North Crater Trail
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
| Address: | N Crater Trail, Idaho 83213, USA |
| GPS: |
43°26'30.3"N 113°33'28.1"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Idaho |
| Trails/Routes: | 1.8 mi |
Restrooms Pet Friendly Bicycles Motorized Use
Hike
This 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 North Crater is missing. An eruption tore the wall apart, and a series of flows rafted the fragments away. The trail continues to the rim of Big Craters before descending to the Spatter Cones. No off-trail travel is permitted in the Big Craters area in order to protect fragile lava formations.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.
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- 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)
- Continue straight (0.1 mi)
Other Hiking Trails Nearby
Snow Cone
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
0.0 miles SEHike near Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
Hike 0.1 mi
Spatter Cones
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
0.0 miles SEMiniature 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 0.4 mi
Inferno Cone
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
0.3 miles EA 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 1.7 mi
Broken Top Loop Trail
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
1.1 miles SEA 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 1.9 mi
Tree Molds Trail
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
1.1 miles SEA 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 8.8 mi
Wilderness Trail
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
1.1 miles SEA 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
North Crater Flow
Arco, Idaho
1.1 miles NHike near Arco, Idaho
Hike 0.5 mi
Devil's Orchard Trail
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
1.2 miles NEA paved, wheelchair-accessible trail through cinder beds and ancient North Crater wall fragments, with exhibits on protecting this fragile volcanic environment.
Hike 1.0-1.3 mi
Caves Trail
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
1.2 miles ECave and Hike near Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
Cave, Hike 0.6 mi
Hidden Mouth Cave
Moore, Idaho
36.5 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 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.
HikeNearby Campsites
Lava Flow Campground
Arco, Idaho
1.3 miles NA 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
49.2 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
