Caves Trail
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
| Address: | Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Idaho, USA |
| GPS: |
43°26'45.4"N 113°32'3.0"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Idaho |
| Trails/Routes: | 1.0-1.3 mi |
Cave and Hike
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(1.4 mi)
- Turn rightDestination will be on the right(0.1 mi)
Other Hiking Trails and Caves Nearby
Devil's Orchard Trail
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
0.4 miles NWA paved, wheelchair-accessible trail through cinder beds and ancient North Crater wall fragments, with exhibits on protecting this fragile volcanic environment.
Hike 0.4 mi
Inferno Cone
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
0.9 miles WA steep climb up Inferno Cone at Craters of the Moon, rewarded with panoramic views of the Great Rift, Snake River Plain, and Pioneer Mountains — and on clear days, the Tetons 100 miles away.
Hike 0.1 mi
Spatter Cones
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
1.2 miles WMiniature volcanoes formed by lobbed molten lava blobs at Craters of the Moon — a must-see feature that symbolizes this unique national monument; stay on trails to protect the delicate spatter cones.
Hike
Snow Cone
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
1.2 miles WHike near Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
Hike 1.8 mi
North Crater Trail
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
1.2 miles WA one-way trail through North Crater and Big Craters at Craters of the Moon — dropping into a volcanic crater mouth and ending at Spatter Cones, with fragile lava formations off-limits to protect.
Hike 1.7 mi
Broken Top Loop Trail
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
1.5 miles SWA hike over, under, and around a 2,000-year-old cinder cone and lava flows in Craters of the Moon, with access to Buffalo Cave — bring a flashlight and free permit.
Cave, Hike 8.8 mi
Wilderness Trail
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
1.5 miles SWA solitary wilderness hike through young lava flows and cinder cones at Craters of the Moon, passing lava trees and ending near Echo Crater — a great backcountry camping spot.
Cave, Hike 1.9 mi
Tree Molds Trail
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
1.5 miles SWA paved trail winding through Craters of the Moon Wilderness to a lava flow that captured the shapes of fallen and standing trees in cooling rock — look for wooden posts marking the molds.
Hike
North Crater Flow
Arco, Idaho
1.5 miles NWHike near Arco, Idaho
Hike
Bear Trap Cave
American Falls, Idaho
33.2 miles SA lava tube estimated to be 15,000 years old, traceable for nearly 15 miles, originating from the Great Rift near Craters of the Moon — a window into Idaho's volcanic past.
Cave 0.6 mi
Hidden Mouth Cave
Moore, Idaho
36.0 miles NA surprisingly large lava cave with three chambers and a secret back exit — reached by quad or a quarter-mile steep hike above Moore, Idaho.
Cave, Hike
Lariat caves
American Falls, Idaho
40.4 miles SEA massive lava tube near Craters of the Moon with a fun back loop, constant temperature year-round, and history as a Boy Scout backcountry camp site.
Cave 7.9 mi
Borah Peak
Mackay, Idaho
49.7 miles NIdaho's highest peak at 12,662 feet offers a Class 3-4 summit route along 'Chicken-out' Ridge — complete with a snow knife-edge, talus, and the kind of exposure that separates the committed from the casual.
Hike
Kimama Wind Caves
Paul, Idaho
49.9 miles SA labyrinth of lava tubes in the desert north of Paul — tight crawls, varying ceiling heights, and graffiti throughout — strictly for experienced cavers with proper lights.
Camp, CaveNearby Campsites
Lava Flow Campground
Arco, Idaho
1.6 miles NWA campground surrounded by a young lava flow near the Craters of the Moon visitor center and popular trails — 42 first-come sites at $15/night during main season.
Camp
Kimama Wind Caves
Paul, Idaho
49.9 miles SA labyrinth of lava tubes in the desert north of Paul — tight crawls, varying ceiling heights, and graffiti throughout — strictly for experienced cavers with proper lights.
Camp, Cave
