Craters Of The Moon

We came across this place accidentally on our way to Yellowstone. After seeing the name on the map the decision to take a short detour was a no-brainer. We spent the day running around the caves and racing up the domes of ash. It’s totally worth a visit if you are nearby.

Craters of the Moon is in a fairly remote section of eastern Idaho.

The landscape is quite barren. The area was a former lava flow. Most of the landscape there is comprised of various types of lava rock.

You can walk to the tops of many of the cinder cones. There are also numerous trails which take you underground through lava tunnels.

If you go be sure to bring water and good walking shoes. Most of the trails are paved or graded, but in some spots, such as in the lava tubes you will be walking directly on the sharp lava. It can be quite cold in some of the tunnels. You will also need to bring some good flashlights if you go into the tunnels.

Went there before getting to Yellowstone.

The camp near ontario OR was amazing.
the stars at night was way ammazing!!

A unique, strage, surreal place.

After a long road trip that went from California to Waterton National Park in Canada, we were mostly in the mood to get home! I have a little rule that I have to see something interesting everyday, even if I have to go out of my way. Well, that’s how we ended up at Craters of the Moon!

We drove through Montana and then into Idaho. I scanned the AAA travel guide and noticed that COTM was sort-of on the way. We decided to make it our goal to get to this monument by the end of the day! Side note, the highway through Montana and Idaho was worth the trip on it’s own. (There’s something to be said about taking the road less travelled!)

Upon entering COTM, we were pleasantly surprised by the strange landscape. It really is like anything I’ve ever seen here on the mainland (I imagine Hawaii has amazing lava beds too but I have yet to see them for myself!). My kidlings and I really got a sense of being in an alien environment (not UFO alien but just completely out of our range of expectations).

It was VERY hot outside and yet temperatures in one cave were low enough to allow for… ice! My son was fascinated by that particular cave. I have to say this was one of my son’s favorite stops during our road trip.

Tip: Wear VERY sturdy shoes! The lava beds are glass-like in some places.

The pic I attached is of my kiddos climbing out of one of the caves.

Well, it’s closer than the moon, so if you enjoy craters…

Seriously, though. I spent half a day at Craters, and most of that time was spent on the lava tube cave trail.

This is where the astronauts trained for driving the vehicles on the moon.

But, that’s South-Central Idaho. I did some trail maintenance work in this park a while back, so I associate it with brutally hot days, working on lava fields. The lightning storms here were intense. I guess if it’s not out of your way go check it out, but don’t put yourself out to do it.

Looks just like you landed on a brown moon. Dry as a bone, middle of nowhere, quiet and there are millions of start out at night. Not many amenities, but a real unique place to visit.

Pretty wierd. Kind of in the middle of nowhere, but close to Atomic City.