Volcanic landscapes are not an unusual thing to come across in the United States, just think of Sunset Crater in Arizona or the impressive Lassen Volcanic National Park in California. But if you want to see up close and touch the work that lava has managed to sculpt over the years, the best thing to do is to visit the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, which we have already told you about in our unusual itinerary from Painted Hills to Grand Prismatic Spring.
It is located a bit off the beaten track, but its relative proximity to Grand Teton and Shoshone Falls would make it a good addition to an itinerary between Salt Lake City and Yellowstone, if you have more time.
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Where is Caters of the Moon National Monument
The Craters of the Moon National Monument is located in Idaho between the towns of Arco and Carey. The best way to find it with a satellite navigation system is to enter the Visitor Center address (1266 Craters Loop Road, Arco, ID 83213).
The park is open throughout the year, even if some parts (such as the Scenic Loop Road) are closed in winter due to bad weather. To stay updated you can have a look at this page on the official website.
The visitor center is the Robert Limbert Visitor Center which only has three closures throughout the year, for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Winter hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., while during the summer, it closes later, at 6:00 p.m.
To access the park when the Scenic Loop Road is open (i.e. during the summer months) you must pay an entrance fee of $20 per car, unless you have your America the Beautiful Parks Card with you. When the road is closed (usually from November through April) then park admission is free.
Things to do at Craters of the Moon
Scenic Loop Road
The first thing to do is to take the Scenic Loop Road, a 7-mile road that passes by the park’s most important viewpoints and trailheads. The road begins and returns to the Visitor Center. If you don’t have much time, theoretically you could just drive along it to get a general idea of the park, but I suggest you consider some walks and a visit to the caves to get to know the site better.
The caves
To visit the caves formed by solidified lava, you will need a special permit. Don’t worry, the procedure is a very simple one and free of charge. All you need to do is go to the Visitor Center in person and undergo a quick screening, that aims to protect the bats from a fungus that can be introduced into the caves by humans. You will need to get permission to visit the following caves:
- Indian Tunnel
- Dew Drop Cave
- Boy Scout Cave
- Beauty Cave
- Buffalo Caves
All other caves located within the park are closed to visitors. The first 4 caves can be accessed by walking the Caves Trail, an easily passable trail about two and a half miles long. Buffalo Cave can be reached via the Broken Top Loop Trail with its uneven surface made of lava debris.
The skills needed to venture into the caves vary depending on which one you want to visit. You’ll go from the simple Indian Tunnel where there are ladders that help your descent, to the more complex Boy Scout and Buffalo Caves. You will still need appropriate clothing, so if you want to venture in, our advice is to talk with the Rangers in the park who will give you all the advice and explanations you need.
Excursion to Inferno Cone
If you can really only choose one, the hike to Hell Cone is definitely recommended. It is a little more than 2625 feet round trip walk with a slope of about 150 feet that will take you to the top of the crater of black lava slag from where you can admire a beautiful view of the surrounding area.
On a particularly clear day, you can even see the Teton Range (Grand Teton) in the distance, more than 100 miles away. The only precaution is that you should not start the walk if it is very windy as the lava debris could get in your eyes and cause you a lot of discomfort.
Places to eat in the area
Inside the Visitor Center, apart from the vending machines, there are no other food services. If you already have some food with you, you can use one of the many picnic sites around the perimeter of the park, most of which can be found along the Scenic Loop Road. If you want to enjoy a real lunch sitting in a restaurant, you will have to head to nearby towns like Arco.
Places to stay near the park
There are no accommodations inside the Craters of the Moon National Monument. For this reason, if you want to sleep near the park, the only solution is to find a hotel in the nearby towns such as Arco or Hailey with the latter offering much more choice.
Search for lodgings in the Craters of the Moon area
Among the most strategic cities taken from a wide range along the road, 2 good solutions are Idaho Falls and Pocatello, small towns along the route Salt Lake City – Yellowstone. Here below you will find 2 links to all the accommodations available in these 2 towns:
