More than a million people visit Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park every year, drawn to lava, barren landscape, and numerous hiking trails. Outdoor enthusiasts can spend a few hours of multiple days exploring all the park offers. Visitors should note that lava's not always flowing and when it is there are often park closures; visit Area Closures and Advisories for the most up-to-date information.
Must see and do at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Catching a glimpse of lava is on the list of many who visit the park. The glow of the lava lake can often be seen at the Kīlauea Caldera even when lava's not flowing; the best views are found at the Jagger Museum Overlook. For a peek of how lava travels underground, visit the Thurston Lava Tube, which takes about 20 minutes to walk through. Both of these attractions can be seen by traveling Crater Rim Drive, which is 11 miles long and takes visitors through a tropical rain forest, a desert, and plenty of hardened lava.
Best and worst time to go to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Hawaii, and Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, is least crowded April-June and September-mid-December. Holidays can get crowded, and visitors might find more people around during Hilo's annual Merrie Monarch Festival.
Admission to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
The entrance fee at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is about $15-$20 per vehicle. Visitors on bicycles or motorcycles pay a slightly lower rate of about $8-$12. The fee is good for entry for seven days. National Park Service has several free days each year; though the days vary they often include Presidents Day and Veterans Day.
Wildlife at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is a haven for many animals, including several endangered species. The nene goose, Hawaiian petrel bird and hawksbill turtle can all be found here.
Insider tip for Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
This national park never closes, so beat the crowds and see the glowing lava Kīlauea Caldera when it really shines, before sunrise.
Author's bio: Elizabeth Xu is a freelance travel writer who calls the San Francisco Bay Area home, though she likes to visit Hawaii as often as possible. Follow her travels @ElizabethMXu.
While typically associated with locations such as Mount St. Helens, lava tubes can also be found in central Utah just a few miles south of the state's first capitol, Fillmore. These caves, known as the Tabernacle Hill Lava Tubes, are a well-known destination for campers and hikers of all age levels.
Parking and Public Transportation at the Tabernacle Hill Lava Tubes
The underground caves at Tabernacle Hill are located well off the beaten path so you'll have to drive your own car to get there. Plenty of parking is available above the caves; just make sure you stay on the road as you drive as the entrances to the tubes can be very hard to see, especially at dusk.
Best and Worst Time to Go to the Tabernacle Hill Lava Tubes
While the caves are a popular destination for campers and hikers, including scout troops, most visitors tend to avoid the July and August as the heat can get pretty extreme. Instead of going during the summer, plan your trip for April or May when the mornings are still cool and the heat of the afternoon can be avoided by hiking around the caves.
Admission to the Tabernacle Hill Lava Tubes
The tubes are free and open to the public, as long as you can find them. Take exit 158 off of I-15 near the town of Meadow. Head south down Main Street and you'll come across a road heading west marked with a sign to White Mountain. Follow that road for six miles until you get to White Mountain and then head west for three miles until you get to the lava fields.
Must See/Do at the Tabernacle Hill Lava Tubes
Explore, explore, explore. While many of the tubes have collapsed, a good number of them are still open to hikers. If you're coming from a distance, stay the night and camp inside one of the caves, which maintain a fairly constant temperature year-round.
Other Places to Visit Near the Tabernacle Hill Lava Tubes
The most popular destination to visit after a stay at the lava tubes is the Meadow Hot Springs a few miles to the south. These hot springs are a great place for kids who will enjoy splashing around, as well as adults who just want to relax in the warm springs.
Insider Tip for Visitors to the Tabernacle Hill Lava Tubes
Most vehicles will have no problem making it out to the lava tubes as long as the weather is sunny. However, you might want to avoid the area during the rainy season when the road can get muddy, especially if your vehicle is not equipped with four-wheel drive.
Author's bio: Clint T. has lived in Utah on and off for the past 20 years and will never grow tired of the great outdoors.