Steam Vents

Hawaii County, Hawaii · Near Volcano
19.3900°N, 155.3110°W · 3,559 ft
Hot 76°F air · Good soaking weather 3,559 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.

A fumarole area, hot steam rising from the ground, within Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park boundaries about seven miles from Volcano. Hawaii County. The walk in starts from the Hawaii Belt Road. Nothing in the record gives a water temperature and there is nowhere to bathe; the heat note reads hot and that is all. The site is open to the public.

Roughly a mile and a half of hiking separates the vents from the Hawaii Belt Road. Elevation is a bit over thirty-five hundred feet. This is rain country, eighty-some inches a year, and the snow total on file is zero. Days average in the mid sixties. The land is National Park Service property. Nothing on record describes the path.

Come for the steam, with no soak. Rain gear makes sense given the rainfall, though the record gives no best months, and with zero snow there is no closed season to speak of. Access is open, there is no fee noted, and no campground shows up within reach.

Terrain

Aircraft with laser scanners measured this ground to within inches. The scan strips out trees and buildings, leaving the bare shape of the land around Steam Vents.

Aerial view of the ground around Steam Vents LiDAR bare-earth view of the same ground around Steam Vents
Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag the handle to compare the two views. 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
51 ft above the spring
Within a quarter mile, to the east
Cross-section through the spring

A slice through the ground from west to east, about 0.6 miles end to end.

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

Monthly Climate
61°
Jan
61°
Feb
61°
Mar
63°
Apr
64°
May
65°
Jun
67°
Jul
68°
Aug
67°
Sep
66°
Oct
64°
Nov
62°
Dec
Annual Precip: 83.8 in Annual Snow: 0.0 in
Current Conditions
76°F
Mostly Cloudy N 0.0 mph 91% Good soaking weather
Tuesday 79° Low 63° Mostly Sunny 4% precip
Wednesday 81° Low 65° Isolated Rain Showers 21% precip
Thursday 77° Low 67° Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 60% precip
Friday 75° Low 65° Scattered Rain Showers then Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms 32% precip
Saturday 76° Low 64° Isolated Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy 15% precip
Where to Stay

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Temperature
Hot
Warm Hot Boiling
Avg Air Temp 64°F
Access
Open
Road Access Hike
Nearest Road Hawaii Belt Road
Distance to Road 1.6 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 3,559 feet elevation, near Volcano. Coordinates: 19.3900°N, 155.3110°W.
How do I get to Steam Vents?
Steam Vents has Hike road access, with the nearest road being Hawaii Belt Road (1.6 mi from the road).
Is Steam Vents free to visit?
Steam Vents has Open access. It is managed by National Park Service.