Wilderness Trail
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
| Address: | Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Idaho, USA |
| GPS: |
43°25'39.6"N 113°32'54.9"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Idaho |
| Trails/Routes: | 8.8 mi |
Restrooms Pet Friendly Bicycles Motorized Use
Cave and Hike
You will have a sense of solitude as you travel into the Craters of the Moon Wilderness. Begin the trail on the sidewalk that parallels the roadway and turn right to follow the direct route across a young lava flow near the entrance to Buffalo Caves. Follow the metal posts across the lava. After stepping off of the lava turn right at the trail sign. You then pass between Big Cinder and Half Cone cinder cones. Check out the "lava trees" at the short signed trail that leads to these features. Observe Crescent Butte and Coyote Butte as you travel through "trench mortar flats". Echo Crater is a great place to camp! Obtain a required backcountry permit at the visitor center and be prepared to walk through the sage brush to access the easiest entrance on the north-eastern side of the crater.Courtesy of nps.gov
More Information
Add ResourceBe courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read More
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
- Head east on Loop RdParts of this road may be closed at certain times or days(2.8 mi)
- Turn left to stay on Loop RdMay be closed at certain times or days(0.7 mi)
- Turn right (0.3 mi)
- Keep left (0.3 mi)
- Keep rightDestination will be on the right(0.7 mi)
Trails
Distance ?
8.8 miles Round TripElevation Gain ?
-270 feetReal Ascent ?
221 feetReal Descent ?
491 feetAvg Grade (-1°)
-1%Grade (-21° to 20°)
-38% to 35%Elevation differences are scaled for emphasis. While the numbers are accurate, the cut-away shown here is not to scale.
Other Hiking Trails and Caves Nearby
Broken Top Loop Trail
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
0.0 miles NWThe Broken Top Loop Trail provides an opportunity to hike over, under and around the youngest volcano on the Snake River Plain. The event that created this cinder cone and associated lava flows...
Cave, Hike 1.9 mi
Tree Molds Trail
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
0.0 miles WWhen molten lava advanced through this area it flowed through a grove of living trees. As the trees burned, moisture was released as steam, cooling the hot lava just enough to leave an impression of...
Hike 0.1 mi
Spatter Cones
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
1.1 miles NWThese 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...
Hike
Snow Cone
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
1.1 miles NWHike near Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
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North Crater Trail
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
1.1 miles NWThis one-way trail is especially interesting for its variety. The trail traverses North Crater and drops into the crater mouth, the vent for the North Crater flow. Notice that the northwest flank of...
Hike 0.4 mi
Inferno Cone
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
1.1 miles NCinder cones form when gas-rich volcanic froth erupts high into the air and then piles into a mound. Climb Inferno Cone, if you wish, but don't be disappointed if you are unable to locate the...
Hike 1.0-1.3 mi
Caves Trail
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
1.5 miles NECave and Hike near Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
Cave, Hike 0.5 mi
Devil's Orchard Trail
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
1.7 miles NThis paved trail explores an area of cinder beds scattered with pieces of the North Crater wall. Exhibits along the trail challenge you to consider the difficulties of protecting this fragile...
Hike
North Crater Flow
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2.1 miles NHike near Arco, Idaho
Hike
Bear Trap Cave
American Falls, Idaho
32.2 miles SBear Trap Cave is a part of a lava tube which can be traced for almost 15 miles. Bear Trap lava tube probably originated from Wildhorse Corral along the Great Rift. Approximately 15,000 years old,...
Cave 0.6 mi
Hidden Mouth Cave
Moore, Idaho
37.4 miles NIt is a surprisingly large cave with three distinct chambers and a secret exit at the back for those who don't mind climbing a precariously balanced log. You can take a quad/four-wheeler half...
Cave, Hike
Lariat caves
American Falls, Idaho
39.6 miles SELariat Cave is a massive lava tube near Craters of the moon one the biggest caves in the area. the cave has a loop near the back of cave that is lots of fun to explore the loop splits about 2/3 of...
Cave
Kimama Wind Caves
Paul, Idaho
48.5 miles SThe Kimama Wind Caves are a series of lava tubes accessed by a crack in the middle of the desert north of Paul, Idaho. These lava tubes create a labyrinth of tunnels to explore. These tunnels should...
Camp, Cave
Maze Cave
West Magic, Idaho
49.6 miles SWThis is one of the more fun caves in the area located next to the t cave this cave has a upper lower tunnels both meet in the back the lower has a cave in but you can drop back in it a little further...
Cave
T Cave
West Magic, Idaho
49.6 miles SWThis cave sits just north of the gwinn cave and mammoth cave and SW of the Maze cave you enter the cave and go back about 300 yards or more and you come to a great big T where you can go...
Cave
Gwinn & Gwinn Cave
West Magic, Idaho
49.9 miles SWGwinn and gwinn cave is located near the famous Idaho Mammoth cave this cave you decend down a ladder and cave goes back in at least a quarter mile. great spot to camp
CaveNearby Campsites
Lava Flow Campground
Arco, Idaho
2.4 miles NAs unique as its name, campsites are surrounded by a young lava flow. The campground is located near the visitor center and popular trails. Campground opened on May 30. Campground generally closes...
Camp
Kimama Wind Caves
Paul, Idaho
48.5 miles SThe Kimama Wind Caves are a series of lava tubes accessed by a crack in the middle of the desert north of Paul, Idaho. These lava tubes create a labyrinth of tunnels to explore. These tunnels should...
Camp, Cave
