About
Length (round trip)1.2 mi
ShapeOut-and-Back
DifficultyEasy
Elevation gain100 ft up
Typical time38 min
TrailheadKilauea Visitor Center or Steam Vents parking
SurfaceBoardwalk and paved path
Best seasonYear round. The summit area is cool and wet; the coastal and Kau Desert sections are hot and exposed.
DogsNot allowed
AccessibilityA wheelchair accessible trail to the Sulphur Banks area is located across the street from the Steam Vents parking lot.
What you'll see 🌄 Big views

Due to underground heat, this dramatic volcanic thermal area has very few trees. Known as Ha'akulamanu, this unusual place has been famous for birds, colorful deposits, and billowing vapors. Difficulty: Easy Distance: 1.2 mile (2 km) round trip from Klauea Visitor Center Trail begins next to Klauea Visitor Center parking lot toward the Volcano Art Center Gallery (The other end of the trail, which is wheelchair accessible, can be picked up across the street from the Steam Vents) At Ha'akulamanu (Sulphur Banks), volcanic gases seep out of the ground along with groundwater steam. These gases are rich in carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide -- the gas that smells like rotten eggs. Some sulfur gases deposit pure crystals at Sulphur Banks. Other sulfur gases form sulfuric acid which breaks down the lava to clay. This clay is stained red and brown with iron oxide. Visitors with heart or respiratory problems (such as asthma), pregnant women, infants, or young children should avoid this walk. Learn more about the phenomenon of Steam Vents and Sulphur Banks

Tips
The fumes are genuinely harmful - the park warns people with heart or breathing conditions, pregnant women and young children to stay away. Mostly boardwalk and accessible.
Location

Kilauea Visitor Center or Steam Vents parking

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Trail data: USGS National Map / PAD-US, the National Park Service, state agencies, and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Access and conditions change — check with the managing agency before you go.