Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park · Hawaii

Sulphur Banks Trail

0.7 mi of trail, end to end · Haʻakulamanu via Sulphur Banks Trail: 1.2 mi round trip in the Service's write-up · about 40 ft of climbing · 3,933 ft–3,974 ft · asphalt surface · trail class Developed · hiking

3,944 ft 3,974 ft · 0.7 mi high 3,974 ft

Haʻakulamanu via Sulphur Banks Trail 1.2 mi round trip · the Park Service's write-up

30-45 Minutes · no dogs

Start Kīlauea Visitor Center or Steam Vents Parking Lot

Steam rising from a colorful geothermal area

Due to underground heat, this dramatic volcanic thermal area has very few trees. Known as Ha'akulamanu, this unusual place has been famous for birds, colorful deposits, and billowing vapors.

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 1.2 mile (2 km) round trip from Kīlauea Visitor Center

Trail begins next to Kīlauea Visitor Center parking lot toward the Volcano Art Center Gallery (The other end of the trail, which is wheelchair accessible, can be picked up across the street from the Steam Vents)

At Ha'akulamanu (Sulphur Banks), volcanic gases seep out of the ground along with groundwater steam. These gases are rich in carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide -- the gas that smells like rotten eggs. Some sulfur gases deposit pure crystals at Sulphur Banks. Other sulfur gases form sulfuric acid which breaks down the lava to clay. This clay is stained red and brown with iron oxide.

Visitors with heart or respiratory problems (such as asthma), pregnant women, infants, or young children should avoid this walk.

Learn more about the phenomenon of Steam Vents and Sulphur Banks

Accessibility A wheelchair accessible trail to the Sulphur Banks area is located across the street from the Steam Vents parking lot.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 50 trails in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National ParkFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.