Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
The ire of Mount Kilauea reforges the world before visitors' eyes. Nicknamed "the World's Only Drive-In Volcano," it’s produced serious lava every day since 1983 with no signs of stopping. Pele—the fire goddess who lives here, according to Hawaiian lore—is on a roll. Occasionally the lava flows spill into the sea, releasing stunning plumes of steam. Don't miss the petroglyphs, lava tube, lush rain forest, and more than 150 miles of trail, including the four-mile Kilauea Iki loop. The drive here from Kona or Kohala can take two and a half hours, a bit of a long day, so consider reserving accommodations in the town of Volcano. You'll have plenty of time to explore this otherworldly landscape, and even see the lava glowing in the dark!More Recommendations

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Depending on whether you cruise past by day or night, your experience of Kilauea’s Puu Oo vent—the most active fissure in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, which sends molten lava toward the coast and into the sea—will be quite different. During daylight, you’ll see plumes of acrid white steam as the 1,150°C (2,100°F) lava hits the water, and on a clear day you may see the crimson streams themselves; after sunset, the drama intensifies as the sea cliffs sometimes appear to be laced with fiery red-orange lava waterfalls.
The Resilience of Life
Wild Orchids in the Park
Quiet
Rare Volcanic Eruption on the Big Island of Hawaii
At the Edge of Chain of Craters Road, a Surprise
Blowin' off some Steam on the Big Island
Live Lava
The End of the Road
The Goddess Pele Stirs up her Cauldron
Hiking Kilauea Iki's Crater Floor
Ferns with Flourishes
Colorful Foliage at the Volcanoes
Ohelo Berries
An Offering of Flowers to a Volcano
Pretty Yellow Ginger Flowers
Pink Shell Ginger Flower
Observing Kilauea
The Wonders of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Hawaii volcano national park

Hawaii volcano national park

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Two of the world's most active and accessible volcanoes dominate this national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site, which swoops down to the sea from Mauna Loa's summit at 4,170 meters (13,681 feet). A wilderness area stretches beyond the road's end, filled with cinder cones and rough lava trails that attract serious backpackers. Day-trippers usually hit the slopes of Kilauea (1,250 meters, or 4,101 feet) instead. Its name means "spreading" or "much spewing"—and the mountain delivers with lava flows through lush rain forests. Since its 1983 eruption, Kilauea's east rift zone has continued oozing liquid rock, sometimes as much as 5,000 liters (1,321 gallons) per second, and adding 202 hectares (499 acres) of land to the Big Island.

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
The ire of Mount Kilauea reforges the world before visitors' eyes. Nicknamed "the world's only drive-in volcano," it’s produced serious lava every day since 1983 with no signs of stopping. Pele—the fire goddess who lives here, according to Hawaiian lore—is on a roll. Occasionally, like in summer 2016, the lava flows spill into the sea, making the Big Island even bigger and releasing stunning plumes of steam. Don't miss the petroglyphs, lava tube and 241 kilometers (150 miles) of trails at the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.