The closest town to Craters of the Moon is
the small town of Arco
with a population of 882. From there, it’s another 30 minutes or so to get to Crater of the Moon’s Visitor Center. In other words, it’s pretty much in the middle of nowhere. The town of Arco has a couple of run-down motels and a KOA campground.
Can you stay at Craters of the Moon?
There is no lodging available in the park
. The nearest lodging and other services are available in Arco, 18 miles east of the visitor center on US Highway 20/26/93.
How long does it take to go through Craters of the Moon?
I’d say you should plan on spending
3 – 4 hours
there depending on how much you care to see. We had an 88 and 86 year old with us so we just did a few short trails and the younger ones climbed the hill. We were too early in the season to view the caves.
What else is near Craters of the Moon?
- Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve.
- Experimental Breeder Reactor-1 (EBR-1) Atomic Museum.
- Mackay self guided mining tour and Mackay reservoir.
- Ketchum / Sun Valley – Ernest Hemingway’s grave, home, and memorial.
- Arco Science Center.
Is Craters of the Moon Open Covid?
All Caves and Cave Trail are Closed
.
Where do you enter Craters of the Moon?
Craters of the Moon’s visitor center and loop road are located on U.S. Highway 20/26/93. The park entrance is
24 miles northeast of Carey, Idaho and 18 miles southwest of Arco, Idaho
. Watch for signs on the highway marking the park boundary and at the turn onto the park road.
How many caves are in Craters of the Moon?
Check out all
four
caves on this fun hike above and below ground in Craters of the Moon National Monument. Pack a few strong light sources with you as you head out on Caves Trail. A hat and warm clothes are recommended if you plan to spend a lot of time below the surface.
How do you explore Craters of the Moon?
Pick up a free cave permit from the visitor center. Half a Day:
Hike the Broken Top Loop or Tree Molds Trails
. One Day or Longer: Explore the Craters of the Moon Wilderness. Take an long dayhike along the 4-mile Wilderness Trail (8 miles round-trip), or pack your gear for an overnight backpacking trip.
How big is Craters of the Moon?
Craters of the Moon is a huge national park. It is
over 1,100 square miles (over 750,000 acres)
which is roughly the size of Rhode Island. The young lava flows that make up the bulk of the Monument and Preserve can clearly be seen from space.
What volcano formed Craters of the Moon?
Lava erupted from the
Great Rift
, a series of deep cracks that start near the visitor center and stretch 52 miles (84 km.) to the southeast. During this time the Craters of the Moon lava field grew to cover 618 square miles (1600 square km.).
What can you do on craters?
- Robert Limbert Visitor Center/ Prepare and Relax. …
- North Crater Flow Trail/ Appreciate the Frozen Lava. …
- Loop Road/ Drive through Scenic spots: …
- Inferno Cone/ Trek to the Top. …
- Spatter Cones/ Check Out the Mini Volcanos.
What are highlands on the Moon?
Glossary. highlands:
the lighter, heavily cratered regions of the Moon, which are generally several kilometers higher than the maria
.
mare
: (plural: maria) Latin for “sea;” the name applied to the dark, relatively smooth features that cover 17% of the Moon’s surface.
What is special about Craters of the Moon?
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.
Can you drive through Craters of the Moon?
Park Entrance – Craters of the Moon National Monument
The Loop Road is generally open to motorized vehicles from late April through late November
.
How much does it cost to go to Craters of the Moon?
The Visitor Center is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, with extended summer hours and closed on winter holidays. The entrance fee is
$15 per vehicle
. Those entering by bicycle or foot pay $7 per person. Individuals age 15 and under enter free.
Is Craters of the Moon an active volcano?
Craters of the Moon is one of the youngest volcanic areas in Idaho and
may be the most likely in the state to erupt again
. Over the past 15,000 years, eruptions at Craters of the Moon have occurred about every 3,000 years, and so the next eruption might be expected sometime in the next 1,000 years.
Will Craters of the Moon erupt again?
The Craters of the Moon volcanic field will erupt again, probably within the next few centuries if the recurrence interval of about 2,000 years is sustained
. It is likely that the eruption will last several years or decades and possibly several centuries.
Is Craters of the Moon open in winter?
Enjoy the Winter Landscape
Winter at Craters of the Moon
starts as early as November and lasts through March
due to the park’s latitude and altitude (5,900 ft/ 1.8 km).
Does the moon have caves?
The moon may be a mostly uniform expanse of gray, but if you look closely, you can still find a few nooks and crannies in its surface, from deep trenches to pits and
maybe even caves
.
How long is Indian tunnel Craters of the Moon?
Being the largest lava tube in the caves area, Indian Tunnel is over 30 feet high, 50 feet wide, and approximately
800 feet
long. Indian Tunnel contains many of the features common to all lava tubes.
Is Craters of the Moon National Park worth visiting?
A seven-mile loop road points you to all the trailheads in Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve and you can even cross-country ski there in winter. While we couldn’t wait to get out of the car, run around, and immerse ourselves in the landscape,
the drive itself is worth a visit to the park
.
