Craters of the Moon National Monument is a fascinating place. Black lava covers vast areas of land but juniper trees and sage show their presence as well. I’ve visited this park on four different occasions and each time I’m fascinated by it. If you happen to be in the Snake River Plain in central Idaho make sure to stop and see it. It’s great! Here are the best hikes in Craters of the Moon National Monument.
Best Hikes in Craters of the Moon National Monument
Tree Molds Trail
This 2 mile-long in and out Tree Molds Trail was one of our favorite hikes in the park and I highly recommend it. The diversity of the vegetation and the views of the distant mountains are great! The black lava creates a sharp contrast to the variety of green shrubs that cover the land and the limber pine trees add character and charm to the trail. While the tree molds themselves did not really look like much, the hike itself was very pleasant. Don’t skip it!
Indian Tunnel Cave Trail
Another enjoyable hike I would recommend is to the cave area. The trail takes you through a field of lava to a couple of lava tubes that you can explore. You’ll need to get a permit when you enter the park, which when we visited, was just a stamp on the park map given to us upon paying the park entrance fee. The Indian Cave, which was open during our visit, has three different chambers that you can explore – some longer, some shorter. It was fun scrambling over the rocks and walking through the caves. Unfortunately, we didn’t see any bats, something we were quietly hoping for.
Devil’s Orchard Nature Trail
This is a very nice trail that takes you around a 0.5 mile area of different lava formations, native vegetation, and cool limber pines. I think the park service could do a better job with the informational signs posted along the trail because unfortunately as it is you can’t learn anything about the plants that grow along the trail. Nevertheless, the hike is very pleasant, so enjoy it.
Inferno Cone Trail
This is a fun steep hike with a false summit that allows you to see the area from above. We enjoyed the climb and the 360 degree views we had from the top. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes.
Spatter Cones Trail
