Current Conditions - Craters of the Moon

All Facilities are open except for Caves and the North Crater Flow Trail

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:

Loop Road is Open

The Loop Road opened to motorized vehicles on May 16.

Bookstore and visitor center Restrooms are Open

The Craters of the Moon Natural History Association bookstore and restroooms reopened on Saturday, June 13. Hours for these facilities are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily with extended hours until 6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Vistor Information

Park Rangers are available to provide information and trip planning advice under the canopy on the visitor center patio from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays). View Craters of the Moon: The Movie! before or after your visit.

Lava Flow and Group Campgrounds are Open

The Lava Flow Campground opened on May 30. Campsites are available on a first come-first served basis only in the Lava Flow Campground.

The Group Campground is open by reservation only through Recreation.gov.

All Caves are Closed

All Monument caves are also closed due to the difficulty of social distancing within these confined spaces. Management is also evaluating potential damage from recent seismic activity and the safety of bat populations which are being affected by multiple health threats. All caves will remain closed until further notice.
Administrative Order

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.