A Walk on the Craters of the Moon

I wasn’t expecting to see these rugged, barren lava fields when I visited southeastern Idaho. The aptly named Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is about an 85 mile drive from Idaho Falls.

"Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho"

Craters of the Moon

The craters, cinder cones, lava tubes and other lava rock features were created by volcanic activity that probably began 15,000 years ago and continued until about 2,000 years ago. When President Calvin Coolidge established the area as a national monument in 1924, he referred to it as “a weird and scenic landscape, peculiar to itself”.

In 1969, astronauts visited Craters of the Moon to study volcanic geology and the harsh environment in preparation for future trips to the moon. Can you see why?

For more information: Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve

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24 thoughts on “A Walk on the Craters of the Moon

  1. jade

    Um- YES! I can totally see why… how fantastic. I have always been fascinated with traveling to the moon- that weight feeling would be so weird. Unfortunately my parents never sent me to space camp even though I really wanted to go! This might be second best to visit idaho!

  2. Leigh

    I’ve always wanted to make a side trip to that place – kind of desolate looking but that’s what one should expect judging from the moon photos. Does the place become a furnace in the summer?

  3. RambleFeet

    I hiked most of the trails there two days ago, and I agree that it is an amazing place. The quiet down in the craters is wonderful, and there isn’t much to compare with the first moment when you pop out of the little hole to escape from Indian Cave and think “Um, where am I”…

    Thank you for the photos and the writeup. Truly a great place!

  4. John Wilson

    Amazing what mother nature has to offer us through out the world.
    The USA has it’s fare share of wonders.
    Good job on the pictures – it is barren for sure!
    Look forward to more posts.
    Cheers,
    John D. Wilson

  5. Cathy Post author

    Thanks for your comments. Craters of the Moon is a great experience — and not all that well known. Hope you all get a chance to check it out first-hand.

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