Kīlauea volcano activity prompts trail closures at popular Hawaii national park

article Lava fountains erupt from Kilauea volcano on January 24, 2026 in Kilauea, Hawaii. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images) The Brief More than 200 earthquakes beneath Kīlauea’s summit prompted temporary trail closures at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.Officials warned visitors about rockfalls, volcanic gas emissions and glassy fragments that can irritate the skin and eyes.Scientists cannot predict when the volcano’s next lava-fountaining episode will occur. Officials are monitoring renewed volcanic activity at one of Hawaii’s most popular tourist destinations after hundreds of earthquakes and the risk of rockfalls prompted temporary trail closures. Why you should care: The U.S. Geological Survey issued a volcanic activity notice earlier this week for Kīlauea volcano at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The agency reported renewed spattering from two vents following recent activity beneath the summit. The National Park Service announced Wednesday that Halemaʻumaʻu Trail and part of Byron Ledge Trail would temporarily close because of increased seismic activity and concerns about rockfalls. The closures affect a combined 1.3 miles of trails. The backstory: More than 200 shallow earthquakes were recorded beneath Kīlauea’s summit during the past week, according to the NPS, which cited the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. A magnitude-3.4 earthquake on Sept. 30 triggered small rockfalls along the caldera’s north wall. RELATED: California family members claim they were attacked at luxury Maui resort during violent melee Kīlauea remained under an ORANGE aviation color code as of Thursday. The designation is the second-highest level on the USGS’ four-tier scale and indicates heightened volcanic activity, with the potential for an eruption or an eruption underway that poses limited hazards to aviation. Lava spews from Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) released footage showing a tower of lava erupting from the latest episode at Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano on Tuesday, May 5. Since December 2024, Kilauea has experienced dozens of eruptions that "have continued for a day or less," according to the USGS. What they're saying: Scientists believe an intrusion that occurred from Sept. 30 to Oct. 1 caused new cracks along the caldera floor. However, they said they cannot predict when — or whether — 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 warned residents and visitors about potentially dangerous gas emissions and small, glassy volcanic fragments that can irritate the skin and eyes. "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." The National Park Service urged visitors to stay out of closed areas and away from unstable cliff edges, which can collapse without warning. Big picture view: Kīlauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes and has erupted dozens of times since 1952, according to the USGS. Eruptive activity continued nearly nonstop along the volcano’s East Rift Zone from 1983 to 2018, ending after significant eruptive activity and a collapse at the summit, the agency said. Since December 2024, the volcano has experienced intermittent eruptions within Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit. The National Park Service has said visitation increases during Kīlauea’s eruptive episodes as tourists seek 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 the NPS for additional details and comment. The Source: FOX News contributed to this report. The story is based on information from the U.S. Geological Survey, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and the National Park Service. This story was reported from Los Angeles.  DisastersHawaii