Big Islandvolcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park

The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is located just a mile north of the largest city on Big Island, Hilo Hawaii. This is one of the most fascinating and unique national parks in all of the United States. The park is home to a still-active volcano, Kilauea that usually "erupts" daily, and the volcano Mauna Loa, the earth's most massive volcano. If you are on Big Island, you should not miss out on this amazing and awe-inspiring national park. While you can certainly drive through it in one day (it has plenty of stretches of good and paved roads), you should definitely try to spend several days exploring all that this massive national park has to offer. There is plenty to see and do and explore at this park including several excellent hiking trails, the Halemaumau Crater, the Thurston Lava Tube, the Devastation Trail, and the Chain of Craters Road.

While in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, there is a very good chance you will get to see the active Kilauea, the most active of all the volcanoes in the national park (Hualalai and Mauna Loa are also still active). What scientists mean by still-active is that they still go through a type of volcanic eruptions. These eruptions, however, are considered "quiet" eruptions. In these "quiet" eruptions, the lava does not shoot up in dangerous or harmful amounts. Instead, gases escape the volcanic crater slowly, producing glow-moving and oozing-like lava that is entirely safe for viewing. Kilauea is considered the most active of the volcanoes in the park because it almost always has this consistent lava flow that is noticeable. The Mauna Loa volcano, the most massive in the world, is slowly swelling since its last true eruption in 1983. Scientists are able to keep a close eye on the volcano, however, and we will know well in advance if another eruption is going to happen soon. The amount of volcanic activity you will see while in the Volcanoes National Park depends on Mother Nature's whim but, more often than not, you will definitely be able to catch some sort of volcanic activity happening from one of the several volcanoes and volcanic craters found in the park. Sometimes the park has to close down certain areas for health-related reasons. For instance, certain areas may be experiencing dangerous levels of sulfur dioxide. So check in advance so you can know which areas are safe to travel to.

Other places in the park that visitors should definitely check out include the Kilauea Visitor Center where you will receive all the necessary information about the active volcano, including history, geological information, and current eruption updates. The center also includes several exhibits showcasing the intricate ecological makeup of the volcano and the surrounding park. There is also the Crater Rim Drive, which is a road that runs for eleven miles and passes by some of the best spots and sights in the park. You will pass through the summit caldera, stretches of desert, tropical rain forests, and great viewing and photo spots. Along the drive you can even stop at the Jaggar Museum which will give you more information on the science behind volcanoes.