Ok, not craters of the moon but a National Monument and Preserve in Idaho where there are hundreds of square miles of lava fields more than 2000 years old.
Spontaneous Travel:
My husband and I traveled to Idaho Falls, Idaho recently and spontaneously decided to check out this wildly intriguing landmark full of “craters” just 90 miles west. Since I love photography, and this park was recently designated an International Dark Sky Park, I wanted to attempt a picture of the Milky Way, despite it being a bit cloudy and having a lot of smoke in the air from wildfires. We bought an air mattress so we could camp in the back of our van rather than finding a hotel 20 miles away in the town of Arco. Conveniently, right inside the entrance to the preserve there was a 42 site campground with 3 restroom buildings. They were complete with sinks and flushing toilets. And all for only $15 per night. Yay! With that and the $20 entrance fee to the park we were all in for $35.
The Golden Hour:
We arrived at Craters of the Moon just before sunset. So, after getting settled in to our spot we took off walking to find some nice shots of the landscape during the “golden hour”. I am still amazed at how stark, yet full of life, it is. There’s a variety of grasses, flowers, trees and shrubs scattered throughout the volcanic landscape making for a very surreal scene. Later that evening as the sky got darker, and the clouds miraculously cleared, we headed back out to attempt that shot of the Milky Way. We managed to get a couple but there was still a lot of smoke in the air and it wasn’t as good as we had hoped for. Better luck next time I guess.
Craters of the Moon:
The next morning we took a drive through the park and stopped at all the different lookout and scenic trail spots. It’s not a large preserve and we were able to see most everything in less than one day. We really enjoyed Devil’s Orchard; a beautiful, half mile, wheelchair accessible, paved loop perfect for anyone who is unable to hike. We then climbed the .5 miles up Inferno Cone to see the spectacular panoramic views. This hike is only a little steep, with a vertical incline of 164 feet, and totally worth it! However, I’m a little sad we didn’t have time to make it to the caves this trip (which you need a special, but free, permit to explore by the way). I understand they’re pretty cool.
Traveling with pets:
Since this was a spur of the moment trip we weren’t prepared for a lot of hiking let alone spelunking. The other problem was that we had our dogs with us. Although they are allowed in the campground area they are not allowed on the trails. And we didn’t want to leave them locked in the van with the engine running and the air conditioning on for more than a few minutes at a time. Remember to keep your furry friends in mind when planning your trip. They’re a joy to have along but a burden when trying to sightsee places that are not pet friendly.
We’ve been to a few National Parks and Monuments but so far Craters of the Moon has the most unexpected sights; it’s so very different and beautifully kept. I hope you get a chance to see it soon.
Onward…
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