Current Conditions - Craters of the Moon

Alerts

 

Visitor Center and Bookstore Open Seven Days a Week

• The visitor center, bookstore, museum, and visitor center restrooms are open seven days a week. Review the visitor center hours.
• Be prepared for your visit. The park and Loop Road are open 24 hours.
• Vault toilets are open along the Loop Road and are found at the Lava Flow Campground, Devils Orchard, and Tree Molds parking areas. Flush toilets and drinking water are available in the Lava Flow Campground 24 hours.
• Please check the local weather forecast before driving to the park.
• Passport stamps are available in the bookstore during business hours. You can also email the park, and we can mail you copies of the passport stamps.
• Information on hiking trails and other things to do can be found online and on the free National Park Service app. Cell service is very limited inside the park, so we recommend downloading the app and saving Craters of the Moon for offline use before you arrive.
• The full park film, Craters of the Moon: The Movie, is available online as well as other short videos on our multimedia page.

Loop Road Open

The Loop Road is open to vehicles for the season. Pets are permitted in the campground and on the road but not on hiking trails. Keep pets leashed at all times, and always pick up after them.

 

NPS Illustration / S Lacy

Lava Flow Campground is Open

The Lava Flow Campground is open for the season. Drinking water and restrooms are available 24 hours. RV or car camping is not permitted outside of the campground.

All Lava Tube Caves are Closed

All lava tube caves are closed due to hazardous snow and ice and are typically open in the summer and fall as conditions allow. When open, a free cave permit is required to enter the caves. Cave permits protect bats. Permits can only be obtained in person at the visitor center during business hours.

The Annual, Senior, Access, and Military passes do not count as a cave permit.

 

Temporary Closures

Cave Closures During 2023

Buffalo Caves, located on the Broken Top Loop, is closed. In the Caves Trail area, Boy Scout Cave and Beauty Cave are closed. These caves are closed to protect bats and because of environmental conditions. Help protect bats by respecting closures.

North Crater Flow Trail is Closed During 2023

North Crater Flow Trail will not open in 2023. The 0.25 mile (0.4 km) long North Crater Flow Trail is closed due to construction activities which will result in an improved trail that is universally accessible. Thank you for your patience!

Planning Your Trip

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

• Idaho Rebound (COVID-19) Plan
• Weather Forecast
• Live Smoke Map and Air Quality
• Highway Conditions - The US-93 Tom Cat Summit camera located 5 miles west of the visitor center provides live views of visibility and road conditions in the immediate area.

 

Recreate Responsibly

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 to 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.

 

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