Last Updated on: 19th November 2024, 11:17 am
Idaho’s Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve is an overlooked gem. But while the park does indeed contain many craters, it doesn’t quite resemble the moon. Instead of dust, the park is largely covered in hard volcanic rock.
It’s situated on the Snake River Plain, one of the largest volcanic regions on the planet. While eruptions were taking place across the plain for millions of years, Craters of the Moon is what’s left of eruptions that occurred just 2,000 years ago.
The eruptions here were so violent, in fact, that many of the volcanos tore themselves apart. Rivers of lava flowed throughout the region, eventually hardening to form the black stone we see today.
Interestingly, the mantle plume (a mechanism regarded as the cause of volcanic hotspots) that was once beneath the Snake River Plain now lies beneath Yellowstone. And it’s responsible for the numerous geysers there. Speaking of Yellowstone, Craters of the Moon is just several hours away, making it an easy stop for those doing larger tours of the region.
In the following guide, we’ll be covering essential visiting tips and a rundown of nearly all of Craters of the Moon’s hikes and attractions. Also be sure to check the end of the article for more info on reaching the park and where to stay.
Planning Your Visit
Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve consists of a single main road with a loop in the middle. The straight portions are two-way, while the loop is only one-way (see map below). All in all, the park is not very big, so it won’t be much trouble to backtrack if you miss something.
SUGGESTED ROUTE: Just past the Visitor Center, the first trailhead you’ll encounter is the North Crater Flow trail, though this was closed at the time of my visit. Moving along, you’ll find the trailhead for the North Crater Trail. But as we’ll cover below, you can also start from the other end.
In my case, I started with the Devil’s Orchard Trail, followed by a hike up to the Inferno Cone. I then skipped the Spatter Cones, making my way to the end of the main road.
From there, I hiked both the Broken Top Loop Trail and the Tree Molds Trail, the latter of which I’d recommend most people skip. Next, I returned to the loop road, driving down the other half. Along the way, I turned right to reach the Caves Trail, which provides access to the different lava tubes.
I then drove the loop again in order to see the Spatter Coves and hike the North Crater Trail.
CAVE PERMITS: One of the top things to do at Craters of the Moon is exploring its long caves known as lava tubes. Visitors need a permit to enter any cave, though these are free and can be obtained upon arrival at the Visitor Center.
The reason for the permit is to prevent the spread of a fungus that can cause a deadly disease in bats known as white-nose syndrome. While not harmful to humans, people can unknowingly carry the fungus on their clothes or other objects – even if the item has been washed.
While based on the honor system, the rules are quite strict. To obtain a permit, you must promise not to bring any item of clothing (or other objects, such as a phone) that has ever been inside of any cave, ever! With that in mind, come properly prepared before your visit.
Devil's Orchard Trail
The Devil’s Orchard is an easy loop trail that’s just 0.5 miles (0.8 km) in total and is entirely paved.
As you’ll observe, some parts of Craters of the Moon are completely void of life, while other sections contain shrubs and trees. As such, this area, with its unique mix of volcanic rocks and plant life, has been dubbed the ‘Devil’s Orchard.’
But how do plants grow in such a barren environment? First, lichens appear on the rock, gradually breaking it down into soil, eventually making it possible for trees and other plants to grow.
Inferno Cone Overlook
The Inferno Cone is a large cinder cone that was formed when lava was shot high into the air during an eruption, after which it fell to the ground, hardening and forming a mound.
This a popular place to climb up, but it’s more tiring than it first appears. While not visible from the ground, the Inferno Cone consists of multiple levels.
But finally, after making it to the very top, you’ll be greeted with excellent 360-degree views.
Broken Top Loop Trail
Next, I left the central loop and drove to the very end of the main road, at the end of which is a parking lot that serves as the base for two separate hikes.
The more interesting of the two is the Broken Top Loop Trail, which is 1.8 mi (3 km) and has an elevation gain of 242 ft (74 m). The hike, which lasts about 45 minutes in total, takes you on and around the Snake River Plain’s youngest volcano.
As you walk along, you’ll encounter numerous numbered markers which supposedly correspond to geological and biological information in a corresponding brochure. But I wasn’t able to find a brochure during my visit.
Nevertheless, one can still enjoy the views, which demonstrate how far lava from the ancient eruptions once spread.
Arguably even more interesting than the views from the top is what you’ll see during the second half of the hike, which takes you along the volcano’s base.
From here, you’ll get to admire all sorts of interesting shapes formed by the dried lava, and you’ll even encounter a small cave. During my visit, it was strictly forbidden to go inside, but as we’ll cover below, the park has much larger caves which you can indeed enter.
Tree Molds Trail
As mentioned, the same parking lot also serves as the base for the Tree Molds Trail, a 1-mile (1.5 km) out-and-back hike. Frankly speaking, this is the only trail at the Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve that I’d recommend most people skip.
But why?
All in all, until you get to the tree molds themselves, the scenery is unremarkable compared to the rest of the park. The tree molds, at least, are interesting, but will only take you a minute to see.
The molds were formed when molten lava flowed here and surrounded the trees that were standing here at the time. The trees then died and withered away, leaving holes in the dried lava.
The hike took me around 45 minutes in total. And admittedly, after this hike, I was feeling rather let down by Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve. Fortunately, the next destination would completely change my mind.
The Caves Trail
Over 500 caves have been documented at Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve. And a majority of them are categorized as lava tubes.
But what exactly are lava tubes? Lava tubes are formed when, during periods of intense lava flow, the upper layer cools and hardens as hot lava continues to flow underneath. Sometimes this results in long, hollow caverns that can resemble a typical cave.
By walking along the Caves Trail, you should be able to visit at least a few such tubes.
At the time of my visit, the two caves open to the public were the Dewdrop Cave and the Indian Tunnel. As mentioned above, permits must be obtained at the Visitor Center upon arrival if you want to explore them.
While closed and not featured in this guide, other caves in the area include the Boy Scout Cave and the Beauty Cave.
First, I entered the Dewdrop Cave, though only the entrance area was accessible. But we could still walk down into the lower level, which entailed carefully stepping on large volcanic rocks. Fortunately, the large hole that served as the entrance provided ample lighting.
Back on the paved trail, I soon reached the Indian Tunnel, widely regarded as the most impressive lava tube at Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve.
The tunnel is named as such due to stone rings left near the entrance by native tribes like the Shoshone. This indicates that natives have long regarded sites like these as sacred.
Descending the ladder and progressing through the tunnel, be sure to turn around to admire the two large holes in the roof. Given the nature of lava tubes, it’s only a matter of time before this entire roof collapses.
Due to the various openings, the long tunnel never gets too dark, so no flashlight or special equipment is needed. In total, the Indian Tunnel stretches out to 800 ft long, while it’s 50 ft wide and 30 ft high in some parts.
While mostly flat, it does indeed get very rocky, so it would be wise to come prepared in hiking boots. (Just not something that has been in another cave, according to official rules!)
You just keep having to walk straight, and there’s little worry about getting lost. At the end, you’ll have to do some light scrambling to to make it up and out of the exit.
Emerging from the tunnel, you’ll find that you’re in a completely different area from the entrance with no trail in sight! But look closely and you’ll find various markers sticking out of the ground. Follow them and you’ll eventually make your way back to the parking lot.
The Spatter Cones
As mentioned, I skipped the Spatter Cones and the North Crater Trail during my first ride around the loop, saving them for the end.
Following the Caves Trail, I simply proceeded around the loop once more, making a short detour in the direction of the Spatter Cones parking lot.
Spatter cones form when lava shot into the air during an eruption falls to the ground, eventually hardening and forming a cove. And this short spiral trail takes you to the top of one such cone.
After looking down into the cone, be sure to check out the other spatter cone nearby known as the Snow Cone.
While there is a slight elevation, both trails are easy and a great way to experience the unique geology of Craters of the Moon.
