ARCO, Idaho (AP) – In only a few places in the United States can you walk over what once was lava and explore an underground lava tube crafted by molten rock.
Instead of flying more than five hours to Hawaii, drive less than two hours north of Twin Falls to Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve near Arco.
There you’ll find an otherworldly landscape, an example of what the ground beneath your feet is capable of producing.
Can I see flowing lava?
Although no bright-orange lava flows there now, the gnarled and crusty terrain frozen in time traces the tale of rivers of lava that gushed from fissures across the Snake River Plain called the Great Rift. In 1923, geologist Harold Stearns described Craters of the Moon as the nation’s most recent fissure eruption outside of Hawaii. The most recent eruption at Craters was just 2,000 years ago.
Can I eat the Snow Cone?
If you can’t spend half the day exploring all that the monument and preserve has to offer, there are two things you must see, said Lennie Ramacher, interpretive park ranger and volunteer coordinator: the spatter cones and the caves.
The spatter cones are especially interesting, he said, because they are formed during the final gasps of an eruption as lava plops out in gigantic globs.
You can take the short-but-steep walk up to the top of one of these cones. There also is a trail that is accessible for those with disabilities and is easier to climb to the top of Snow Cone, which is about 300 feet deep and always has snow in the bottom. Visiting any of the cones is a chance to get a close look at the intricate designs molded by moving stone and to view land marked by volcanic craters and cones.
“It’s impressive,” said Maryann Lucero of Omaha, Neb. “I had no idea this was here.”
Lucero, in 2012, visited the monument for the first time with her daughter Jackie Lucero of Challis, Idaho, and the two were making the trek to the top of a spatter cone.
So what’s a lava tube?
Basically, an underground tunnel formed when the surface of flowing lava cools faster than the lava beneath. Later, when part of a tube collapses, it creates an opening to the natural cave.
One of the more popular lava tubes to explore is Indian Tunnel – the perfect cave for families with young children who want to venture below ground together but don’t want to walk through complete darkness.
“It’s the largest cave and the easiest one to navigate, and it’s also very impressive,” Ramacher said.
You can reach Indian Tunnel and three other caves – Dewdrop, Boy Scout and Beauty – by way of a half-mile paved trail across a field of lava. Boy Scout is harder than Indian Tunnel to hike through.
“Getting into that one is a crouch; it’s like crawling under a table,” Ramacher said.
Buffalo is the fifth cave open for visitors to explore. But Ramacher said there are hundreds in the monument.
Every day, a ranger leads guided cave walks; meet at the caves area trailhead at 9 a.m. Friday through Sunday and at 1 and 4 p.m. daily.
In four of the caves (not Indian Tunnel), you must carry flashlights with extra batteries. Ramacher also suggests bringing a light jacket because even now, it’s quite cool inside. The shortest lava tube is Dewdrop Cave, which takes about four minutes to walk through. The others each take about 10 to 15 minutes.
On a hot day, the short trail to these caves can seem like a lifetime as you are baked on land resembling an uneven cookie sheet. The payoff is the cool air that greets you as you descend the first step into Indian Tunnel.
The trail is a little hard to read after the cave’s entrance, and tennis shoes or hiking boots are a must, as is water. In the shade of walls formed by liquid rock, you can look through a couple of natural skylights and feel the rough, jagged ground poking into your shoe soles. Listen quietly to hear the tiny squeaks of bats in the crevices above you.
Why do I need a cave permit?
Before you venture into any of the caves at Craters of Moon, you must get a cave permit. Screening is required before entering any cave on National Park Service lands.
This helps prevent the spread of white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has killed more than 5 million bats in the U.S. since 2005.
Get your permit at the entrance station, the visitor center or on ranger-guided walks. You will be asked questions: Have you visited a cave or mine since 2005? Do you have any items with you (such as clothing, shoes, flashlights, cameras, watches or phones) that entered the caves or mines you previously visited?
“The bats have no natural defense,” Ramacher said.
What other animals might I spot?
Probably pronghorns, mule deer, foxes, coyotes, chipmunks and squirrels. Ramacher said he often is asked whether there are rattlesnakes. Yes, he said, but not as many as people think.
The lava flows are home to a cute little creature that resembles a mouse with huge ears but actually is related to a rabbit. Researchers are interested in the pika because of its sensitivity to climate change. According to the National Park Service, pikas’ exposure to temperatures of only 78 degrees can be fatal.
You may be able to spot some of these animals yourself if you listen for their trademark “eeep” call and look inside rock crevices for piles of hay and flowers they like to collect.
Should I venture into Devil’s Orchard?
If you prefer the light of day rather than darkened caves, you might like one of the many hiking trails. The Devil’s Orchard half-mile trail features trees growing from some of the oldest lava in Craters.
“It’s a peaceful little nature walk,” Ramacher said.
This trail is accessible to people with disabilities, as is the trail leading to Snow Cone. Pets are not allowed on the trails or in the caves.
The 3.5-mile North Crater Trail shows off crater fragments carried by lava flows. The Tree Molds Trail, two miles long, features lava with the imprints of trees burned into its surface.
The seven-mile Loop Road connects all the attractions at Craters, and everything is well-marked. Be sure to visit the visitor center first to pick up a monument map, see films and exhibits and visit the gift shop.
More adventurous hikers can explore the Craters of the Moon Wilderness Trail and do some backcountry camping, free with a permit.
Can I camp on the Moon?
Camping by your car instead of carrying a tent? There are 51 developed campsites in Lava Flow Campground across from the visitor center. The cost to camp is $10. There are no RV hookups, but there are flush toilets, water, barbecue pits and picnic tables, and the campground is handicapped accessible.
Campsites are filled first come, first served. Generally, there are open spots, Ramacher said, but during summer and on the nights of star parties, the campground can get busy.
A group campsite for up to 30 people can be reserved; it is tucked back on the north side of U.S. Highway 93.
Nightly junior ranger programs for children are at 8 p.m. An evening nature walk with a ranger also is nightly at 7 p.m.
Each night, evening programs begin at 9:30 p.m. at the amphitheater, where rangers explain volcanoes, local history or other topics.
Starting in early August will be night hikes with only the full moon to light the way past craters and rocks. On nights when the moon isn’t out, you can find some of the darkest skies in Idaho to view the stars.
IF YOU GO
Cost: The fee is $8 per vehicle to get into Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. The monument is open daily year-round – except for federal holidays during the winter.
Hours: During summer, the Robert Limbert Visitor Center is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. But the monument itself always is open around the clock, even during federal holidays.
Getting there: From the intersection of U.S. Highway 20 and U.S. Highway 93, head east on Highway 20 and go 25 miles past the town of Carey to Craters of the Moon’s entrance.
