[2004]. Just one week later, red hot lava finally emerged into the crater, and more or less continuous steam plumes began rising from the crater. Official estimates soon reported the new lava was oozing forth at the astonishing rate of one full dump truck load PER SECOND for at least the next two weeks! (10 cu. yards per second)......The Coldwater Visitors Center is approximately 43 miles from I-5 freeway. Plan on at least one hour and fifteen minutes to drive that, as the road is somewhat winding, and has a quite low speed limit on the upper sections.