What Is Craters of the Moon National Monument?
Craters of the Moon National Monument preserves the ancient lava flows of Idaho’s Great Rift!
What Makes It Beautiful?
This is a blasted zone of black beauty! Ancient lava has hardened into rock, rough and smooth, and intricate in its textures! There are rolling cinder cones and deep craters speckled with white buckwheat clusters that bloom in late June! This is all part of one of the longest, deepest, and most recently active volcanic rifts in the United States, and it will likely keep shifting in the future! When the weather warms, descend into one of the lava tube caves and travel the pathways of ancient eruptions. Maybe you’ll see some bats, but watch out for White Nose Syndrome!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
- Become a member of the Craters of the Moon Natural History Association!
- Be a responsible visitor! Remember the old adages: Pack out what you pack in! Take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints!
How Do I Get There?
1266 Craters Loop Road
Arco, ID 83213
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit the Park?
Between Memorial Day and the fourth week in September, the visitor center is open daily from 8:00 AM until 6:00 PM, and in winter months, it closes at 4:30 PM! You can still access the Loop Road most of the year, even during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020!
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