Exploring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Hiking and Biking the Escape Road

by Donald B. MacGowan

Escape Road near Mauna Ulu parking lot, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Graphic from Photo by Donald B MacGowan

There are many wondrous, enigmatic and fascinating attractions on the Big Island of Hawaii, some better known than others, many out of the way and generally off the beaten track.  Tour Guide Hawaii has produced an encyclopedic collection of the most up-to-date information, presented as short GPS-cued videos, in an app downloadable to iPhone and iPod Touch that covers the entire Big Island, highlighting the popular and the uncrowded, the famous and the secluded, the adventurous and the relaxing.

Escape Road

Hiking or biking the Escape Road on a hot sunny day can be a shady relief as well as a treat for the eyes, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park… Photo by Donald B MacGowan

The best off-road bike trip in the park–and a fine hike in its own right–the Escape Road starts at Thurston Lava Tube at about 3920 feet elevation and runs downhill ending at the Mauna Ulu Parking lot at about 3250 feet. The Escape Road is just what its name implies, an alternate route up and off the coastal plain to be used when Chain of Craters Road is inevitably cut by lava flows again. Entirely dirt surfaced, the Escape Road goes through lovely lush forest and is a cool treat to ride or hike—downhill anyway.

The jungle on either side of the Escape Road is frequently too thick to hike or see through, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Photo by Donald B MacGowan

The whole area surrounding The Park is infested with wild pigs and in trying to keep them from devastating the plants and ecosystems in The Park, the rangers have erected a complex series of fences and gates in this area. Please be sure to close all gates behind you (even if you found them open) as you ride on the Escape Road.

Escape Road headed downhill from near Thurston Lava Tube, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Photo by Donald B MacGowan

To see the new iPhone/iPod Touch App, please visit http://www.tourguidehawaii.com/iphone.html. The best of Tour Guide Hawaii’s free content about traveling to, and exploring, the Big island, can be found here.For more information on traveling to Hawaii in general and on touring the Big Island in particular, please also visit www.tourguidehawaii.com and www.tourguidehawaii.blogspot.com.

Escape Road headed uphill from Mauna Ulu parking lot, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Photo by Donald B MacGowan

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All media copyright 2010 by Donald B. MacGowan. All rights reserved.

Signpost by the Escape Road, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Photo by Donald B MacGowan