross 1973 and 1974 lava flows and climb150 feet to the summit of Pu’u Huluhulu. Enjoy panoramic view of Kilauea Volcano, Mauna Loa, Pu’u O’o and the Pacific Ocean. From Puu Huluhulu, the Napau trail continues for 5.5 miles to the Napau Crater. The trail passes Alae, a pit crater created in 1969 and Makaopuhi Crater which is a crater second in size only to Kilauea. The trail end is magnificent Napau Crater which has been active in recent years.