Craters of the Moon National Monument

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18 Miles West Of Arco On Highway 20, Arco, Idaho 83213208-527-1300

Description: The Craters of the Moon National Monument is situated on the end of the 60 mile long Great Rift Zone on the Snake River Plain, and is well-known for its barren, almost otherworldly volcanic landscape. One of the best-pre...Read More

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Lava Tube Photo - Craters of the Moon National Monument, Arco, Idaho

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Alien landscape

by rufusni

Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

November 6, 2012

Best of IgoUgo This very strange landscape that is fairly barren, black lava as far as the eye can see. The lava came from fissures, rather than a volcano. We stopped at the visitors centre, topped up water bottles, used the facilities, looked at the exhibits and ...Read more This very strange landscape that is fairly barren, black lava as far as the eye can see. The lava came from fissures, rather than a volcano.
We stopped at the visitors centre, topped up water bottles, used the facilities, looked at the exhibits and watched the short film that explained this weird landscape.

We drove from the visitors centre past cinder cones, splatter cones and on towards the caves. The lava here travelled so far because of a network of lava tubes. This meant that they were just under the surface but because the lava wasn't exposed to the atmosphere it did not cool as quickly and so was able to travel for many miles. Under the black surface there remains many lava tubes now empty, though some are known about because of collapses - some of the tubes collapsed when there was still lava in them which is a hot collapse, other collapsed later after lava stopped flowing which is a cold collapse.

We had got a permit to go into the caves, after confirming that we had not been in any caves recently so to prevent the spread of some bat disease. We also joined a guided ranger walk. But it was a huge crowd, and difficult for the girl leading us to explain to everyone what we were looking at. It also slowed us down, every stop and start tooker longer. It wasn't too long a walk to the lava tube cave we were going down in along a tarmac path which was to protect the surface. We headed down into Indian Tunnel, there are steps down into it. We managed without a torch, but it might be useful for one or two spots. Down in the tunnel, the floor is rocky and uneven. The stairs down are in one place were the tunnel collapsed and there are several other spots of collapse. The ranger was pretty good in explaining things. Exiting the tunnel you could go back up the stairs or carry on which requires some climbing/scrambling but nothing too difficult. Up on the surface, you get to walk over some of the black surface until you get back to the tarmac path.

There are several collapses with caves and tunnels that are accessible, but which you will need more time, and a flashlight. We decided one lava tunnel was enough and headed back to the carpark..

This was an interesting stop along the road for a few hours. There are campsites here, but the idea of camping in this black environment does not appeal to me, without shade and water. Its somehow a bit oppressive place, it is freaky place. Its worth a stop, but I'll not be spending the night Close

From journal To and from Jackson

Craters of the Moon National Monument

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Alien landscape

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