Craters of the Moon National Monument

Located in middle Idaho's Snake River Plain, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is a national monument and preserve of the United States. The Monument and Preserve spans a total of 1,117 square miles, including three significant lava fields and roughly 400 square miles of sagebrush steppe grasslands.

It is one of the Lower 48 states' finest surviving basalt flood sites, yet the lava formations give the area a dismal appearance. NASA astronauts trained in the lava field as they were ready for their moon landing because it was thought to mimic the lunar surface. Once there, they realized the Moon was distinct from the Moon's craters.

Southern Idaho's Craters of the Moon National Monument is an interesting location. If you intend to explore the lava caverns, a flashlight is a need, and drink is also necessary in the heat. Parts of the monument were avoided by the Oregon Trail.

Google rating: 4.7/5.0
Location: Idaho, US
Phone: +1 208-527-1335
Website: https://www.nps.gov/crmo/planyourvisit/maps.htm