Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Manukā State Wayside adventure.
Manukā State Wayside is a rest stop area with an opportunity to chow down at picnic tables amongst native and introduced trees. To walk off your mean feed of spam musubi, there is a short two mile nature hike available at the adjacent Manuka Natural Area Reserve. Should you decide to camp or just have more time to explore,the reserve features 25,000 acres and a variety of natural habitats including subalpine shrublands and forests, mesic montane kipuka forests, wet montane forests, lowland mesic forests and lowland dry forests. Recent lava flows have created unsurveyed lava tubes, and it’s not unusual to spot a cloud of Hawaiian hoary bat. Please come prepared to supply your own drinking water.
The largest active volcano in the world, Mauna Loa is well known for its frequent activity and large lava flows. At dusk the lava flows begin to glow, transforming the volcanic landscape into a spectacle that can’t be missed. With easy access to an essential Big Island experience, camping near Mauna Loa will ensure you get the most out of your experience.