Hiking the Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube) Trail in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Distance: 0.4 miles / 0.6 km
Nāhuku, formerly known as the Thurston Lava Tube, is one of the highlights of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park!
Overall, the lava tube is one of the most beautiful and quick adventures in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes, making it a great short adventure, whether rain or shine.
U.S. National Park Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube) Parking
Parking for the Thurston Lava Tube is located directly off of Chain of Craters Road, in a small parking area along both sides of the road.
Since Nāhuku is so popular, parking for the lava tube can be difficult by midday, especially since the trailhead can also be used for the Kīlauea Iki Trail.
Therefore, if the parking area is too difficult or full, you may need to park at the Kīlauea Iki Overlook located 0.5 miles (0.8 km) up the Crater Rim Trail. To learn more about this small hike in order to reach Nāhuku, see the photos at the very end.
Google Maps Directions: Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube) Trailhead
My Hawaiʻi Hiking Checklist
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Nāhuku Trail
The Nāhuku Lava Tube Trail is one of the most beautiful, unique, and biodiverse places in all of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
I encourage you to take your time on the trail, as many of the plants are found nowhere else on earth, sometimes not even elsewhere in Hawaiʻi.
Nāhuku Loop Trail
At the first split immediately after the trailhead, go right to continue on the most common direction around the loop.
Nāhuku-Crater Rim Junction
Then, the Thurston Lava Tube Trail will split once again, with the Crater Rim Trail that continues on to the Keanakākoʻi Crater located 3.0 miles (4.8 km) down the trail.
I think it’s worth mentioning that this section of the Crater Rim Trail, past Nāhuku, is my favorite section of the entire 7.6-mile (12.2 km) hike, and if you’re interested in seeing more, I encourage you to read about the full trail in my separate post below.
Read My Separate Post: Crater Rim Trail
After the Crater Rim junction, the Nāhuku Trail descends a few switchbacks before reaching the lava tube shortly ahead.
Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube)
Before entering, know that the Nāhuku Lava Tube is longer than you might think. It has a low ceiling in parts of the cave, and it’s slightly windy, meaning that you can’t see daylight on either end of the lava tube when you’re in the middle.
This is true even on a bright sunny day as shown here.
On the far end of Nāhuku, the trail climbs up a few steep flights of stairs to get out of the lava tube.
After the lava tube, the paved trail simply loops back around to the initial split from earlier in this post.
Nāhuku Loop Junction
This is where the short 0.4-mile (0.6 km) trail completes the loop.
Kīlauea Iki Overlook
Distance to Nāhuku: 0.5 miles / 0.8 km
If the Nāhuku parking area on the side of Chain of Craters Road is full, you may need to park at the Kīlauea Iki Overlook and hike along the rim to reach the lava tube.
The hike is only 0.5 miles (0.8 km) each way, but if you’re interested in learning more about the full Kīlauea Iki Loop Trail, I encourage you to read more in my separate post.
Read My Separate Post: Kīlauea Iki Trail
This is where the Crater Rim/ Kīlauea Iki Trail meet with the Nāhuku Lava Tube parking area.
Native Plants on the Nāhuku Trail
The native forest surrounding Nāhuku is one of the best places to enjoy a ton of different native Hawaiian diversity in just this one small concentrated area.
Some of these native plants on the Nāhuku Lava Tube Trail include ʻŌhiʻa, Kōlea, Hāpuʻu, Akaʻawa, Māmaki, ʻŌhā, and ʻŌhelo, to name only a few.
That being said, if you are curious about trying the native Hawaiian Māmaki tea, I kindly ask that you don’t harvest Māmaki from our native forests but, instead, buy from one of the local reputable vendors, such as those listed below.
To learn more about these and other native plants from around the park and across the islands, be sure to check out my separate post written entirely about native Hawaiian plants.
Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide
More Hawaiʻi Volcanoes Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing adventures within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, check out my separate posts below!
Best Hotels & Vacation Rentals on Hawaiʻi Island
Since Hawaiʻi Island is such a big island, I recommend starting your search on VRBO to find places in both Kona and Hilo.
This way, you can plan your adventures on all sides of the island without having to drive too far.
Island of Hawaiʻi
Hawaiʻi Island Airport-Hotel Shuttle
Prices on ride-share apps like Uber/ Lyft cannot beat the price of booking your hotel or vacation rental shuttle prior to arrival.
That being said, the shuttle option below is incredibly cheap, and it’s a great option to get to accommodations across the Kailua-Kona side of the Big Island!
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
One of my favorites!
Visiting Other Islands
If you are visiting Hawaiʻi Island or heading to another island, check out some of my personal recommendations for Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, Molokai, Lānaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island) in these separate posts.
If you’re trying to decide which island is right for your visit, check out my overview about each island in the post below.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Hawaiian Island to Visit?
What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
The weather in Hawaiʻi can often appear to be warm and beautiful throughout the year, but in my experience, there is a lot more to consider when planning what time of year to visit the islands, such as what island you are considering, what sides of each island do you plan to stay, what activities are you most interested in, the wildlife, and countless other nuanced variables that can all impact the type of trip you can expect to have.
For these reasons, I highly recommend reading through my separate article to not only understand my thoughts regarding the best time of year to come to Hawaiʻi but also what you need to consider based on the time of year that you plan to visit.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
Safety
All hikes in Hawaiʻi should not be compared to trails outside of the islands, and hikers should exercise due caution on every adventure, given that many are extremely dangerous.
By this, I mean that Hawaiʻi is known for hot, humid weather, steep, dramatic, and unstable cliffs, and flash floods, which can occur without warning. Therefore, it is important that you check the local forecast, understand the physical condition of your entire group, and pack sufficient food and water before attempting any hike.
Disclaimer
All information provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for information or advice from qualified professionals or managing agencies.
Noah Lang Photography LLC makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information provided here, and readers should use their own discretion, judgement, and seek professional advice where needed.
Furthermore, Noah Lang Photography LLC shall not be held responsible for any injuries, lost individuals, or legal issues arising from the use of information provided on this website, and if applicable, the above safety disclaimer should be referenced to provide a generic overview of the risks involved.
All said, the content on this blog is for the sole use of Noah Lang Photography LLC, and unauthorized use or reproduction of this content is strictly prohibited.
U.S. National Parks Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
More U.S. National Parks
If you’d like to read more about some of my best recommendations when visiting other U.S. National Parks, check out some of my other posts below!
Disclosure
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However, some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission if a purchase is made through one of those links. This commission comes at no additional cost to you, and I only recommend products that I personally use and believe will add value to my readers. Thank you for your support, which enables me to continue creating more!
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