Bike the Parks

Watch the rides / Hawaiʻi Volcanoes

Chain of Craters Road to the sea

A long descent across decades of lava flows to the ocean, and an equally long climb back.

0.0 mi – ft 0% grade 0.0 mph 0m 0 W
Ride it at home

12345 0 mi 18.7 mi 3,716 ft 34 ft 12345 0 mi 18.7 mi 3,716 ft 34 ft
  • Easy (under 3%)
  • Moderate (3–6%)
  • Hard (6–9%)
  • Very steep (9% and up)

Ride it at home

Pair a smart trainer and ride this route from home. The resistance follows the climbs, the dot moves at your speed, and the park's warnings pop up as you reach them.

Difficulty sets how steep the climbs feel on the trainer: 100% is the real grade. Your speed on the map always uses the real grade and your weight.

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Watch-outs on this ride

Numbered on the map and the profile. Park notes come from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes's own NPS pages; steep sections are measured from the elevation data.

  1. Heaviest traffic 10 am to 3 pm

    Narrow, winding road; ride single file on the right and leave room for cars to pass.

    Park note, mile 0.0

  2. Hōlei Pali

    The road drops down the Hōlei Pali escarpment toward the coast.

    Park note, mile 9.2

  3. Steep descent: 11% for 0.3 mi

    A sustained steep pitch from the elevation data. Control your speed and brake before the corners.

    From the elevation data, mile 12.0

  4. Steep descent: 7% for 0.4 mi

    A sustained steep pitch from the elevation data. Control your speed and brake before the corners.

    From the elevation data, mile 12.5

  5. The ride back is all climbing

    Everything you just descended is the climb home. Carry water.

    Park note, mile 18.7

Route traced on OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL); elevation from Mapzen/AWS Terrain Tiles. Grades are worked out over about 200 m from public elevation data and can be off by a percent or two, more on tight switchbacks. Check the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes guide and the park's own page for current rules and closures before you ride.

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