Mountains of Idaho are very geologically active, and the whole area experiences what scientists call “stretching.” What we call today Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve are volcanoes that formed during the last eight active periods, between 15,000 and 2000 years ago. During each eruption, lava exploded out of the Great Rift – deep cracks we can see starting near the visitor center. Some of them are almost 52 miles long. This lava coming out of the Craters of the Moon created a lava field that covered 618 square miles.

During the last eruption about 2,000 years ago, two smaller lava fields – Wapi and Kings Bowl – formed near the Great Rift. The eruptions in this active area are expected to continue in the future along the weak Crater of the Moon area, where the lava is close to the surface of the earth. The volcanic activity created fantastic formations that are popular with adventure seekers and offer great hiking opportunities to explore the lava tubes, wild animal watching, and camping in the wilderness. Craters of the Moon are protected under the designation of National Monument and Reserve.

Boise, Idaho Idaho Falls Coeur d'Alene Pocatello Salmon Sandpoint, Idaho Mountain Home Meridian Nampa Ketchum Sun Valley McCall Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve Idaho Destinations: Shoshone Falls Yellowstone National Park Bruneau Dunes State Park Hell's Canyon National Recreation Area Thousand Springs State Park Sawtooth National Recreation Area Mesa Falls Ponderosa State Park Sawtooth Wilderness Lewiston St. Anthony Sand Dunes, Idaho Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area

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