Indian Tunnel Trail

From the Caves Trail turn and head South at Dew Drop Cave. The trail is paved and runs over pahoehoe lava. The first two caved in sections you come to are part of the Indian Tunnels lava tube but no longer connect without tight squeezes and a lot of crawling. At the third opening, the paved trail ends at a steel stairway. You may need a flashlight if it is early or late in the day or overcast. Most people hike it without a flashlight and take it slow in the shadows. The trail heads South from opening to opening and is easily deciphered. I highly recommend checking out the two legs of the tunnel that head back North. Bonus: At the bottom of the entry hole, if you go north in one or the other legs of the tunnel, there is a connecting crawl to cut over to the other leg just for fun. The Trail runs roughly South with various skylights and over or around large piles of rubble on the floor. At times you'll be hiking on the frozen surface of a lava river. At the end of the tunnel, you are forced up and out a small hole but it is not a tight squeeze like it first looks. Once on the surface again, head north always sighting in on the next marker pole. The trail back is undefined and overland style. Watch where you are going and for sure avoid the skylights and your last step! This section is not overly difficult but is has no improvements made to it (just how we like it) other than a post here and there. You should always be able to see the next post, if not, stop and re-evaluate your course. You should regain the paved path near the steel stairs. Due to the trail being partly a loop and partly out and back, the distance is listed incorrectly. You can expect a 3/4 mile total trip from Dew Drop Cave out and back.