A close-up shot of a folded, waving sea of lava rock, with mountains in the far distance.
Craters of the Moon features the largest young lava field in the lower 48 states, encompassing the entire Great Rift volcanic zone. NPS / David Hunter

Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve

National Monument · Idaho · National Park Service

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.

Plan your visit

Know before you go

Phone
2085271300
Official site
www.nps.gov
Managed by
National Park Service

Getting there

Directions on Google Maps →

What's here

Highlights: Migrations · Native American Heritage · Westward Expansion · Animals · Birds · Caves, Caverns and Karst · Climate Change · Fire · Forests and Woodlands · Geology · Night Sky · Rock Landscapes and Features · Trails · Unique Species · Volcanoes · Wilderness

Activities & features: Auto and ATV · Scenic Driving · Astronomy · Stargazing · Biking · Road Biking · Camping · Backcountry Camping · Caving · Hiking · Backcountry Hiking · Junior Ranger Program · Skiing · Cross-Country Skiing · Snowshoeing · Wildlife Watching · Birdwatching · Park Film · Museum Exhibits · Shopping · Bookstore and Park Store · Gift Shop and Souvenirs

Photos

  • Small purple flowers and larger white flowers with reddish stems grow out of black volcanic rock
    NPS / David Hunter
  • The Craters entrance sign sits below a starry night sky, with the milky way brightly-lit.
    NPS / Jacob W. Frank
  • A figure stands inside a large lava tube on a pile of rubble, lit by a round opening overhead.
    NPS / Jacob W. Frank
  • A paved trail winds up around the side of a spatter cone.
    NPS / Jacob W. Frank
  • A panoramic view across the Craters landscape, bisected by a winding road.
    NPS / Jacob W. Frank

Nearby parks

Parks of Idaho

McCroskey State ParkCoeur d Alene s Old Mission State ParkFarragut State ParkEagle Island State ParkPonderosa State ParkOregon National Historic TrailLand of the Yankee Fork State ParkPriest Lake State ParkHagerman Fossil Beds National MonumentRound Lake State ParkHells Gate State ParkCity Of Rocks National ReserveMassacre Rocks State ParkMinidoka National Historic SiteLake Walcott State ParkBear Lake State ParkNez Perce National Historical ParkLucky Peak State ParkWinchester Lake State ParkHenrys Lake State ParkHeyburn State ParkCastle Rocks State ParkThree Island Crossing State ParkThousand Springs State ParkLake Cascade State ParkHarriman State ParkDworshak State ParkBruneau Dunes State Park

29 parks mapped in Idaho

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Sources: National Park Service, Google Places · updated 2026-08-12