• View of the Great Rift

    Craters Of The Moon

    National Monument & Preserve Idaho

There are park alerts in effect.
show Alerts »

  • All roads and facilities are open

    The Visitor Center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Obtain a permit before entering any authorized cave.

Things To Know Before You Come

Park Alerts
Click on "Show Alerts" above to read current park announcements.

Idaho Transportation Department:
Check on current highway conditions in and around the park at the Idaho Transportation Department website.

 
screening flowchart

Cave Access
To prevent the spread of white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has killed over 5 million bats since 2005, screening is required before entering any cave on National Park Service lands. Screening and cave permits may be obtained at the Monument entrance station, at the Visitor Center or on Ranger guided walks. Permits are valid for the five developed caves: Indian Tunnel, Dew Drop, Boy Scout, Beauty, and Buffalo Caves. All other caves are closed to recreational caving.

Be prepared to answer the following questions:
-Have you visited a cave or mine since 2005?
-Do you have any items with you that entered into the caves or mines you previously visited? (e.g., clothing, shoes, flashlights, cameras, watches, phones, etc.)

If the answer to both questions is yes, please bring gear with you which has not been exposed to other caves or mines. Cave permits will not be issued for persons using potentially contaminated gear.

Detailed decontamination procedures have been developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

 

Pets
Pets are welcome in the campground and in parking lots and on paved roads but not in the visitor center or on NPS Monument trails (with the exception of service animals). For the protection of your pet and park wildlife, when outside of the car, pets must be kept on a leash at all times.

Services
There are no lodging or food services available in the park. The closest motels and restaurants are located in Arco, 18 miles east of the visitor center.

Campfires
Campfires are not permitted within the Lava Flow Campground nor anywhere else on National Park Service lands except by permit in the Group Campground fire grate.

 

Travel through the Preserve and BLM Monument
Find out more about visiting areas of the Monument outside of the visitor center area.

  • Read All About it! Read All About it!

    The Great Rift Gazette is your source for news and information about summer events at Craters of the Moon. Read More

  • Web View of Tom Cat Hill with Big Cinder Butte Web View of Tom Cat Hill with Big Cinder Butte

    View current highway 20/26/93 conditions at Craters Read More

  • Weather Weather

    Link to the official National Weather Service forecast Read More

Did You Know?

potato

Vast quantities of water stored by the lava rock aquifer below the Eastern Snake River Plain provides for critical human needs throughout southern Idaho...including those famous potatoes!