Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho

Believe it or not, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve has features so alike the moon that Apollo 14 astronauts came to the site in 1969 to study the rock surfaces and features. The Monument and Preserve covers 53,120 acres of the northern Snake River Plain. The Snake River Plain is a volcanic strip that spans southern Idaho. It is 60 miles wide and 10,000 feet deep in places. Craters of the Moon sits above this 60 mile long crack along the Great Rift in the earth's crust.

The most recent activity at the monument occurred 2,100 years ago helping to create cinder and spatter cones, lava caves, and lava tubes. This lava flow is known as the Blue Dragon Flow because certain minerals in the rock give it a metallic blue shine. When lava flowed at Craters of the Moon less than two millennia ago, it was controlled by surrounding features so that it could only flow in channels. The roof of the channel eventually hardened as lava continued to flow within it. The lava tubes eventually became a sort of cave and geologists have identified things within it like mineral deposits, lava stalactites, and curbs. Certain lichens and mosses can grow inside them and wildlife like swallows, owls, and wood rats build their nests in the lava tubes.

You can visit Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho whether you are just passing by or if you have some time to spend there. A seven mile loop drive offers a brief tour of these dark and jagged igneous features. There are pullouts along the loop drive that lead to many paved trails or mesmerizing views. The trails at Craters of the Moon National Monument are paved to protect the fragile rock surfaces from eroding as a result of human impact. Trails vary from 1 to 7 miles and interpretive signs along them provide historic, geologic, and environmental facts to give you a well rounded experience. And if these signs just aren't enough information, the visitor center is a wealth of knowledge. It is open 8am to 4:30pm daily and has exhibits explaining the different types of rock and a small bookstore.

Arco sits about 20 miles northeast of Craters of the Moon and provides the closest accommodations and food to the monument. There is also a campground at the monument which is open from spring to fall. If you are traveling from Big Sky, Montana, the most direct route is to follow US 191 to West Yellowstone where you can either enter and return from Yellowstone National Park of keep moving on US 20 west. Turn right onto ID 33 until you reach US 93/US 20 which will guide you to Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho.