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Kilauea’s active east rift zone is marked by the chain of craters.

Aerial view of the end of Chain of Craters road, cut off by lava from Pu\'u \'O\'o vent.Hawaiian Petroglyphs at Puu Loa, off Kilauea\'s Chain of Craters road.\'A\'a and pahoehoe lavas frozen in descent over the pali on Chain of Craters road.Makaopuhi crater and Mauna Ulu shield on Kilauea\'s east rift zone.A tree mold, the remnant cast of a lava-submerged tree, near Kilauea\'s east rift zone.

Kilauea volcano's chain of craters location on Hawai'i Island.Summary: Located within Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, the Chain of Craters road traverses Kilauea from its summit caldera through islands of native forest surrounded by frozen rivers of lava (remnants of historic eruptions of the east rift zone reaching as far as the ocean) and finally comes to an abrupt end where cut off by recent lava flows. It provides access to many different facets of Kilauea, from volcanic craters to native forests to ancient trails and petroglyphs, unique lava formations, black sand beaches and sights of the active eruption.

Points of interest: Lua Manu crater, Puhimau crater, Puhimau thermal area, Ko’oko’olau crater, Hi’iaka crater, Pauahi crater, Mauna Ulu shield, Pu’u Huluhulu overlook, Kealakomo overlook, Makaopuhi crater, Napau crater, Pu’u Loa petroglyphs, Holei sea arch, the lava-buried highway, and historic ocean-reaching lava flows of the east rift zone.

Trails: 1 to 14 miles roundtrip, easy to challenging.

Tour options: Half-day minimum (scenic drive with stops), up to 5 full hiking days for in-depth exploration.

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Volcanic ejecta coat cracked lava flows, sprouting new life, near Mauna Ulu shield.A hiker approaches Makaopuhi crater on Kilauea\'s east rift zone.Recent lava, pounded by the ocean, becomes a black sand beach on Kilauea\'s south shore.Inside a native rainforest kipuka, an island of land surrounded by younger lava, on Kilauea\'s east rift zone.A collapse crater on Kilauea\'s east rift zone.