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Craters of the Moon National Monument

“Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve”, situated in the Snake River Plain in central Idaho near Arco, is the best place to view the spectacular effects of volcanism. This national monument and national preserve represent the best preserved flood basalt area in the United States. This Monument was inaugurated on May 2, 1924. The area is managed and monitored by the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service.

The Monument and Preserve features 3 major lava fields and 400 square miles (1040 sq. km.) of sagebrush steppe grasslands. The lava fields lie along the Great Rift of Idaho and feature some of the most spectacular open rift cracks in the world. In fact, the deepest known rift crack on Earth, nearly 800 ft (240 m) deep, can also be viewed in the Monument. Besides, there are unique examples of every kind of tree mold as well as basaltic lava in this area. One can also view lava tubes and many other volcanic features in this preserve.

The Craters of the Moon Lava Field is the largest Holocene-aged basaltic lava field in the lower 48 U. S. states. This field encompasses an area of nearly spreads 618 square miles (1,601 km²) and reaches southeastward from the Pioneer Mountains. The main features include over 25 volcanic cones, including some of the best examples of spatter cones. This field is formed from as many as 60 distinct lava flows. The other two lava fields in the Preserve include the Kings Bowl and the Wapi Lava Fields, both about 2200 years old. The Visitor Center is nearly 5900 ft (1.79 km) above the sea level.

A number of wildflowers, trees, shrubs, and wild animals can be seen while hiking one of the many trails in the Monument. Great hiking opportunities are offered by the Craters of the Moon Wilderness Area and Backcountry Area. Other major attractions in the Monument include the long paved trail at the North Crater Flow, the Devils Orchard, the Inferno Cone Viewpoint, Big Craters, Tree Molds, and a large Cave Area. The Cave Area includes the Dewdrop Cave, the Beauty Cave, the Boy Scout Cave, the Surprise Cave, and the Indian Tunnel. Camping facilities like water, restrooms, charcoal grills, and trash containers are available at 52 sites of the Craters of the Moon Campground. Popular recreational activities in the area include backcountry hiking and skiing along the Loop Drive.

• Location: Along Highway 93, 18 miles West of Arco
• Telephone: (208) 527-3257 (NPS) or (208) 732-7200 (BLM)
  
• Hours: Summer, 8 AM - 6 PM daily; Rest of year, 8 AM - 4:30 PM daily; closed on winter holidays
• Website: www.nps.gov/crmo/

Top 5 National Parks

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2. Grand Canyon
3. Yosemite
4. Olympic
   
5. Yellowstone

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