Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park: Explore The Fiery Side Of Paradise
Without a doubt, Hawai’i is a dream destination for most Americans. Even native Hawaiians love island hopping and exploring the breathtaking treasures that lie in their own backyards. If you’re visiting the Big Island, exploring Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is a must. This unique park offers dramatic volcanic landscapes, pockets of rare flora and fauna, and a glimpse of traditional Hawaiian culture.
This 523-square-mile park contains some of the world’s most awe-inspiring wonders, not to mention the two active volcanoes. This place is downright otherworldly.
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You'll find Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island, about 30 miles southwest of Hilo International Airport on the island's southeastern shore.
The Halema’uma’u Steam Bluff and Sulfur Banks Trail is a popular pick, a 1.5-mile, family-friendly trail where steam can often be seen rising from cracks in the ground.
The Kīlauea Iki Trail is a popular option, as it descends to the surface of a solidified lava lake in the Kīlauea Iki crater.
Pu’u Loa, which means "long hill" or "hill of long life," is a sacred place to the Hawaiian people. The largest group of Hawaiian petroglyphs can be found here, dated to 1200-1450 A.D. There are an estimated 23,000 petroglyphs at this site.
If you plan to visit Halemaʻumaʻu Crater - and you absolutely should - go at dusk or at night.
Perched on the edge of Kīlauea caldera with breathtaking views of the park, this property - which dates back to 1846 - has 33 historic guest rooms.
There are also two main campsites in the park: Nāmakanipaio Campground and Kulanaokuaiki Campground. As you can imagine, you'll want to book your spot at either campsite (or the A-frame cabins at Nāmakanipaio) well in advance.
It isn't every day that you can watch lava flow right into the ocean...
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is truly a remarkable place.
Ready to visit? The extraordinary natural diversity of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park will win you over in no time.
General Information:
Accessibility: Park staff and partners are working hard to correct and resolve accessibility deficiencies throughout the park. From designing and building new facilities to the rehabilitation of older structures, improving accessibility is a top priority. The Kīlauea Visitor Center, Volcano House, and Volcano Art Center are wheelchair accessible, as is most of the Ha’akulamanu (Sulphur Banks) Trail. The short gravel trail from the Steam Vents parking lot to the Steaming Bluff (Wahinekapu) also has access for wheelchairs, which may be available for use at the Kīlauea Visitor Center.
Pet-Friendly: Dogs are allowed in some parts of the park. For a list of pet-friendly spots and rules, check this page.
Parking: Kīlauea Visitor Center Parking is used to access the visitor center, Volcano House Hotel, Volcano Art Center Gallery, and various trails. There are numerous other parking lots throughout the park, but during peak visiting season, they fill up very quickly. You can plan in advance by checking each lot’s busy times here.
Seasonal Access: The park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, as well as all holidays. The Kīlauea Visitor Center is open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. but may be closed on some major holidays.
Cost: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park charges $30 per vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, and $15 per pedestrian or bicycle. Each entrance fee is good for 7 days.
Jessica Wick is a writer and travel enthusiast who loves exploring new places, meeting new people and, of course, beautiful Big Sky Country and every part of Washington State.
