Observatory was closed and the road was blocked by a group of demonstrators that DID direct us around their blockade, but when I asked who the people here from a native at the observatory, I was rudely told to go home, and wondered if I was safe. Sacred Ground? If that is the attitude of the people, it seems they value ground and not visitors. I may take my vacation money somewhere else if that is their welcome.

most of the park is closed regardless of what they represent at the Visitor's Center. At the entrance we were not given an updated map of what was open, that had to be obtained at the Visitor's Center, and when we did get a "good" map, the gentlemen at the visitor center who was obviously there to help people at his booth seemed to be bothered by our confusion of what was accessible to the public and what was not. The trail head he advised us to use had "closed" signs on it, but apparently it was Open according to him. If I had children with me, I don't know what they would do other than sit on volcano rock that they shouldn't be climbing on to begin with because its extremely rough and abrasive....they'd have to have band-aids applied often.

We didn't know you had to have 4-wheel drive until we got to the visitor's center. We had awd, but they STRONGLY don't recommend it, so we didn't even get to the top to see the observatory.

Very cold long ride and don’t go if get car sick

Very old on top a long ride not good if get car sick.