Thurston Lava Tube (Nahuku)

The Thurston Lava Tube, also known as Nahuku, is one of several points of interest located along the park’s Crater Rim Drive. From the parking area, a 15- to 20-minute walk leads down through a fern forest to the cave-like tube. The tube features on just about every guided tour of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, as well as circle island and volcano-themed tours of the Big Island.

• The Thurston Lava Tube is a must-visit for first-time park visitors and anyone with an interest in volcanology.

• Watch your head: There are some low spots within the 600-foot (183-meter) tube.

• Bring a flashlight to take a closer look at some of the cave’s natural features.

• Be sure to wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking over uneven surfaces.

• The Thurston Lava Tube is not wheelchair accessible, though there are accessible restrooms in the parking area.

The easiest way to reach the lava tube is to drive. The parking area and trailhead leading down to the tube sits 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) past the park entrance on Crater Rim Drive. From there, a short trail (0.3 miles or 0.5 kilometers) leads to the tube entrance.

Since the Thurston Lava Tube is one of the most accessible, and therefore most popular, natural features within the park, it’s a good idea to head there first thing in the morning to explore the tube with fewer people.

If you’re visiting the national park independently, there are several notable points of interest you won’t want to miss. Smell the sulfurous gases of the volcano at Sulphur Banks, breathe in the warmth at the Steam Vents, take in the lunar-like landscapes of Devastation Trail, hike across the floor of Kilauea Iki crater, and watch the glow of the active volcano from the Jaggar Museum observatory.

There are a few routes you can take to hike the lava tube. There’s a popular 1.5-mile (2.4-kilometer) round-trip walk from Kilauea Iki Overlook. A longer 6-mile (9.7-kilometer) route from Devastation Trailhead is another option. Add an additional mile (1.6 kilometers) from Pu'u Pua'i for a little extra.

Head to the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, then pay your entry fee. From here, head along the Crater Rim Drive for about a half mile through the rainforest until you reach the Kīlauea Iki and Nāhuku parking lot. From here, it’s about a 15-minute walk to the entrance of the lava tube.

Yes, there is parking at the Thurston Lava Tube. The best parking is in the Kīlauea Iki Overlook Parking Lot. This gets filled up at peak times, however, so it is best to arrive early in the day or afternoon. Alternatively, park at the national park’s visitor center parking lot.

Thurston Lava Tube was formed over 500 years ago by a river of molten lava running through the island. When the lava dries up or is diverted, lava tubes remain. Thurston, or Nakuki, was discovered in 1913, and over the years, visitors have come to hike its eerie interior.

Since the Kilauea Iki Overlook and parking lot fill up during the day, it’s best to visit the lava tube early or in the evening. The tube is only lit up during the day, from early morning to evening, so bring a strong flashlight if you go outside of those times.

The lava tube is free, but visitors must pay to enter the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Approximate costs are as follows: pedestrians are US$15, motorcycles are US$25, bicycles are US$15, and private vehicles are UA$30. Fill up a car of visitors for the best value.