Photo: BroMcjoe, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.
Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve
1266 Craters Loop Rd · Arco, ID
Why you should go…
This monument covers three lava fields along Idaho's Great Rift, with more than 25 volcanic cones and lava flows that range from about 15,000 to 2,000 years old. The 7-mile Loop Road leads to trails, caves and scenic overlooks, and in summer the park suggests hiking in the morning and exploring the cool lava tubes in the afternoon. Look for tree molds, cavities left where lava burned trees. In winter the closed road becomes a route for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
- #national monument
- #lava fields
- #lava tubes
- #scenic drive
- #hiking
Good to know
General sport & outdoor guidance
Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.
Weather calls the shots
Check the forecast the morning of and keep an indoor backup in your pocket for the day it turns.
Shoes, water, sun cover
The three things that decide whether you last the whole outing or cut it short after an hour.
Parking and launches fill early
On a nice weekend, lots and trailheads are often full by mid-morning.
Daylight shrinks in shoulder season
Spring and fall visits need an earlier start than the same trip in July.