Exploring Craters of the Moon:
    Virtual Tour of The Loop Road

At first glance the volcanic landscape of Craters of the Moon may appear to be barren and lifeless. But, first appearances can be very deceiving.

Take a trip along the 7-mile loop drive and experience this unique place. You can see rivers of lava that have smooth ropelike coils in some places and sharp jagged edges in others. Amongst this ocean of rock you may also see a surprising diversity of life including the tall limber pine and swift mule deer.

Make your first stop at the visitor center and then click on any of the numbered sites to go directly to that site. Along the route of your virtual tour, each site has its own essence—its own "personality." To encourage you to get to know Craters of the Moon more intimately, we have simply listed some of the unique characteristics of each site. For a more complete description of each site, please see our hiking trails Web pages.