Ever wonder what it would feel like walking on the moon? Well here is your chance. Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve will make you feel like you are on another planet, or the moon. Located in southern Idaho, surrounded by country side, it isn’t something you expect to see as you are driving along the rolling hills and farmland. But if you happen to be on Highway 26 in Idaho, make sure to stop, it will be worth your while.

Exploring Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve

Lets start with the easy information. To enter this park you need to either pay the the standard entrance fee of $10-$20 or have one of the many accepted passes. We buy the America the Beautiful (Interagency) pass each year. This will get you into any National Park Service areas.

Dogs are not allowed on any trails or the Visitor center. Even carried. They are allowed to walk on the road or in the parking lots.

It can get very hot in this area during the peak summer months. Make sure to have plenty of water and snacks with you. Even though you may be driving to most of the areas, you will need to keep up with hydration.

There are vault toilets at most of the parking areas. Each parking area is a decent size and most have parking for larger vehicles or vehicles towing. If you are in a car, please do not use a large vehicle spot.

You can access all the main attractions in the park via your vehicle, bike or foot. The 7 mile loop road is well maintained and one way, so once you start, make sure you want to do the entire loop.

Here is some information of all the stops and the ones in bold are the ones that we did.

1 Visitor Center

You will need to stop at the visitor center if you want a place to park your car if you want to do the loop via bike or foot. Also, if you plan on going into any of the caves you need to get a free permit. The White Nose Syndrome is killing millions of bats around the country and they are taking preventative steps to keep it out of the national monument.

2 North Crater Flow Trail

Unfortunately this was closed while we were there. They are currently transforming the trail into a boardwalk.

3 Devils Orchard Nature Trail

A wheel chair accessible loop. It has easy access to see cinders and scattered lava.

4 Inferno Cone

This is one of the most popular places in the park. Take it slow, even though it is only .2 miles, it will have your lungs working. Once you get to the top you will be rewarded with beautiful views of the area.

5 Spatter Cones & Big Craters

We missed the big craters trail but we did stop to see the spatter cones. These are pretty crazy to see. Still active just 2,100 years ago, these spatter cones are some of the oldest history we have for educating us about volcanos. People also call them mini volcanos, which, they literally are.

6 Tree Molds Trail

One of the least popular places in the park was a beautiful hike through the lava. I can’t even explain the feeling of this hike. Like nothing we have hiked before. The two mile round trip hike takes you to molds of trees. You can see a perfect hole where there used to be a tree and lava with a mold of the tree bark.

7 Caves Area

The most popular place in the monument are the caves. There are three caves that you can explore, but you will want to make sure they are open so call ahead if it is the only stop you want to make. They can close them at a moments notice for the bats. Dewdrop Cave and Indian Tunnel were available for us to explore and Indian Tunnel was the reason I really wanted to explore the area. The 1.6 mile round trip on a paved walkway is easy, but make sure not to fall because you will fall right onto lava rock.

Once you get to the main entrance of the cave, I suggest taking the initial opening and not climbing the rock to find the other end.

Once you enter, it is a tunnel with a lot of light. You do not need a headlight if you are there during the day.

Make sure to explore the entire tunnel.

The exit is fun, so if you are uneasy about exiting through a hole, you can always turn back and take the stairs.

Walking back to the paved walkway provided a stunning view of one of the sink holes you walk through below and the snow powdered mountains in the background.

Some lava rock up close is really cool. It definitely looks like it should come from the moon.

There always has to be a sign.

That is it! I hope you are able to explore this amazing national monument. Easy enough to do it in a day, there is also a campground if you want to stay longer.

Please remember to practice Leave No Trace.

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