Current Conditions - Craters of the Moon

The National Park Service (NPS) is working servicewide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis. Based on guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, access to the park is as follows:

Bookstore and Visitor Center Restrooms are Open

The Craters of the Moon Natural History Association bookstore and restroooms are open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.daily. Bookstore and visitor center closed daily from 12:25 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. for cleaning.

Loop Road

The Loop Road Beyond Devil's Orchard is Currently Closed due to Winter Conditions
As of Sunday, Oct 25th, the Loop Road beyond Devil's Orchard trailhead (1 1/2 miles past the visitor center) is temporarily closed due to snowy conditions.

Seasonal Closure: The Loop Road opened to motorized vehicles on May 16 and will close by late November.

Park Movie

Although the theater is closed, you can still enjoy Craters of the Moon: The Movie! before or after your visit.

Lava Flow Campground is Open. Group Campground is Closed.

The Lava Flow Campground opened on May 30. Campsites are available on a first come-first served basis only in the Lava Flow Campground. As of Oct. 15th, water has been shut off in the campground for the season due to freezing nighttime temperatures.

The Group Campground is closed for the season. When open, it is by reservation only through Recreation.gov.

All Caves are Closed

The park is assessing the status of the caves due to seismic activity north of the park. All caves remain closed until further notice.

North Crater Flow Nature Trail is Closed

All Monument trails are open except for the Caves Trail and the North Crater Flow Trail. The .25 mile long North Crater Flow Trail is closed due to construction activities which will result in an improved trail that is universally accessible to all people.

While the listed areas are accessible for visitors to enjoy, a return to full operations will continue to be phased, and services may be limited. When recreating, please follow local area health orders, practice Leave No Trace principles, and avoid crowding and high-risk outdoor activities.

The CDC has offered guidance to help people recreating in parks and open spaces prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We will continue to monitor all park functions to ensure that visitors adhere to CDC guidance for mitigating risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19 and take any additional steps necessary to protect public health.

 

Conditions can change rapidly this time of year. Check these sources before travelling to the park:

Idaho Rebound (COVID-19) Plan

Weather Forecast

Highway Conditions

 

Cratercam

Click for a real-time view of U.S. Highway 20/26/93 with Big Cinder Butte in the distance. The NPS Monument entrance is located about 10 miles east of this web-camera.