Exploring Craters of the Moon National Monument

Located in southern Idaho, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is a rather barren, unique landscape created from volcanic activity.

Living near active volcanoes, large mountainous explosions is what comes to my mind when I hear stories about lava. However, that is not the case at Craters of the Moon. Instead, the magma flowed from cracks in the Earth, specifically a 52 mile long fissure known as The Great Rift. As the crack plugged up with lava, it would then pour from vents in the ground creating spatter cones, which can be seen in the park.

Park Info

Location: Southern Idaho. About 3 hours from Boise
Established: 1924
Elevation: 5900 feet
Things to See: lava flows, lava tubes, the Great Rift, spatter cones, & cinder cones
Things to Do: Explore the Visitor Center, become a Junior Ranger or Lunar Ranger, observe geology, go spelunking, climb a cinder cone, & stargaze
Lodging/Camping: Lava Flow Campground, first-come first-served
Food: No restaurants
Dogs: Prohibited at Visitor Center & on trails. They are allowed in the campground and parking areas.
Entrance Fee: $20/vehicle click here to see current fee pricing 
Park Maps: Link to park maps 

Please note: This info primarily relates to warmer months. Be sure to check park status during the colder season.

Visitor Center

Typically we head to the Visitor Center first on our adventures. We like to learn a little about what we are are going to experience before we head out to explore. Plus, sometimes a Ranger will have extra information pertaining to wildlife in the area or trails to avoid.

Also, this is where you will grab a map, or cave and backcountry permits.

There are a number of hiking trails at Craters of the Moon. Most of them aren’t too long, but they are on rugged terrain and at nearly 6000′ elevation – so as always, be prepared.

Driving the 7 mile Loop

The 7 mile loop is a great way to see this geological wonder. Along the way, you can get out and explore a number of trails.

Inferno Cone Trail

The Inferno Cone Trail is short, but steep. Climbing to the top is worth it, though, for the 360° splendid views.

The Caves Trail

The Caves Trail has access to 4 caves. These caves are actually lava tubes formed thousands of years ago from volcanic activity and Pāhoehoe lava.

Don’t forget: Before entering the caves, be sure to get your free permit at the Visitor Center.

Lava Flow Campground

The Lava Flow Campground is available on a first-come, first-served basis. We arrived fairly late in the day, but there were still plenty of sites.

Most of our camping experience has been in forested areas. This was a first for us – camping among the lava with very little vegetation.

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