Trail closures have taken effect at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park as Kīlauea volcano shows renewed unrest beneath its summit.
The National Park Service announced Wednesday that Halemaʻumaʻu Trail and a section of Byron Ledge Trail are off-limits indefinitely, covering a combined 1.3 miles of pathways. The closures came after more than 200 shallow earthquakes were recorded beneath the volcano’s summit during the past week, according to the NPS, citing data from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
A magnitude-3.4 quake on Sept. 30 triggered small rockfalls along the caldera’s north wall, intensifying safety concerns. The intrusion that followed from Sept. 30 to Oct. 1 is believed to have opened new cracks across the caldera floor, scientists reported. Kīlauea remained at an ORANGE aviation color code as of Thursday, the second-highest level on the USGS four-tier scale, signaling heightened volcanic activity with potential eruption hazards.
“Forecast windows for episode 55 fountaining can no longer be modeled due to changes in conditions,” the USGS advisory stated.
The uncertainty marks a shift for researchers who had previously been tracking what would be the volcano’s 55th episode of lava fountaining. Scientists said they cannot predict when or if that episode will occur.
Visitors face multiple hazards beyond unstable ground. The USGS warned that small, glassy volcanic fragments stirred up by wind could irritate skin and eyes.
“Small glassy volcanic fragments may be remobilized during windy conditions following recent eruptive episodes,” the agency cautioned.
“Residents and visitors should minimize exposure to these fragments, which can cause skin and eye irritation.”
Park officials emphasized that closed areas must be avoided entirely, and visitors should keep distance from cliff edges that can collapse without warning.
Kīlauea’s history of nearly continuous eruptive activity along its East Rift Zone from 1983 to 2018 ended with major summit collapse, according to the USGS. Since December 2024, intermittent eruptions have been confined to Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit. The park’s popularity has surged during these recent eruptive episodes, with tourists drawn to volcanic viewing opportunities.
The USGS issued its volcanic activity notice earlier this week reporting renewed spattering at two vents following subsurface summit activity.