Animated Cover photo created by @jayasimha78
I visited Hawaii National Volcanoes National Park in the first week of July 2021. This is second part of this series, about this National Park. On the second visit during this trip I hiked the Kīlauea Iki Crater. This was my first time walking in a Volcano crater! Views from the rim of the crater and floor of the crater were breath taking. During the hike you can also experience the devastation caused due to the Volcano. There is also sporadic vegetation on the floor of the crater.
Here is the link to posts on Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Part 1: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Part 1
Part 2: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Part 2: Kilauea Iki Crater Hike (This Post)
Part 3: Memories of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Part 3: Thurston Lava Tube
Check out my other posts about National Park, on my Memories National Park Series
It is a loop hike, round trip is around 4 Miles long. As you can see in the above highlighted trail, half the hike is around the rim of the crater and the other half is on the floor of the crater. Rim trail feels like you are walking in a rain forest, however the scene changes as soon as you reach the floor of the crater.
Here is the sign at the trail indicating the length of the trail. From the trail head it is a steep downgrade to reach the floor of the trail. Similarly on the other end of the floor it is a steep climb to reach the rim.
Here is an interesting sign on how to protect the forest in this area!
Here are couple of shots of the trail from the rim to the floor of the crater. It is filled with lot of plants and trees.
Once you reach the floor of the crater, this is the view you experience. You see some vegetation with flowers. Also you can see pile of lava stones which are created by the visitors.
Here is another shot of the crater with fellow hikers
As you can see here crater is really huge, need to cross the entire crater to go up to the rim on the other side of the crater.
Few more shots of crater during the hike.
Probably these are indication of earthquakes during the lava eruption long time ago!
Shot of few pieces of lava rocks!
Plant with some pretty flowers right in the middle of the crater. It was interesting to see several plants growing in the crater among lava rocks.
You can imagine the devastation happened here!
Trail and hikers reaching other end of the crater to climb up to the rim!
On looker (hey hey, that is my wife) enjoying the view of the crater after crossing over to other end of the crater.
Shot of more lava devastation!
Back to the rim trail after a steep climb!
It was good to walk in the shade after walking across the crater in the sun. Even though it was not that hot when we hiked.
Couple of shots of the crater from the rim trail!
