Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve


Craters of the Moon is a vast ocean of lava flows with scattered islands of cinder cones and sagebrush. We invite you to explore this "weird and scenic landscape" where yesterday's volcanic events are likely to continue tomorrow.

Visitor Center and Loop Drive are located 18 miles southwest of Arco, Idaho on U.S. Highway 20/26/93, 24 miles northeast of Carey, Idaho on U.S. Highway 20/26/93, 84 miles from Idaho Falls, and 90 miles from Twin Falls. Physical address is 1266 Craters Loop Road(Lat/Long: 43° 27.711'N/113° 33.7) Access to the main visitor use area is via a paved highway. Unpaved roads provide additional access to the BLM monument and NPS Preserve but should only be utilized by four wheel drive and high clearance vehicles.

  • Auto and ATV
  • Scenic Driving
  • Astronomy
  • Stargazing
  • Biking
  • Road Biking
  • Camping
  • Backcountry Camping
  • Caving
  • Hiking
  • Backcountry Hiking
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Skiing
  • Cross-Country Skiing
  • Snowshoeing
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Birdwatching
  • Park Film
  • Museum Exhibits
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store
  • Gift Shop and Souvenirs

  • Native American Heritage
  • Westward Expansion
  • Animals
  • Birds
  • Caves, Caverns and Karst
  • Climate Change
  • Fire
  • Forests and Woodlands
  • Geology
  • Night Sky
  • Rock Landscapes and Features
  • Trails
  • Unique Species
  • Volcanoes
  • Wilderness

A Sea of Lava

A close-up shot of a folded, waving sea of lava rock, with mountains in the far distance.

Craters of the Moon features the largest young lava field in the lower 48 states, encompassing the entire Great Rift volcanic zone.

Wildflowers on the Moon

Small purple flowers and larger white flowers with reddish stems grow out of black volcanic rock

Spectacular floral displays occur at Craters each spring, including this dwarf monkeyflower and bitterroot.

Stargazing at Craters

The Craters entrance sign sits below a starry night sky, with the milky way brightly-lit.

Craters of the Moon was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2017, making it one of the best places in the country to stargaze.

Exploring the Craters

A figure stands inside a large lava tube on a pile of rubble, lit by a round opening overhead.

Many visitors come to Craters to explore its unique and fragile lava tubes.

Explore Craters on Foot

A paved trail winds up around the side of a spatter cone.

Trails at Craters, like the Spatter Cone Trail, allow visitors to explore young volcanic features like spatter cones, cinder cones, and lava fields.

A Weird and Scenic Landscape

A panoramic view across the Craters landscape, bisected by a winding road.

Craters of the Moon features unexpectedly stunning views, such as this panoramic vista from the top of Inferno Cone.