Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve

Craters of the Moon is out of this world!
Craters of the Moon is a vast ocean of lava flows with scattered islands of cinder cones and sagebrush. We invite you to explore this "weird and scenic landscape" where yesterday's volcanic events are likely to continue tomorrow.
Map showing location of park.
A black spatter cone rises from a lava landscape. A rugged black concrete trail leads to the base of the cone and slowly wraps around the cone's surface.
Four southern Idaho national parks welcomed a combined total of more than 430,000 recreation visits in 2025
Four southern Idaho national parks welcomed a combined total of more than 430,000 recreation visits in 2025, including a record number of recreation visits to the Minidoka National Historic Site.
A close-up shot of a folded, waving sea of lava rock, with mountains in the far distance.
Photo by NPS / David Hunter
Small purple flowers and larger white flowers with reddish stems grow out of black volcanic rock
Photo by NPS / David Hunter
The Craters entrance sign sits below a starry night sky, with the milky way brightly-lit.
Photo by NPS / Jacob W. Frank
A figure stands inside a large lava tube on a pile of rubble, lit by a round opening overhead.
Photo by NPS / Jacob W. Frank
A paved trail winds up around the side of a spatter cone.
Photo by NPS / Jacob W. Frank
A panoramic view across the Craters landscape, bisected by a winding road.
Photo by NPS / Jacob W. Frank