Craters of the moon national monument and preserve is a united states national monument in the snake river plain of central idaho. Craters of the moon is located 19 miles southwest of arco in southern idaho, 200 miles west of yellowstone national park in nearby wyoming. National park service mellon humanities fellowships. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page.
Craters of the moon national monument protects the largest basaltic lava field in the lower 48 states. Monument and preserve craters of the moon national. Craters of the moon books, maps and more souvenirs. Apr 24, 2017 whether you approach craters of the moon from blackfoot along interstate 15 to the east or from twin falls along interstate 84 to the west it is an approximately 90 minute drive off the freeway to craters of the moon national monument located along us route 202693 three routes in one 19 miles southwest of the. Established on may 2, 1924 by a proclamation from president calvin coolidge, the craters of the moon national monument is found in what is known as the snake river plain of central idaho and is along u. Landsat 7 image of the craters of the moon, kings bowl, and wapi lava fields showing the location of the craters of the moon 30 x 60 quadrangle and the north half of the lake walcott 30 x 60 quadrangle. There is one campground in craters of the moon, the 51site lava flow campground. Management plan for craters of the moon national monument and preserve. Craters of the moon national monument houses interesting terrain that can easily be explored in a few hours.
The name became official with the establishment of the monument in 1924. The areas terrain is so otherworldly that the apollo astronauts even. Craters of the moon is a remarkably preserved volcanic landscape with an array of exceptional features. We invite you to explore this weird and scenic landscape where yesterdays volcanic events are likely to continue tomorrow. Craters of moon national monument is a hidden gem among the national park system. Craters of the moon national monument and preserve outdoor. All backcountry camping requires a permit available at the visitor center. Craters of the moon national monument arco tripadvisor. Craters of the moon national monument in central idaho is often overlooked. But for those who take the time to visit are delighted with a weird and scenic landscape.
Explore this unquie volcanic landscape by car or by foot and enjoy unique treks through remote parts of the expansive lava field. Geologic map of the craters of the moon 30 x 60 quadrangle. Starting 15,000 years ago, the landscape was created by molten lava flows. The lava landscape is the result of periodic eruptions along the great rift, a chain. Craters of the moon national monument and preserve. Craters of the moon national monument and preserve is a mammoth ocean of lava flows located in central idaho. Old arcocarey road visitor center see detail map above north crater flow big craters big cinder butte echo crater bridge of tears sheep trail butte vermillion two. Exposed fissures, lava fields, lava tubes, craters and cinder cones form a strangely beautiful volcanic. Click the image to view a full size jpg 200 kb or download the pdf 1.
Idaho craters of the moon national monument and preserve map craters of the moon national monument is accessed by us 202693, crossing a virtually uninhabited part of the state. Lava flow campground is a quirky little campground, but it is by far the best place to camp to explore craters of the moon national monument. It rises approximately 2500 vertical feet above the lava plain in southern butte county, east of craters of the moon national monument. Craters of the moon was so named because at one time, before people had actually gone to the moon, some people thought that the landscape resembled the moon s surface. Arco also offers hiking not only at the craters of the moon national monument. You are within walking distance of the very informative visitors center. Exploring the caves there are five caves you can explore within the monument. Click the image to view a full size jpg 240 kb or download the pdf 1. Craters of the moon national monument and preserve is a u.
Preserving an area that was the scene of a volcanic eruption as recently as 2000 years ago, craters of the moon national monument is appropriately named due to the pristine nature of the volcanic form. Monument, showing the location of the north and south units of the proposed nnl, blaine and butte. The visitor center is near the monuments only entrance. Its central feature is the great rift, a 52mile long crack in the earths crust. Blm winter bucket list 18 craters of the moon national monument, idaho, to walk in snowshoes on the moon 16275140352. Craters of the moon national monument arco 2020 all. The national park service is modifying its operations on a parkbypark basis in accordance with.
Craters of the moon national monument and preserve is a 750,000acre geologic wonderland. Craters of the moon national monument craters of the moon national monument and preserve is a united states national monument in the snake river plain of central idaho. Craters of the moon books, maps and more home page. This is the regional craters of the moon national monument map, showing the. A total of 512 questionnaires was distributed to visitor groups. Map of the western half of craters of the moon national. Craters of the moon national monument map craters of the. This is a highly detailed map of the craters of the moon region, showing all the roads and trails in the area. Detail map 47kb pdf file this pdf file contains additional descriptive text for craters of the moon national monuments driving tour geologic map of broken top area 2mb pdf file this map provides a detailed look at the youngest lava flow in idaho. Questionnaires were given to 358 visitor groups and 303 were returned, an 85% response rate.
Welcome to the craters of the moon natural history association. Prepared in cooperation with the national park service and the u. Central idahos craters of the moon national monument and preserve was famously called the strangest 75 square miles on the north american continent by an early explorer, and it is indeed a unique and memorable landscape. Nps geodiversity atlascraters of the moon national monument.
Craters of the moon national monument is accessed by us 202693 crossing a virtually uninhabited part of the state. Craters of the moon national monument idaho fish and game. Visitors can expect to beautiful displays of wildflowers during the spring, scorching heat during the long summer months and a winter paradise when temperatures drop. A few include upper iron bog lake and fish creek summit, which are located just outside of arco up antelope creek.
