Skip to main content

World’s Most Dangerous Volcanoes You Can Actually Climb

A good hike is enough to get most adventurous travelers out of bed. However, a brisk commune with nature just isn’t disco enough for some. Thankfully, for those brave — er, crazy — souls, the world offers plenty of active and semi-active volcanoes to hike. Here are five of the most beautiful and dangerous on earth.

Related:

Related Videos

Nyiragongo

The Democratic Republic of Congo

Volcano Nyiragongo, Virunga National Park
Volcano Nyiragongo/ MONUSCO Photos/Flickr

For as long as the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo can remember, the country has been ravaged by war and violent rebellion. To say they’re a “hardened” people is an understatement. However, they’ll be the first to tell you that Mount Nyiragongo scares the hell out of them. So-called “General Nyiragongo” is situated in Africa’s oldest national park, Virunga. The 11,382-foot mountain is often called “the most dangerous volcano in the world,” and is home to the world’s largest lava lake which flows all too freely and unpredictably. The lava here is unusually fluid, capable of flowing like water at speeds up to 60 miles per hour. As recently as 2002, a massive lava flow streamed off the side of the volcano, coating the city of Goma below in a thick layer of ash and rock.

Mount Rinjani

Indonesia

mount rinjani

The raw power of Mount Rinjani — Indonesia’s second highest volcano —  attracts hundreds of hikers each day. Many are inexplicably drawn to its combination of beauty, danger, and challenge to hike. While it lacks the ongoing eruption activity of the country’s more active volcanoes like Semeru, the nearby Mount Barujari erupted violently in 2016, forcing an evacuation of almost 1,000 hikers. For those who do reach the summit, the views are breathtaking. The pitch black volcanic soil at the top gives way to a lush, rolling valley of stunning greens and purples. At the bottom of the crater lies Lake Segara Anak, an equally beautiful, almost neon, turquoise lake.

Mount Stromboli

Italy

mounst stromboli
Mount Stromboli/Wikipedia Commons

Mount Stromboli isn’t the highest or most technically difficult volcano on this list, but it is one of the most active and, therefore, deceptively dangerous. The summit climb requires approximately six hours, including three hours to the top, an hour or so of Instagramming the crater, and another 90 minutes back down. From the peak, hikers can appreciate the volcano’s near-constant explosive activity which occurs almost every half-hour. Most guided treks — obligatory above 400 meters — leave late in the day so visitors can summit around dusk when the volcano’s roman-candle-esque explosions are most visible.

Arenal

Costa Rica

Genevieve Poblano/The Manual

Situated on the edge of La Fortuna, Costa Rica’s Arenal volcano is the country’s most famous, but least-active active volcano. It last erupted in 1968. But, when it did, it was brutal and unexpected, leveling the tiny town of Tabacón without warning. That Arenal is set within a beautiful national park of the same name adds to its tourism draw. The surrounding park is a worthy destination in its own right for hikers and nature-lovers who can readily spot rare birds, tropical butterflies, and all manner of rainforest critter. Those looking to summit the volcano proper would do well to opt for a full tour that covers the area’s famed hot springs, numerous waterfalls, and the scarred landscape of the last eruption.

Mayon Volcano

The Philippines

Mayon Volcano
Wikipedia Commons/Flickr

There is beauty in symmetry. Mayon Volcano in the Philippines is often considered the world’s most symmetrical, perfectly formed, and therefore beautiful, stratovolcano. But, just beneath its perfectly formed crust lies the ever-present danger of mudslides, ash falls, “pyroclastic flows” (as scary as they sound), and ultimately eruption. It is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. A 2013 incident took the lives of five hikers without warning, even though the volcano showed no signs of activity the day before.

Editors' Recommendations

10 Best Hikes in the United States in 2022
best hikes in united states 2021

Like arguing sports, religion, and the best type of peanut butter (it’s objectively extra chunky, by the way), declaring the “best hikes” is a recipe for a fistfight. Still, we’re going to boldly stake our claims to the 10 best hikes in the United States across various categories. Now that hiking season is upon us, it’s time to update your outdoor bucket list. Here are the best hikes worth trailing across the nation this 2022.
Best Hike for “Finding Yourself”
John Muir Trail (Sierra Nevada, California)

Almost any decent hike will encourage you to slow down, reconnect with nature, and potentially “find yourself.” But few have all the right ingredients -- history, natural beauty, spirituality, and iconic status -- like California’s John Muir Trail. This epic trail runs south through the High Sierras, tracing a path from Yosemite National Park to Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the Lower 48. The 210-mile trek is a true test of your backcountry skills. There is only one hut along the way, and food resupplies are scarce, so proper planning is critical. It’s also among the best high-elevation hikes in the world, as the elevation never drops below 7,000 feet. So the rewards are unparalleled.
Best Surreal Hike
The Wave (Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona)

Read more
The Best Places to Explore Orange County Outdoors
A tide pool at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point, California.

Orange County, California, may be best known for the fantasy world of Disneyland and outrageously out-of-this-world reality TV shows. But for locals, there’s far more to explore beyond the Magic Kingdom. In fact, Orange County has magical forests, stunning sandstone canyons, enchanting wetlands, beautiful beaches, and much more within reach.

If you’re hoping to make the most of your enchanted Disneyland family vacation, or if you’re seeking fresh (air) alternatives to spending your entire Orange County trip inside theme parks and shopping malls, we have some ideal locations for you to head outside, enjoy a great hike, discover some of California’s best beaches, and do much more.
Yes, Orange County Has More to Explore Beyond the Magic Kingdom's Gates
Photo by Andrew Davey

Read more
7 Healthy Benefits of Hiking You Need To Know
benefits of hiking

Hiking is one of the most popular forms of exercise in the U.S. However, it’s more than just a full-body workout; it’s also an excellent opportunity to spend time in nature, clear your mind, and improve your sense of well-being. In addition, hiking is a fully adjustable workout, and you can start on an easy trail and work your way up to full-blown mountain hiking no matter how long your progress takes!

It’s an activity that can be done just about anywhere. Because the prime hiking season in the national parks around the U.S. varies based on climate and affordability, you can easily adjust your hiking plans to match the seasons and see some beautiful areas throughout the country. It’s a great way to meet nature at its level and a perfect excuse to shut out the noise of the modern world!
7 Reasons You Should Hike Often

Read more