Whenever people ask me what the first trail they should do when entering the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the Sulphur Banks Trail at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is the first trail that comes to mind. This trail delivers a one-of-a-kind experience, connecting visitors directly to Kīlauea Volcano as volcanic gases rise through cracks in ancient lava flows, leaving behind vibrant yellow sulfur crystals and colorful mineral deposits. Located just steps from the Kīlauea Visitor Center, it's the perfect introduction to the park’s dynamic landscape. This easy, 1.3-mile (2.1 km) loop combines a freshly rebuilt boardwalk, paved pathways, and wide-open vistas of steaming volcanic vents, making it a top pick for families with small children, seniors, and anyone who prefers a gentler adventure. We regularly take our daughter here, as you’ll see in the photos, because of it’s accessibility and dynamic landscape.Visitors can expect to stroll past bright yellow sulfur deposits, native Hawaiian flora, and glimpses of Kīlauea’s otherworldly landscape, all while enjoying a trail designed for maximum accessibility and minimal effort.
Park your vehicle at the Kīlauea Visitor Center, the main hub of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. From the visitor center entrance, look west toward the open green lawn, if you're facing the building, it'll be on your left. A paved trail begins here, leading you into the heart of the Sulphur Banks.
Almost immediately, you'll pass by a traditional hula mound, a circular stone platform where hula practitioners (kumu hula and students) perform sacred dances honoring Pele and other Hawaiian deities. These spaces, known as pa hula, are places of deep cultural reverence, blending artistry with spiritual practice.
As you continue along the path, the trail gently curves into a small patch of native forest. Here, you'll catch your first glimpses of ʻŌhiʻa lehua trees with their bright red blossoms, and towering hāpuʻu ferns, whose unfurling fronds resemble giant green scrolls. These plants are survivors, uniquely adapted to life atop young volcanic landscapes.
After about 0.2 miles (0.3 km), the paved trail transitions onto a freshly upgraded boardwalk, sturdy yellow cedar replacing the aging structure, opening up wide, sweeping views of the steaming earth. Volcanic gases escape from hidden fissures, creating dramatic white plumes that rise into the cooler air.
Along the way, you'll notice greenish-yellow sulfur crystals staining the ground and rocks—nature's vivid signature of the ongoing volcanic processes at work. Interpretive placards are thoughtfully placed throughout the boardwalk, explaining the science, history, and cultural meaning of the area, making each step a deeper experience for visitors of all ages.
Native Hawaiians knew this place as Haʻakulamanu, meaning "the gathering place of birds." In ancient times, native forest birds would flock to this steaming landscape, where the earth seemed to breathe sulfurous clouds straight from the underworld.
There is one particular placard about a young boy who wandered off the boardwalk and fell into a crack. He received burns all over his body. I remember showing this to my daughter when she was very young and the cartoon image truly scared her. You just might to be aware of this incase you have impressionable children present.
Continuing along the boardwalk, the magic behind the Sulphur Banks Trail lies just below the surface. Deep underground, groundwater heated by Kīlauea’s magma system transforms into volcanic steam. As it rises, the gases, rich in hydrogen sulfide, escape through cracks in the hardened lava. When these gases meet cooler air near the surface, chemical reactions occur, depositing bright yellow elemental sulfur and iron oxide minerals across the rocks. This paints the landscape in surreal shades of yellow, red, and even green, giving visitors an unforgettable window into the raw forces that continue to shape Hawaiʻi’s youngest and most active island.
After completing the boardwalk section, the trail returns to a shaded forest, offering a welcome change of scenery. You’ll pass under the canopy of ʻōhiʻa trees and hāpuʻu ferns once again, but will quickly open back up with pockets of open space where more steam vents appear along the path. Here, the steam tends to feel warmer and wetter, as groundwater near the surface flashes into vapor under intense geothermal heat.
In this area, you’ll also come across ʻŌhelo berry bushes, an important food source for Hawaiʻi’s state bird, the nēnē. The nēnē, a Hawaiian goose found nowhere else in the world, is considered severely endangered. Because of their reliance on the ʻōhelo berries for survival, visitors are asked not to pick the berries, helping to preserve this critical natural food source. Additionally, it’s easy to mistake ʻōhelo berries for their poisonous look-alike relatives, so it’s best to leave all berries untouched and enjoy them with your eyes instead.
Soon, the trail crosses Crater Rim Drive. Carefully make your way across the road and follow the path toward the popular Steam Vents overlook. This is one of the most visited spots in the park, offering your first sweeping views into Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, the legendary home of Pele herself. Because it's the first major pull-off after the park entrance, expect a larger crowd here, especially during mid-morning and afternoon hours. Up to this point, the trail alternates between paved sections and packed dirt, making it accessible for most visitors.
From the overlook, look for a sign marking the Crater Rim Trail. We like to turn left here, following the Crater Rim Trail as it meanders gently through forested areas, passing a few more steaming vents tucked among the trees. This quieter stretch offers a more peaceful, less crowded experience as you make your way back toward the Kīlauea Visitor Center, completing the full Haʻakulamanu-Crater Rim loop.
For anyone stepping foot into Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park for the first time, the Sulphur Banks Trail feels like opening a doorway into another world. It’s an easy walk, perfect for young children eager to explore or for travelers just looking to stretch their legs, but it delivers an unforgettable encounter with the living, breathing forces that shaped these islands. From the golden boardwalk winding through steaming vents to the sweeping views of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater rising from the mist, every step along this short loop reminds you that Hawaiʻi is alive beneath your feet. It's a trail where science, culture, and beauty meet, and where even the smallest adventure leaves a lasting impression.