Craters of the moon national monument tourism and history. There are more than 25 cinder cones at craters of the moon, each one a small volcano. All other caves found in the monument are not open to visitation in order to help protect our bat populations. Unimproved road blm national monument please click here for more information and nps national monument r o a d m d o k a a a r c om i n i d o k a r o a d l a d l w c e o a b e r t r a e a o w e l l o f d s l i t t o b o a d c e c a v e r a e a s t mi ni d o k a r o a d h m b l o p 20 20 26 26 20 26 93. Mar 31, 2020 craters of the moon national monument. Craters of the moon national monument travel tips kim. In hiking this trail, you will be on either loose cinders or rugged lava. Craters of the moon national monument and preserve visitor study. Heres a map of the regional campgrounds 120 kb near craters of the moon, showing the ones in sawtooth national. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Four of these caves can be found along our caves trail, the other is located on the broken top loop trail. Craters of the moon national monument aka craters of the moon national preserve park place or area set aside for recreation or preservation of a cultural or natural resource and under some form of government administration. The park was created to protect a vast landscape of lava flows with scattered islands of cinder cones and sagebrush. The broken top area is important geologically becaus it exhibits nearly every feature associated.
Geologic map of the visitor center area craters of the. Craters of the moon national monument report summary this report describes the results of a visitor study conducted at craters of the moon national monument during the week of june 26 july 2, 1988. We are a private nonprofit organization established in 1959. Craters of the moon national monument map idaho mapcarta. To search for additional information, visit the data store. This monument is named for the seemingly endless craters, lava flows, and piles of loose rock. Craters of the moon was so named because at one time, before people had actually gone to the moon, some people thought that the landscape resembled the moons surface. It is over 1,100 square miles over 750,000 acres which is roughly the size of rhode island. Craters of the moon national monument and preserve in idaho. Tree molds formed where molten lava flows encased trees and then hardened. Geologic map of the visitor center area craters of the moon national monument and preserve tiffany a. Map of craters of the moon national monument, idaho.
The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible yearround. Through the usda forest service there are several trails to be considered. Map of the western half of craters of the moon national monument, showing the location of the north and south units of the proposed nnl, blaine and butte counties, idaho portion of craters of the moon 1978 surface management status map. The craters of the moon trail map 400 kb includes all the trails in the park including ones accessed from the main park road and in the. Whether you approach craters of the moon from blackfoot along interstate 15 to the east or from twin falls along interstate 84 to the west it is an approximately 90 minute drive off the freeway to craters of the moon national monument located along us route 202693 three routes. Craters of the moon national monument arco all you. Bureau of land management geologic map of the craters of the moon 30 x 60 quadrangle, idaho by mel a. Craters of the moon national monument travel guide at. Monument and preserve craters of the moon national monument. It is along us 20 concurrent with us 93 and us 26, between the small towns of arco and carey, at an average elevation of 5,900 feet 1,800 m above sea level.
Craters of the moon national monument arco all you need. Heres the craters of the moon campground map with the various sites, water spigots, and restrooms labeled. Craters of the moon national monument and preserve maps. Cones and caves might not say it all, but it carries a good bit of verbal weight. Craters of the moon national monument wikimedia commons.
The broken top loop trail provides visitors with an opportunity to hike up, around, and through the freshest lava on the snake river plain. Local area attractions near craters of the moon arco koa. Heres a map of lava flows 200 kb at craters of the moon, showing the range of major. The monument is filled with hundreds of unique volcanic formations, including lava tunnels, cinder cones, and ice caves, created by the heat and eruptions of the great rift. With ancient volcanos and a landscape of lava, its a unique vacation destination for summer travel or a national parks road trip. Craters of the moon national monument travel tips kim and. Craters of the moon national monument is a vast ocean of lava flows with scattered islands of cinder cones and sagebrush. The young lava flows that make up the bulk of the monument and preserve can clearly be seen from space.
Craters of the moon is a protected area which features are volcanic and represent one of the bestpreserved flood basalt areas in the continental united states. See it soon, though it might be taken out of nps protection. Boundary enlargement of the craters of the moon national. Wilderness study areas included in the monument will continue to be managed under section 603c of the federal land policy and management act of 1976 43 u.
Nps geodiversity atlascraters of the moon national. Our mission is to assist our national park service partner with interpretive, educational, and scientific activities at craters of the moon national monument and preserve. You can make the drive, including several short walks, in about two hours. Department of the interior craters of the moon national monument and preserve craters of the m oon is a vast ocean of lava flows with scattered islands of cinder cones and sagebrush. Craters of the moon national monument and preserve visitor. Caving at craters of the moon craters of the moon national. Map of craters of the moon national monument and preserve. Hike through caves and craters and experience scenery unlike anything youve ever seen. And these natural features have been protected since the 1920s with a landscape that reflects its name, long before anyone touched down on the actual moon. Craters of the moon national monument rexburg online. Arco idaho area attractions craters of the moon arco koa.
Craters of the moon national monument craters of the moon is a vast ocean of lava flows with scattered islands of cinder cones and sagebrush. Wear sturdy shoes and be ready to climb or descend some moderately. Craters of the moon is a vast ocean of lava flows with scattered islands of cinder cones and sagebrush. Various displays and publications along with a short film about the geology of the area help to orient visitors.
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