The lava lake in Halemaumau Crater briefly reached its rim, but did not overflow on the crater floor Tuesday morning.

The rise happened during a period of no lava spattering. Lake levels generally fluctuated Tuesday morning between 10 to 13 feet below the Halemaumau Crater floor, depending on the vigor of spattering in the lake, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists said in a volcano update Tuesday.

The gradual rise in the lava lake levels has drawn huge crowds to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Rangers report that over the last several days, visitors waited 30 minutes or longer to park. To ease traffic once the Jaggar Museum and Kīlauea Overlook parking lots fill up, rangers are directing vehicles, during peak visitation hours, to park at the Kīlauea Military Camp ball , about a one-mile hike to the Jaggar Museum observation deck, the best vantage point to view the lava lake.

“Visitors should come prepared to ensure a safe and enjoyable park experience,” said Superintendent Cindy Orlando in a news release. “We encourage people to avoid peak hours, and arrive after 10 p.m. and before 4 a.m. if possible, or they will likely wait in line for parking. The park remains open 24 hours a day,” she said.

 Park officials say visitors should be prepared to hike a mile each way between the Kilauea Military Camp field and the observation deck and should wear sturdy closed-toe shoes, bring rain gear, water, binoculars, a flashlight, and extra batteries.  ​

The lava lake level has been rising for the past week during an inflation period at Kilauea, when the measurements show the mountain expanding.

Geologists said there was no significant inflation or deflation on the volcano on Tuesday.

The crater holding the lava lake is about 520 feet wide and 690 feet wide and the lava level rises and falls with inflation and deflation periods at Kilauea, from its current level to about 650 below the floor of Halemaumau.

In the last two years, the laval level has typically ranged from between 100 to 200 feet below the Halemaumau Crater floor.

The lava is at its highest point since the lake formed in 2008.