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Craters of the Moon: Another world in the middle of Idaho

By Ian Goodwillie

A detail of a crater is seen that was created with NASA photography on a 23-foot replica of Earth's moon is raised above Catalano Square in the Historic Third Ward in Milwaukee on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019. The moon will be suspended above the park from a crane for the Under One Moon pop-up festival Aug. 9 to 11. The inflatable artwork, Museum of the Moon, was made with NASA photography, giving a hyper-real view of the lunar surface. Museum of the Moon, created by United Kingdom-based artist Luke Jerram, has been touring the world since 2016.  Photo by Mike De Sisti/Milwaukee Journal SentinelMoon 000332A detail of a crater is seen that was created with NASA photography on a 23-foot replica of Earth's moon is raised above Catalano Square in the Historic Third Ward in Milwaukee on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019. The moon will be suspended above the park from a crane for the Under One Moon pop-up festival Aug. 9 to 11. The inflatable artwork, Museum of the Moon, was made with NASA photography, giving a hyper-real view of the lunar surface.A Museum of the Moon, created by United Kingdom-based artist Luke Jerram, has been touring the world since 2016.A Photo by Mike De Sisti/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
A detail of a crater is seen that was created with NASA photography on a 23-foot replica of Earth's moon is raised above Catalano Square in the Historic Third Ward in Milwaukee on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019. The moon will be suspended above the park from a crane for the Under One Moon pop-up festival Aug. 9 to 11. The inflatable artwork, Museum of the Moon, was made with NASA photography, giving a hyper-real view of the lunar surface. Museum of the Moon, created by United Kingdom-based artist Luke Jerram, has been touring the world since 2016.  Photo by Mike De Sisti/Milwaukee Journal SentinelMoon 000332A detail of a crater is seen that was created with NASA photography on a 23-foot replica of Earth's moon is raised above Catalano Square in the Historic Third Ward in Milwaukee on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019. The moon will be suspended above the park from a crane for the Under One Moon pop-up festival Aug. 9 to 11. The inflatable artwork, Museum of the Moon, was made with NASA photography, giving a hyper-real view of the lunar surface.A Museum of the Moon, created by United Kingdom-based artist Luke Jerram, has been touring the world since 2016.A Photo by Mike De Sisti/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel /
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Deep in the heart of Idaho is a place that looks like the surface of the Moon, the reason why the park has the name it does.

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve contains one of the most unique landscapes in the entirety of the United States. And the experience of going there makes you feel like you’ve made your way to a different world.

A volcanic history

Part of the Snake River Plain, the lava fields of Craters of the Moon were created by continuous volcanic eruptions over 15 million years ago. That left behind an incredible series of lava fields and cones that create an incredibly unique landscape.

The most recent eruption was 2000 years ago. This created the top layer of lava that’s referred to as the Broken Top Flow. The striking image of this seemingly endless field of broken lava rock creates is impactful and not easily forgotten.

Craters of the Moon National Monument was established in1924 with expansions following after that. It currently protects 53,000 acres of lava flow, massive rock formations and more. The overall national park is 11,000 square miles, making it a massive experience to take in.

The terrain is unique to say the least. Just to give you an idea of how otherworldly the landscape is, Apollo 14 astronauts conducted practice missions there in 1969. NASA still has a lot of ongoing research being conducted in the park.

Idaho Falls to Craters of the Moon

There are a variety of communities relatively near the park but Idaho Falls is a nice one. It has good hotels and restaurants, in addition to some other fun features. But the drive from Idaho Falls to Craters of the Moon is oddly engaging.

The vast grass lands that typify the landscape on the way to the park are picturesque. As you get closer to the Craters of the Moon, you start seeing more rock formations appear, letting you know that you’re about to arrive.

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Depending on the road you take, you might end up going by more than a few unique areas. A portion of the trip is taken up passing by Idaho National Laboratory sites which primarily conducts nuclear research. It gives you a weird vibe like a Godzilla situation is about to go down.

Relatively close to the park is Arco, the first community in the world to be solely powered by nuclear power in 1955. Unfortunately, the reactor was destroyed only few years after going online due to a mistake made by the operator.

Tales from the Loop

For first time visitors or regular attendees, one of the best ways to see what the park has to offer is by driving around the loop. The seven mile road takes visitors to key trail heads as well as some of the best scenic views the park has.

There are parking lots at different points around the loop, offering multiple opportunities to get out and experience Craters of the Moon. Several short paths that explore incredible features like lava flow frozen in time, hoodoos and lava cones are available.

For people looking for a much larger hiking experience, there are longer trails. Some of them even go down into the lava tubes. But if you’re interested in those kind of adventures, you’ll need to get a cave permit at the visitor center. Caving in Craters of the Moon is a lot of fun.

Camping is also an option. Sunrises and sunsets are always brilliant, and camping is a great way to experience both. For anyone looking to hike or camp, be forewarned that this park is hot, dry and rocky. Be prepared for the terrain and the environment.

That being said, Craters of the Moon is not entirely desolate. A variety of plants and animals have found ways to find to survive in an environment that can be incredibly intense. Keep your eyes peeled for a huge variety of insects and birds as well as several reptiles. There are various species of mammals but they’re mostly nocturnal.

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Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is a key reason to make Idaho a destination for a vacation. It is one of the most surreal landscapes in the continental United States. And the awe inspiring experience of arriving at the park for the first time cannot be replicated.

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