Haʻakulamanu Sulphur Banks — Attraction in Hawaii

Great Hiking trail and fully handicapped accessible from Visitors Center down into the valley and then up to where they trail comes out and meets up with Crater Rim Drive, just east of Steam Vents. Note to others in wheelchairs, walkers, canes or otherwise have a hard time hiking, this starts off downhill that may make you think it will be a hard climb back out, but it wasn't too bad. Most of the hike is on a well-built raised wooden trail. You have a less steep climb going back up when going towards Steam Vents. There are lots of informative signage along the way to help guide you to what you are looking at.

I highly recommend this hike to...

A great little 1 mile round trip trail takes you to a small valley where volcanic gases have created sulphur crystal formations. The crystals are not anything spectacular but you can see them clearly on the exposed rock. There is a wooden boardwalk taking you over the whole thing for safety but the first half of the trail from the visitor center is paved. You can definitely smell the sulphur but if it bothers you, a mask blocks the odor pretty effectively! Signs say that people with heart or respiratory issues or who are pregnant are advised...

The views on the sulphur banks while walking the boardwalk and trail are fantastic and otherworldly. The heat from the volcano below is evident in the flora and the landscape. Be smart and stay on the designated trail. The mystery (and danger) of the earth below cannot be overstated. It is cool at the top of the volcano, so dress in layers. Walk is not that long, and totally worth it. Our full loop took approx 1 hour (including coming back in the Illahi Trail and stopping for many photos). Highly recommend when visiting Volcanoes...