Hawai’i Volcanos NP (7) vs. Crater Lake NP (10)

One of my favorite parts about our national parks is the social aspect that arises from interacting with them. Learning about and exploring these parks is (almost) always more fun with friends, which is why I’ve asked my good friend Kelsey Dunn to do this national park preview. She’s a junior political science and environmental studies major at Wellesley College. She’s vehemently passionate about climate issues, and also hands down one of the best people to explore the parks with. Here’s what she had to say:

Volcanoes, in all their mystery, unpredictability, and power to destroy and nurture life, have long had a hold over me. Today’s matchup between Hawai’i Volcanoes and Crater Lake is any volcano lover’s dream. 

Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park embodies volcanic activity at its most dynamic. Established in 1916, the park extends from sea level all the way up to 13,677 feet, and encompasses the summits of two of the world’s most active volcanoes: Kilauea and Mauna Loa. Ever changing, the landscape of the park is far different today than it was 100 years ago. Some of the most dramatic changes have been to Kilauea. For nearly a decade visitors could see active lava flows from the volcano. Then, in 2018, Kilauea erupted, causing its famous caldera to collapse, and after destroying 700 homes, the flows halted. It is no coincidence, then, that in 2019 visitorship fell to 1.1 million from the 2.2 million only years before. If molten lava isn’t your thing, or if there are no active flows, Hawai’i Volcanoes still has more than enough to offer, from driving the Chain of Craters road, walking across lava beds, exploring the Thurston lava tube hidden in the rainforest, to backpacking in the more than 123,000 acres of designated wilderness. 

A mere 6-hour flight northeast takes us to another volcanic park that couldn’t be more different. If Hawai’i Volcanoes represents volcanism in its most energetic state, then Crater Lake National Park represents it at its most serene. Though the park was established in 1902, its story really begins 7,700 years ago with the eruption of Mount Mazama. Klamath Tribal legends document the violent eruption and reveal that even then the mountain was a source of wonder to people; recently, moccasins and obsidian tools have been discovered under the ash. Fed by rain and snow, with no streams flowing in or out, the lake that formed in the crater is the deepest in the U.S. and one of the most pristine in the world. Its dark blue hues and strange formations (both volcanic and glacial!) have fascinated scientists, artists, and over 750k annual visitors alike for decades. Whether in swim shorts or snowshoes, the crater rim hike is glorious year round, as are the many trails in the area. In summer months, a boat ride to wizard island (well, cinder cone) is a must for all those who venture down to the lake’s shore. But as you explore, don’t be fooled by the lake’s almost eerie calm. Below the surface, Mt. Mazama is still very much an active volcano; and one day it will erupt again. 

I’ve tried to give you a picture of both parks at their best, so now comes the hard part, and I’m putting it all on you. How do you compare the glowing magma of Kilauea to the magical blues of Crater Lake? How do you compare hot, smooth lava walks under a tropical sun to the crunch of fresh snow in the northwest pine trees? How do you compare two (well really, three – Mauna Loa can speak for itself) volcanos in two different phases of their cycle? Though I’m a firm believer that you can’t rank parks, and though I’ve been to both and love them dearly, I know which one I’ll pick — and soon we’ll see what twitter decides too!