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.
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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)
- 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)
Other Hiking Trails and Caves Nearby
Broken Top Loop Trail
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
0.0 miles NWA 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
0.0 miles WA 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 0.1 mi
Spatter Cones
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
1.1 miles NWMiniature 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
1.1 miles NWHike near Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
Hike 1.8 mi
North Crater Trail
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
1.1 miles NWA 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 0.4 mi
Inferno Cone
Visitors Center, Craters of the Moon National Monument
1.1 miles NA 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 1.0-1.3 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 NA paved, wheelchair-accessible trail through cinder beds and ancient North Crater wall fragments, with exhibits on protecting this fragile volcanic environment.
Hike
North Crater Flow
Arco, Idaho
2.1 miles NHike near Arco, Idaho
Hike
Bear Trap Cave
American Falls, Idaho
32.2 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
37.4 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
39.6 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
Kimama Wind Caves
Paul, Idaho
48.5 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
Maze Cave
West Magic, Idaho
49.6 miles SWA two-tunnel cave with upper and lower passages that meet at the back — a fun, compact cave to explore next to the T Cave near West Magic, Idaho.
Cave
T Cave
West Magic, Idaho
49.6 miles SWA cave just north of Gwinn and Mammoth Cave in West Magic, Idaho — enter and travel back about 300 yards to a large T-junction with passages extending roughly a quarter mile each way.
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 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
48.5 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
