Rumbling volcano forces immediate trail closures at popular vacation hot spot

Officials are monitoring renewed volcanic activity at one of Hawaii’s most popular tourist destinations as hundreds of earthquakes and rockfall risks prompt temporary trail closures.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) issued a volcanic activity notice earlier this week for the Kīlauea volcano at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, reporting renewed spattering at two vents following recent activity beneath the summit.

The National Park Service (NPS) announced Wednesday that Halemaʻumaʻu Trail and part of Byron Ledge Trail would temporarily close amid increased seismic activity and concerns about rockfalls. 

The closures affect a combined 1.3 miles of trails.

Over 200 shallow earthquakes were recorded beneath Kīlauea’s summit during the past week, according to the NPS, citing the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

A magnitude-3.4 earthquake on Sept. 30 caused small rockfalls along the caldera’s north wall.

Kīlauea remained at an ORANGE aviation color code, the second-highest level on the USGS’ four-tier scale, as of Thursday. 

The designation indicates heightened volcanic activity and the potential for an eruption, or an eruption underway with limited hazards to aviation.

The intrusion, which occurred from Sept. 30 to Oct. 1, is believed to have caused new cracks along the caldera floor, according to scientists.

Scientists said they cannot forecast when — or if — the volcano’s 55th episode of lava fountaining will occur.

“Forecast windows for episode 55 fountaining can no longer be modeled due to changes in conditions,” the USGS advisory said.

Officials also outlined several hazards for residents and visitors, including potentially dangerous gas emissions and small, glassy volcanic fragments that can cause skin and eye irritation.

“Small glassy volcanic fragments may be remobilized during windy conditions following recent eruptive episodes,” the statement added.

“Residents and visitors should minimize exposure to these fragments, which can cause skin and eye irritation.”

Visitors must also stay out of closed areas and away from unstable cliff edges, which can collapse without warning, according to the NPS.

Kīlauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, has erupted dozens of times since 1952, according to the USGS.

Eruptive activity was nearly continuous along the volcano’s East Rift Zone from 1983 to 2018, a 35-year stretch that ended amid significant eruptive activity and a collapse at the summit, the agency said.

Since December 2024, an eruption has been intermittently active within Halema’uma’u crater at the summit.

The National Park Service has said the number of visits surged during Kīlauea’s eruptive episodes, with tourists drawn to opportunities to view the volcanic activity.

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park recorded more than 1.8 million recreational visits in 2025, according to NPS data.

Fox News Digital reached out to NPS for further details and comment.