If you came for volcanoes to Hawaii then a visit to the lava viewing area is a real must. Unfortunately the lava flow isn’t easy to access – you have to work for it. Then again, all the more rewarding your experience will be.
There are two ways to get to the viewing area. The first one is via the Volcanoes National Park. Though the entrance is $25,- (unless you have a National Park Card), you probably are willing to visit this park anyway. However, the hike at the end of the Chain of Craters Road towards the viewing area is quite tough and long – some 3 hours. The second option is to drive all the way around to Kalapana. From there it’s a 4 mile hike or ride to the cracks of lava. A much more decent deal.
Bike or hike?
It can get quite busy at the parking lot near the entrance of the lava road. Make sure you’re a bit on time, since parking is limited and you might have to start your hike far away due to that. At the entrance there are a lot of bike rental agencies and tiny stalls that sells energy bars and sodas.
The road is toward the lava flows is totally flat and mildly hilly – therefore the hike is rather easy. However, it is kind of annoying to see all those happy bikers passing by super fast. So you might want to opt the bicycle. Plus cycling is great fun! I asked around and figured out the bikes come as cheap as $10,- for a simple bike, up to $60,- for an electrical one.
No matter the choice, the trail really is fascinating. You’ll cross a vast amount of hardened lava flow, which feels like you’re walking on another planet. Funny enough there are a couple of pioneers who have built there artsy homes along the way on the black masses. Some of them have already planted some trees in the hope that the earth will sprout quickly again in here.
Bikes can’t make it all the way to the viewing site, so be prepared for crossing the last bit of the road on foot. The viewing area can get very busy, so plan to get there quite a while before dusk if you want the best spot for making pictures.
You might expect it, but you can’t get very close to the flowing area. This is because part of the lava field is breaking off slowly into the ocean, which is quite dangerous. At the moment we were there, it was possible to see two points from the viewing area that dropped lava into the sea. This is how far you’ll actually be from the flowing area.
Yet it feels quite close to the lava. Even though you’re far from it, the air temperature rises from the look out point. Apart from that, you’re able to see a lot of steam, minor ‘explosions’ and orange glows as the lava flows into the ocean water. It’s just so amazing to see and realize how land grows.
Feeling hot hot hot
The flows of the volcano change slowly and the rangers track them down daily. To the right, we saw another crack, far upon the hill. A ranger explained that though the plume was easy to see with the eye, it would require a full day hike to get close to it. However, since that crack isn’t protected, you could walk as close to the edge of it until it gets too hot, if you have an extra day.
On the walk back the sky was very clear and full of stars. Such a beautiful end of a once in a lifetime lava adventure.
