I managed to squeeze in a short stroll on the Big Island during a quick visit.

Trailhead

Entrance fee was $20 for 7 days or $25 for an annual pass to enter the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Guess which one I picked?

Trail

The railings tipped me off this was going to be a rough trail. Glad I packed water and wore my hiking shoes.

Trail

Looking across the solidified lava lake that once was a boiling lava lake that covered the once thriving forest. Cycle of life.

Trail

The main vent at the base of Pu’u Pua’i where 71 million cubic meters of lava gushed forth back in 1959, eventually 63 million cubic meters drained back into the magma core, leaving 8 million cubic meters to cool and solidify into the floor we see today.

Bench

A place to sit in case the strenuous stroll takes the better of you.

Junction

The short way or the long way. I took the short way today.

Trail

The trail started to switch back down into the crater floor.

Trail

Looking across the barren landscape, fringed with a lush forest of trees.

Trail

Standing on the rocky ledge, known as the “bathtub ring”, the highest level that the lava reached before draining back into the vent.

Ohia Lehua

The first plants to grow on lava fields, they have uniquely adapted to thrive in the harsh volcanic environment.

Trail

One of the numerous cracks and fissures that ran throughout the lava floor.

Trail

Ferns. The good ones. Not the uluhell ones.

Trail

Folds of lava flows, with volcanic rubble and ohia trees sprinkled throughout.

Trail

Following the volcanic breadcrumbs, ahu or lava rock cairns, as I made my way through the crater floor.

Trail

Panoramic view from the middle of the crater, with pockets of scalding steam coming from cracks in the lava floor.

Trail

Walking back up to the other side of the “bathtub ring.”

Trail

Looking back at the crater floor as I made my way back to the forested trail.

Trail

Switch backing up to the parking lot.

Trail

Before I knew it, the hike was over.

All pau

I walked back up the road to the parking lot and caught a brief glimpse of the summit lookout before leaving the park.

Note: I have been made aware the some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers.