Waves of Black Lava Created This Idaho Monument That NASA Used for Moon Training

Craters of the Moon, Idaho

Somewhere in Idaho, there’s a place that looks so much like the Moon that NASA sent Apollo crews to train there.

Black rocks stretch for miles, lava tubes wind underground, and the whole place looks more like another planet than Earth.

Here’s your guide to Idaho’s slice of outer space on Earth.

Volcano Country in Idaho

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve holds more than 25 volcanic cones and 60 distinct solidified lava flows ranging from 15,000 to just 2,000 years old.

This remarkable 750,000-acre landscape along the Great Rift shows off some of the best open rift cracks in the world, including the deepest known on Earth at 800 feet.

The Blue Shine of Dragon Flow

The Blue Dragon Flow’s striking blue color, caused by iron oxide, is one of the park’s most distinctive lava features.

Morning or late afternoon light brings out the blue-purple tint best, making photographers grab their cameras in excitement. Light reflects off the glassy surface of the pahoehoe lava to create this unusual coloration.

Parts of this distinctive lava type can be seen from the North Crater Flow Trail.

Check Out the Big Cinder Butte

Big Cinder Butte rises over 700 feet high as the tallest volcanic peak and largest cinder cone in Craters of the Moon at 6,515 feet elevation.

Explosive eruptions ejected volcanic fragments into the air, which then fell around a central vent to form this enormous cone.

From Inferno Cone’s summit, you can spot this massive feature dominating the southern landscape.

Walk through the sunlit Indian Tunnel

Indian Tunnel is the largest lava tube at Craters of the Moon, stretching 30 feet tall and 800 feet long.

This tunnel formed when the outer layer of a lava river cooled and hardened while hot lava continued flowing beneath. Multiple ceiling collapses created natural windows that illuminate the interior, making your underground adventure less intimidating than other caves.

Several massive ceiling “skylights” let in enough natural light that you won’t need a flashlight to explore this accessible cave.

You’ll descend a metal staircase to enter this remarkable tube where the floor has been partially improved for easier walking.

Find tree remnants “frozen” in ancient lava

You can see where lava knocked over and burned trees thousands of years ago, leaving their impressions perfectly preserved in cooling rock.

When flowing lava surrounded trees, the wood burned away while the lava hardened, keeping the shape of the trunk.

Along the 1-mile Trail to Tree Molds, you’ll discover both vertical molds (from standing trees) and horizontal molds (from fallen trees).

Since this trail sits away from the main Loop Road, you’ll enjoy a quieter experience while examining these fascinating formations.

Camp inside Echo Crater’s vast bowl

About 3.5 miles from the trailhead along the Wilderness Trail, Echo Crater offers an excellent backcountry camping spot recommended by park rangers.

This large, shaded crater provides one of the most dramatic geological features away from the main park roads.

Try calling out when you arrive to experience the acoustic effect that gave this crater its name. As one of the few areas with reliable shade, many backcountry campers choose this spot for overnight stays.

You’ll need to pick up a free backcountry permit at the visitor center before planning your night in this volcanic bowl.

See crater chunks carried by lava rivers

Devils Orchard formed about two thousand years ago when rivers of lava carried actual pieces of North Crater’s wall that rode lava flows to their current position.

It’s called an “orchard” because of the scattered black cinder fragments and twisted trees growing among them.

Marvel at the triple-twisted survivor pine

Near the visitor center stands one of the park’s most photographed trees: a limber pine that grew into a triple-twisted shape.

Decades of extreme temperature swings, minimal soil, and powerful winds shaped this survivor’s unique form. Its twisted growth happened as roots searched for nutrients in tiny soil pockets between unforgiving lava rocks.

Spot green islands floating in black lava

From Inferno Cone’s summit, you can spot kipukas—islands of sagebrush surrounded by lava flows that show what the landscape looked like before volcanic eruptions.

These untouched patches remained high enough to avoid being covered when lava flooded the area.

Kipukas preserved native plant communities that would have vanished under molten rock. Thanks to their long isolation, some contain plant species you won’t find anywhere else in the monument.

Walk where astronauts practiced moon missions

NASA sent Apollo astronauts to Craters of the Moon to study volcanic features and practice identifying rock samples worth bringing back from the moon.

In 1969, astronauts Eugene Cernan and Joe Engle worked here with NASA geologist Ted Foss to prepare for lunar missions. Basaltic lava formations here closely match those found on the moon, making this an ideal practice site.

Scientists still test Mars rover equipment and sampling techniques here due to similarities with Martian terrain. Researchers study the lava tubes as potential analogs for habitats on Mars that might shelter microbial life in similarly harsh conditions.

Stand over the massive Earth crack

You’re looking at the Great Rift, a 52-mile long crack in Earth’s crust where lava poured out as recently as 2,000 years ago.

All the monument’s features—cinder cones, spatter cones, lava tubes, and flows—came from this massive crack.

Few places on Earth preserve a volcanic rift system this clearly, with visible fissures, eruptive centers, and lava fields all connected.

Scientists still consider the rift active and expect future eruptions in the next thousand years.

Hunt for tiny desert flowers in bloom

Once snow melts in April, you can find special wildflowers growing on this scorched landscape.

Dwarf buckwheat shows off tiny white flowers specially adapted to grow in cinder gardens, becoming most abundant in late June. Near the few water sources, monkey flowers create vibrant purple patches that stand out against the stark landscape.

Look for the famous dwarf monkeyflower with its bright pink blooms seemingly growing directly from black cinder.

Try spotting lava bombs

Throughout the monument, you can find “lava bombs”—aerodynamically-shaped blobs of lava ejected while molten and cooled mid-flight.

Lava bombs range from fist-sized to larger than basketballs, often showing distinctive streamlined shapes. Unlike other volcanic rocks, bombs have smooth or rippled exteriors from cooling while flying through the air before landing.

Some splattered when hitting the ground while others kept their aerodynamic shape upon impact. Though park rules prohibit collecting these natural features, you can photograph excellent examples pointed out by rangers during guided walks.

Gaze at stars in America’s darkest skies

In 2017, Craters of the Moon earned certification as an International Dark Sky Park thanks to its exceptionally dark night skies.

Summer star parties bring out experts from the Idaho Falls Astronomical Society along with the park’s own “Astro-Ranger” to guide your cosmic exploration.

During operating season, the Loop Road stays open 24 hours specifically for night sky viewing. In 2025, planned star parties include events on June 28-29 starting at 9:30 pm at the campground amphitheater with telescope viewing afterward at the Caves Area parking lot.

Visiting Craters of the Moon, Idaho

The visitor center and loop road for Craters of the Moon’s are located on highways 20/26/93. You’ll find the park 24 miles northeast of Carey, Idaho.

For navigation, input Robert Limbert Visitor Center into your app. It should show up as 1266 Craters Loop Road, Arco, ID.

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