With the Kilauea Volcano still engulfing and morphing the landscape of Hawaii’s Big Island, it may be hard to believe something like that could happen in Idaho. Volcanoes are often associated with tropical islands, but did you know there are 4 volcanoes in the gem state? While these lava-filled mountains have been dormant for thousands of years, their impact on the environment can still be observed. Craters of the Moon National Monument in eastern Idaho is a great example.
History of Craters of the Moon
Known as the Great Rift, Craters of the Moon was formed by deep fissures oozing hot molten lava. The moving ocean of lava created a vast ocean of black rock that dates back 15,000 years. In 1923 the landscape was described as “The surface of the moon as seen through the telescope”, thus how the monument got its name.
As far as we know, the Shoshone Indians were the first to stumble upon this natural creation, archeological evidence even suggests some of the fissures were still active around the time of the areas discovery.
The Oregon Trail would eventually lead to the influx of settlers traveling through the nearby area. But it wasn’t until conflicts with the Shoshone tribes in the 1860’s, forced settlers to divert off the Oregon trail and through the lava fields bringing attention to the area. Over 50 years later the Craters of the Moon National Monument would be established.
Explore Craters of the Moon
Your first stop should be the Visitor Center to grab a map and fill up your water bottles. The center has a small museum and some movies about how volcanoes are made but your time is better spent exploring the below attractions.
The best way to traverse the monument is by car and foot. There are parking lots at each of the major sights. Once parked you then can walk around and explore. Most of the trails are less than a mile roundtrip.
North Crater Flow (0.3-mile trail)
Take a short stroll on the paved path through the youngest flows of the preserve. Notice the grand rock formations that were carried by the lava flows to their current resting places.
Devil’s Orchard (0.5-mile trail)
Take a little bit longer of a walk through the Devil’s Orchard. The combination of colorful plants and vegetation mixed with the dark and ashy ground creates an interesting contrast. I shouldn’t have to tell you this but make sure you stay on the designated paved path. The lava flows are extremely fragile and will be ruined if you step on it. The lava rock off the trail is also very sharp, trip and your gonna have a bad time.
Inferno Cone (0.4-mile trail)
Ever wanted to hike a volcano? Now’s your chance! The journey to the top is short and sweet but up at the top you are treated to a 360-degree view of the surrounding land. There isn’t an official trail to the summit but you can see the worn outline that everyone follows. This is your best opportunity to step foot on burnt volcanic sediment. On sunny days the ground almost shimmers due to sunlight bouncing off the finely ground lava rock.
Snow Cone & Spatter Cone
Craters of the Moon can get incredibly hot in the summer. With almost no shade anywhere in the area, you may think the mention of snow as an audible mirage. Believe it or not, there is a spot in the monument where snow sticks around all year. Unfortunately, it is all the way at the bottom of the Snow Cone. Walk right up to the spout of the spatter cone and look down over the fence into its icy depths and dream of ice cream and Hawaiian shaved ice.
Right next to the Snow Cone is very large spatter cone. At initial glance, it’s not that interesting. But take a closer look at the hardened rock and carefully run your hands against the smooth flows that lava once poured out. You can almost imagine the sticky-looking lava slowly folding over itself, again and again, forming this large mound of rock. The power of nature is something to be appreciated.
Buffalo Caves (1.8-mile trail)
If you like darkness and tight spaces, you’re going to be excited about the Buffalo Caves. You’ll need to get a permit from the Visitor Center before entering the caves. Make sure your headlamp or flashlight is charged and bring spare batteries. From personal experience, it is not fun to be deep into a cave and have your headlamp flicker and then turn off, leaving you alone in the dark.
If it is not too hot and you would rather stay above ground, try hiking the 2 mile Tree Molds Trail. The trailhead is the same parking lot as the trail to the Buffalo Caves.
Our Experience at Craters of the Moon
After reading that NASA Astronauts once trained here to prepare for moon missions, I expected to find a desolate uninhabitable world of rock and stone. Maybe I built it up in my head but upon our arrival, I was a little disappointed to see how much green there was. The area is still beautiful with the contradictory colors but it’s not as moon-like as it may have been a few hundred years ago.
While it wasn’t what I expected, I was fascinated by the lava flows and how the area seems almost frozen in time. You can visualize the ground moving under your feet, slowly swallowing up trees, bushes, plants, and the earth below you.
I was impressed by how well the park is maintained. The roads are some the best I have seen in the National Park Service and finding everything was a breeze.
I wouldn’t make Craters of the Moon your main destination for a road trip. But if you’re visiting the cities Twin Falls, Pocatello or Idaho Falls, definitely make this a side stop. It only takes about half day to explore the majority of the monument. Should you feel the need to do and see everything little thing, there is a campground here where you can stay the night.
Got any questions or other recommendations for visiting Craters of the Moon? Let us know in the comments below!
Chad can be summed up by his idea of a perfect day: Waking up early to watch the sunrise over the mountains, warm cup of coffee in hand then grabbing his camera and fly rod, hitting the trail to explore some uncharted territory followed by cold beers and campfire steaks. Chad is often joined on his adventures by his wife, Tori, and their dog, Kona.