Kūpinaʻi Pali (Waldron Ledge)

View into Kaluapele from the overlook along Kūpinaʻi Pali

NPS Photo/J. Wei

The Kūpinaʻi Pali (Waldron Ledge) portion of Crater Rim Trail is a gentle walk through history, leading to a panoramic view of Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera) and Halemaʻumaʻu crater, which dramatically collapsed in 2018.

At one point in time, this stretch of trail was part of Crater Rim Drive, the road that encircled the summit caldera. However, on November 16th, 1983, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the island, decimating parts of the road. Large chunks collapsed and deep cracks developed, rendering it impassable. As part of repairs from the seismic event, the road was re-routed to its current path and the portions left behind were converted to the trail you see today. Look for the painted road lines on the trail, a reminder of its history. Locally, this area may still sometimes be referred to as "Earthquake Trail."

• Difficulty: Easy - wheelchair accessible.
• Distance & hiking time: About one mile (1.6 km) round-trip to the overlook, approximately 45 minutes - 1 hour.
• Trail begins: Across the street from Kīlauea Visitor Center, to the left of the Volcano House.
• Stroller friendly - trail is over a paved road surface.

This section of trail includes some cracked and tilted sections. The first small overlook past the Volcano House on the right has a very steep descent, but the larger overlook is wheelchair accessible. 

Details

Duration

45-60 Minutes

Activity

Hiking

Pets Allowed

No

Activity Fee

No

Park entrance fee applies. There are no additional activity fees.

Location

Trailhead to the east of Volcano House

Reservations

No

Season

Year Round

Time of Day

Day

Accessibility Information

Wheelchair and stroller accessible, though some sections of trail have a steep grade and may have cracks. The first small overlook past the Volcano House on the right has a very steep descent, but the larger overlook is wheelchair accessible.