Chain of Craters Road and other previously closed sites are now open as unrest and seismicity return to normal levels in Kīlauea volcano’s upper East Rift Zone (ERZ) and near its summit.

Areas accessed by Chain of Craters Road, including coastal backcountry sites, Hilina Pali Road, Kulanaokuaiki Campground, Nāpau, and Pepeiao Cabin are now open.

The Kaʻū Desert Trail is also open.

Over the last week, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and park staff monitored thousands of shallow low-magnitude earthquakes below the upper ERZ and just south of the summit caldera. According to USGS, the consistent decrease in both seismicity and ground deformation to background levels indicates that this pulse of unrest has ended.

While the unrest appears to be over, Kīlauea is one of the most active volcanoes on earth and conditions can change at any time.

Visitors are enouraged to visit the park website for updates and alerts.

 

Photo credit: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park