Steam Vents

Hawaii County, Hawaii · Near Volcano
19.4070°N, 155.2770°W · 3,620 ft
Hot 75°F air · Good soaking weather 3,620 ft Open Hike National Park Service
Steam Vent: Not a Soaking Spring

Steam Vents is a steam vent, not a traditional hot spring. These geothermal features can be extremely dangerous. Boiling water, toxic gases, and unstable ground are common hazards. Do not attempt to soak.

Steam vents on the lower, wetter side of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, a little over five miles from the town of Volcano, Hawaii County. Ground heat pushes vapor out of the rock. The record calls the steam hot and stops there, with no temperature reading and no pool. Access is open. This is a thing to look at, and it is reached on foot.

Reaching the vents means a hike, about a mile and change from the nearest road, which the record does not name. They sit around thirty-six hundred feet up in a wet zone where something like seventy-seven inches of rain falls most years. Snow never comes. Temperatures average in the low sixties. The land belongs to the National Park Service.

Expect rain in any month. No best season is on record, and with no snow to worry about the window is wide. There is no temperature to soak in and no fee listed. Nearest camping is not on file. A mile-plus walk each way is the commitment.

Terrain

USGS hasn't flown a detailed laser scan here yet, so this view comes from aerial photos and older elevation data.

Aerial view of the ground around Steam Vents

The orange dot marks the spring, in a frame about three quarters of a mile wide.

Setting
Open ground
Flat, open ground all around.
Highest ground nearby
12 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the southwest
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from northwest to southeast, about 0.6 miles end to end.

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Monthly Climate
60°
Jan
60°
Feb
60°
Mar
62°
Apr
63°
May
64°
Jun
66°
Jul
67°
Aug
66°
Sep
65°
Oct
63°
Nov
61°
Dec
Annual Precip: 76.5 in Annual Snow: 0.0 in
Current Conditions
75°F
Mostly Cloudy SSW 12.1 mph 94% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 78° Low 62° Mostly Sunny 11% precip
Wednesday 79° Low 65° Scattered Rain Showers 27% precip
Thursday 75° Low 66° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 64% precip
Friday 74° Low 64° Scattered Rain Showers 38% precip
Saturday 74° Low 63° Isolated Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy 23% precip
Where to Stay

Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Temperature
Hot
Warm Hot Boiling
Avg Air Temp 63°F
Access
Open
Road Access Hike
Distance to Road 1.2 mi
Land
Ownership Federal
Agency National Park Service
Designation National Park
Unit Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Manager National Park Service
Protection 2 - Permanent protection, some use allowed
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the water temperature at Steam Vents?
Steam Vents is classified as hot. An exact temperature measurement has not been recorded.
Where is Steam Vents located?
Steam Vents is located in Hawaii County, Hawaii at 3,620 feet elevation, near Volcano. Coordinates: 19.4070°N, 155.2770°W.
How do I get to Steam Vents?
Steam Vents has Hike road access (1.2 mi from the road).
Is Steam Vents free to visit?
Steam Vents has Open access. It is managed by National Park Service.