Can you walk to the lava flow in Hawaii?

The park is open 24 hours a day. Hiking to the lava from the park is allowed, but it's not for everyone.



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Hawaii National Park, Hawai'i - Visitors may hike and bicycle along the gravel emergency access route at the end of Chain of Craters Road to view and access lava as it flows down the Pulama Pali and spreads out onto the coastal lava plain in the national park, and towards the ocean.

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The answer… really really close. If the lava is pooling or advancing slowly, you can stand right next to it to get a shot. You can not stand there long…you may have to get your shot and quickly retreat…but you can get very close.

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Lava won't kill you if it briefly touches you. You would get a nasty burn, but unless you fell in and couldn't get out, you wouldn't die. With prolonged contact, the amount of lava coverage and the length of time it was in contact with your skin would be important factors in how severe your injuries would be!

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Lava is best seen at night along the south rim. There are three main viewing locations: Kupina?i Pali (Waldron Ledge) from Crater Rim Trail, Kilauea Overlook, and Keanakako?i Crater. Keanakako?i Crater is the closest eruption viewpoint - here you'll see a lava lake that emits a reddish-orange glow at night!

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Zone 9, considered the least hazardous region, consists of Kohala, a volcano that has not erupted for 60,000 years. Sources/Usage: Public Domain. Lava-flow hazard zones map, Island of Hawai'i.

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Nui Pohaku offers the shortest hike to the lookout where you can see the lava flowing into the ocean. The hike itself is an easy 30- to 40-minute walk (we were told it was around 1.5 miles) until the end of the trail.

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Two years later, Kilauea erupted between December 2020 and May 2021 again within Halema?uma?u crater, boiling off a water lake that had been growing for more than a year, and replacing it with a lava lake 229 m (751 ft) deep.

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Lava is between 100,000 and 1.1 million times more viscous than that of water, based on temperature and silica content. It also is three times more dense than water, Live Science reports. That means falling into a pit of lava is like falling into a pool filled with peanut butter - you'd float on top.

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Falling into lava from a volcano is an extremely dangerous situation that almost always results in death. Lava is molten rock that can reach temperatures of up to 1,200 degrees Celsius (2,192 degrees Fahrenheit). If someone were to fall into lava, they would likely suffer severe burns and potentially fatal injuries.

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Common Items from Hawaii NOT ALLOWED into the U.S. Mainland or Alaska
  • Fresh fruits and vegetables, some exceptions are those listed below as permitted.
  • Berries of any kind, including fresh coffee berries and sea grapes.
  • Cactus plants or cactus plant parts.
  • Cotton and cotton bolls.
  • Fresh flowers of jade vine, and Mauna Loa.


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Collecting beach glass and shells is still allowed. But if you're collecting shells for the purposes of commercial activity, a Commercial Marine License is required per HRS §189-2,3 and Hawai'i Administrative Rule §13-74-20.

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Is Hawaii Safe to Visit? If you're wondering “is Hawaii safe to visit” the answer is a resounding YES! While Kilauea's lava flow remains powerful after an initial eruption on May 3 and series of subsequent earthquakes, the island is not completely shut down – contrary to popular belief.

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Current Lava Flows (Updated 2022) In 2023 there are no active surface flows outside of the crater to be seen. However, there have been eruptions that have stayed entirely contained within Halema'uma'u crater, that allow you to see an evening glow and molten lava within the crater.

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Volcanic hazards are greatest on Mauna Loa and Kilauea, and the risk is highest along the rift zones of those volcanoes. The hazards are progressively less severe on Hualalai, Mauna Kea, and Kohala volcanoes.

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Zone 3 includes areas gradationally less hazardous than zone 2 because of greater distance from recently active vents or because the topography makes it less likely that flows will cover these areas. Developed areas between Kea`au and Pahoa and on the south side of Highway 11 between Kea`au and Volcano are in zone 3.

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Volcano, Hawaii You are able to actually walk on the Kilauea Crater floor. You will even feel the heat under your shoes. Wear good hiking shoes, and carry your own water, and be reasonably fit. It's exhilarating to be walking on Kilauea, and feeling the Pele Goddess energy.

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Fortunately, the prevailing winds in the Aloha State are trade winds. So you won't experience vog when you're on any of the other islands, unless there are Kona winds. So overall, it's always generally safe to travel to Hawaii, even with the volcanic eruptions.

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The world's most active volcano never fails to put on a show, and if you're looking to learn more about volcanoes and what causes them, Kilauea is the best place to go. In general, there are two ways to see Kilauea when you're in Hawaii. You can book a tour or you can go on your own and see it for yourself.

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