Spatter Cones - Hike near Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Idaho, USA,Visitors Center,Idaho
43.441693067756695, -113.55769732118677
Address: Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Idaho, USA
GPS: 43°26'30.1"N 113°33'27.7"W
Maps | Directions
State: Idaho
Trails/Routes: 0.1 mi

Restrooms Pet Friendly Bicycles Motorized Use

Hike

These miniature volcanoes formed when blobs of molten lava were lobbed into the air during the last gasp of an eruption sequence that ended about 2,100 years ago. Craters of the Moon is well known for these beautiful volcanic features. Please help protect them by staying on trails. 

Like Yellowstone's Old Faithful, the spatter cone chain at Craters of the Moon best symbolizes the essence of this special place. Created during a dwindling stage of an eruption, the spatter cones formed as hot lumps of lava were thrown a short distance into the air only to fall back to earth around a small central vent. As the still molten blobs landed on top of each other, they cooled and adhered to nearby pieces to form the walls of what could be considered a mini-volcano. The Snow Cone portion of the Spatter Cones Trail is fully accessible.Courtesy of nps.gov
38.3K Written by endovereric

More Information

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Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.

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  1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
  2. Travel & camp on durable surfaces
  3. Dispose of waste properly
  4. Leave what you find
  5. Minimize campfire impacts
  6. Respect wildlife
  7. Be considerate of other visitors

Directions

From Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument

  1. Head east on Loop Rd
    Parts of this road may be closed at certain times or days
    (2.8 mi)
  2. Continue straight (0.1 mi)
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20200802 211948 added by endovereric 20200802 211948 added by endovereric
Idaho: Spatter Cones @Craters of the Moon National by Fenway Leo 20200802 205032 added by endovereric 20200802 205032 added by endovereric 20200802 211735 added by endovereric 20200802 211735 added by endovereric

Trails

Distance ?

539 feet Round Trip

Elevation Gain ?

-1 feet

Real Ascent ?

4 feet

Real Descent ?

5 feet

Avg Grade (0°)

0%

Grade (-4° to 3°)

-6% to 6%

Elevation differences are scaled for emphasis. While the numbers are accurate, the cut-away shown here is not to scale.

Other Hiking Trails Nearby

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Broken Top Loop Trail

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