North Crater Trail
After the Indian Tunnel, hiking the North Crater Trail is arguably the best experience one can have at the park. As mentioned above, there are two trailheads: one just past the Visitor Center and the other near the Spatter Cones.
The trail is 1.8 miles (2.9 km) one-way. So if you’re not able to be picked up at the other side, it becomes a 3.6-mile out-and-back hike. But the effort is well worth it.
With an elevation gain of 758 feet (231 m), this is probably the most strenuous hike at Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve. With that said, it could still be classified as a moderate hike.
Shortly into the hike, you’ll encounter a large crater, and the trail takes you around much of the rim. Even if you don’t have time for the full hike, at least be sure to hike this far from the Spatter Cone, as it’s easily one of the park’s most impressive sights.
By this point in my visit, I’d forgotten about some of the underwhelming hikes I’d experienced earlier in the day and started to wonder whether or not Craters of the Moon has what it takes to be declared a National Park someday.
At the time of writing, Idaho lacks any National Parks, and many modern National Parks did first start out as National Monuments.
Apparently, locals have been hopeful for a National Park designation for quite some time, and perhaps it’s just a matter of years before it finally happens.
But if it does indeed become a National Park someday, would Craters of the Moon be comparable with other parks in the West?
While I was quite impressed by certain areas, based on what’s currently accessible to the public, I don’t think it could compete with somewhere like Yellowstone or Glacier.
With that said, Craters of the Moon is a lot more geologically interesting than many of the National Parks in the eastern half of the country. And surely there are a lot more trails they could open up in the future with more funding.
The North Crater Trail took me across various types of terrain, from loose scree to hard basalt. And the scenery gradually evolved, simultaneously revealing some of the most barren and most colorful parts of the park.
In addition to the lava tubes, the North Crater Trail should be your top priority when visiting the Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve.
Additional Info
The nearest city to Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve is Twin Falls, Idaho, which is about an hour and forty-five minutes away via U.S. Highway 20/26/93.
The other nearest city is Idaho Falls, which is about two hours away to the east.
Craters of the Moon makes for the perfect stopover for people traveling between Jackson, Wyoming (the base for Grand Teton and Yellowstone) and Twin Falls. In my case, I departed Twin Falls in the morning, spent several hours at Craters of the Moon, and then proceeded to the town of Victor, Idaho (a cheaper alternative to Jackson).
The ride from Craters of the Moon to Victor lasts about three hours, while it would be about four hours to Jackson.
If you’re based in Twin Falls but would prefer to explore Craters of the Moon in the company of a guide, consider this full-day tour. It will take you to many of the highlights featured above, in addition to additional sites in the general area.
Before or after your visit to Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, you’ll likely be visiting Twin Falls, Idaho. Twin Falls is a small city of just 40,000 residents, though considering how many people come here for tourism, there are plenty of accommodation options.
Some of the highest-rated hotels online are La Quinta by Wyndham Twin Falls and TownePlace Suites by Marriott Twin Falls. Another popular budget option, meanwhile, is Quality Inn & Suites Twin Falls.
You’ll also find plenty of reasonably-priced Airbnbs to choose from.
At the time of writing, Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve costs $20 per vehicle to enter (learn more here).
If you’re visiting from abroad, note that in contrast to many other countries, US parks typically charge per vehicle rather than per person. However, if you’re traveling by bicycle instead, they’ll charge you for an individual pass which costs $10, while those on motorcycles will be charged $15.
As Craters of the Moon is managed by the National Park Service, you’ll be able to enter for free if you have an ‘America the Beautiful’ Annual National Parks Pass.
These cost $80 for the year. In most cases, you’re already saving money by just visiting four National Parks/Monuments anywhere in the country within a full year.
What’s more, is that only one person in your vehicle needs to have the pass. Additionally, seniors can buy the pass for just $20. So if you have someone over 62 in your party, just have them get the annual pass and everyone else will be set.
As for where to get the pass, you can purchase it in person at most National Parks or Monuments. But you can also order it in advance online.
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