Craters of the Moon National Monument

Craters of the Moon was a really interesting place to explore. I didn't quite know what to expect when we left early in the morning to drive here to explore. What we found was a very pleasant surprise. The park was peaceful, quiet, unique, and very beautiful. If you enjoy geology like I do this place is a dream. The park does a very good job of helping you learn about the different features. It's almost like a big outdoor museum. The hiking here could be endless if you wanted. It's a massive 750,000 acre wilderness area that would be open to some surprisingly difficult exploration. The area is seriously rugged. The visitor center has some nice displays and a video talking about the geology of the park. Once you begin on the scenic drives it looks like you have entered a different planet. I have visited small lava fields in Utah but nothing on this scale or with this much diversity. Off in the distance you can see the Lost River Range which is the highest in Idaho at over 12,000 feet. The first stop is called the North Crater Flow. This is the youngest area you will see. There is a short 0.3 mile loop through the formations that is worth the time. While the rocks appear black from a distance up close they have all sorts of colors from blues and purples, to oranges and reds. Our next stop was called Inferno Cone. If you do only one short walk this is the one to choose. The short but steep 0.2 mile trail climbs to the top with great 360 degree views. From the top you can really see how vast the area is as well as some interesting features. The Spatter Cones you will visit later are right below the Inferno Cone. The walk is all on the small loose rock. It's really unique. Our next stop was called the Spatter Cones. These were really interesting and provide you a close up view. You can even get inside one and see down a probably 30 foot shaft down into another. The area around the cave trailhead was particularly rugged. It's a really cool area.