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Top 10 Interesting Facts about Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve by Matthew Dillon from

Mountain ranges, valleys, and, of course, potatoes come to mind when you think about Idaho. Idaho, on the other hand, is home to one of the country’s most peculiar National Monuments.

Craters of the Moon National Monument is located in Southern Idaho, and believe me when I say that acres of black lava stone and extinct lava tubes appear out of nowhere!

1. The Moon’s Craters are a Lava Field

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve by Matthew Dillon from Wikimedia Commons

Fissure eruptions, which occur along fissures in the earth’s crust, were responsible for the eruptions at Craters of the Moon. Lava flows and cinder cones are formed as lava flows. Each cinder cone is a little volcano.

There were eight significant eruptions in all, the most recent of which occurred barely 2100 years ago. But be cautious: geologists estimate that the duration between eruptions averages roughly 200 years, so we might be in for more volcanic activity.

2. The Moon’s Craters Are Massive!

The Monument to the Craters of the Moon is the size of Rhode Island. Seriously. Craters of the Moon is a massive National Monument that is very unknown. The volcanic structures and lava flow occupy 1100 square miles or 750,000 acres. It’s so large that it can be seen from outer space. It’s ironic, since…

3. NASA conducted research on the Moon’s craters

Craters on the Moon were used by NASA to research and prepare for the Apollo missions. Nasa dispatched three astronauts from Apollo 14 to Craters of the Lunar to study volcanic geology one month after the Apollo moon landing.

NASA has recently started doing research at the park to aid in the preparation of future Mars missions. The rugged topography is comparable to that seen on the moon and Mars, so understanding how lava flows occur on Earth might help us understand how they form on other worlds.

It will also assist scientists in determining what types of rovers they would be able to place on planets, as well as how they might map other worlds using satellites.

4. The Caves can be explored

Craters of the Moon National Monument by Matthew Dillon from

The Caves Trail is one of the most popular hiking routes of the several available. The visitors centre will issue you a (free) permit. You’ll walk approximately a mile to the caverns after arriving at the trailhead (which is the final stop on the beautiful circular drive).

Indian Tunnel, the most popular, demands an 800-foot trek over boulders to reach the exit. The highlight of our stay was hiking through these gigantic lava tunnels.

5. You’re welcome to camp there!

There are 42 campsites accessible on a first-come, first-served basis, and they are all equipped with bathrooms! A campground costs $15 per night during the summer and $8 per night during the off-season when the water is shut off.

6. There’s a Junior Ranger program there

Craters of the Moon National Monument, like many other National Parks, includes a Junior Ranger Program. It’s a wonderful way to get the kids involved in the park, and they’ll learn a lot about it while doing activities to get a nice Junior Ranger badge.

7. Elevation, Volcano Type, And Age

Craters of the Moon National Monument by Bureau of Land Management from

There are at least 25 volcanic cones from which lava flows, and maybe more. In late spring, notice the tree molds on craters on all of these black lava cones, which have amazing spatter cones. In south-central Idaho, there are around sixty unique hardened lava flows that are thousands of years old. The Moon National Monument and Preserve, which spans the Snake River Plain and comprises 752,000 acres (304,323 hectares), was established in 1924 as part of the Moon National Monuments.

What is the cost of admission to Craters of the Moon? If you bring your vehicle inside, it will cost you $15 per vehicle, and if you enter on foot, it will cost you $7 per person. When trekking, be sure to make use of the National Park Service.

At the Craters of the Moon, a complex collection of basaltic volcanic structures may be discovered. The most prevalent kind of volcanoes in Idaho are cinder cones.

8. Where is it?

On Earth, the Moon’s craters may be found in southern Idaho. If you’re wondering how far the Moon’s craters are from Boise, Idaho, read on. Between Boise and Yellowstone National Park, the preserve craters are located.

The Snake River Plain stretches south of the pioneer mountains; you can reach the lava tube, which is connected to the US highway, as seen on the map. The roadway is then cut through the northwest portion of the Moon National Monument, allowing access to the National Monument and Preserve.

9. The reasons for moon craters

The moon’s craters were produced between 15,000 and 2,000 years ago, during eight main eruptive eras. It was formed by lava beds eruptions triggered by the Great Rift, which began near the tourist centre, some 52 miles (84 kilometres) to the southeast. With the spatter cones, the National Monument comprises roughly 25 volcanic inferno cones.

10. Monumental history 

From the 1850s until the early twentieth century, explorers, pioneers, miners, and ranchers traversed this region and found little to like. The dry and hostile lava beds were only a stumbling block to be overcome as rapidly as possible. All of that changed in 1918 when Craters of the Moon was first explored by Robert W. Limbert, one of Idaho’s most relentless and flamboyant advocates. He made two brief journeys into the region, his curiosity stirred by accounts of grizzly bears wandering the enigmatic lava beds.

He was ready for a more adventurous project in the spring of 1920. He accomplished a 17-day, 80-mile journey into the lava wilderness with the help of W.L. Cole of Boise. They each took 55 pounds of kit, including blankets, cooking equipment, a camera and tripod, binoculars, a compass, firearms, and two weeks’ worth of dry food. They also brought a camp dog, which turned out to be a mistake. The dog’s feet were sore and bleeding after three days of trekking across the hard lava. Limbert and Cole had to carry the dog for the rest of the journey or wait for him to find his way across the rock.

The first three days were spent crossing 28 miles of jagged flows. They couldn’t locate a flat area to lie down at night, so sleeping was nearly impossible. They explored ancient Indian or mountain sheep tracks to find dispersed waterholes or looked for spots where groups of birds descended from the sky to satisfy their thirst.

Limbert documented the landscape during his journey. Vermillion Canyon, Trench Mortar Flat, Echo Crater, Yellowjacket Water Hole, Amphitheater Cave, and the Bridge of Tears are just a few of the colourful names he has given to various landforms.

Following this expedition, Limbert proceeded to explore the region. He led a group of ten scientists and civic officials into the lava fields in 1921 to advocate for the preservation of the region’s volcanic characteristics. He took around 200 still images and 4,000 feet of motion picture film throughout his journey.

One of the best things about Craters of the Moon is how much you can see in just a few short paths, making it ideal for families or people with limited time. You may explore more and go further away if you stay longer or camp overnight.