Surreal flight over the craters of the moon in the snake river plain, idaho. Various displays and publications along with a short film about the. Craters of the moon is backdrop for thriller film idaho mountain. We spent there some hours and felt really like on the moon. Known as the great rift, craters of the moon was formed by deep fissures oozing hot molten lava. The protected areas features are volcanic and represent one of the best. The craters of the moon is located 18 miles southwest of arco, idaho on highway 202693, 24 miles northeast of carey, idaho. Whenever we find ourselves in the vicinity of this blackened, volcanic zone, were glad we packed some lightweight props. Mike medberry, an author and lifelong conservationist, becomes a stroke victim while hiking in the land he loves, craters of the moon national monument. Craters of the moon books, maps and more souvenirs. Craters of the moon national monument hotels and lodging.
This fascinating 750,000 acre national monument and preserve is home to over 53,500 acres of incredible volcanic. The moon is an easy target for these space rocks because it has no atmosphere to protect it. Blm completed a travel map of roads located in all 3 units of craters of the moon in 2012. At craters of the moon, there are tent sites, about 52, no reso, first come. He interweaves a narrative of self preservation and recovery with his passion for the strangest of idaho wilderness. This was a strange and beautiful place to navigate definitely worth checking out if traveling to idaho.
Craters of the moon national monument and preserve new world. Rome2rio is a doortodoor travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. This fascinating 750,000 acre national monument and preserve is home to over 53,500 acres of incredible volcanic formations and lava flows. As the days pass, their relationship slowly deteriorates, leading to the films chilling climax. Idahos best kept secret the mandagies post summary. Craters of the moon is located 19 miles southwest of arco in southern idaho, 200 miles west of yellowstone national park in nearby wyoming. With eruptions as young as 2000 years, it is one of the most likely places to have another eruption outside of the cascades more likely than yellowstone. This bizarre landscape covers some 715,000 acres of geologic wonderland that provides views of volcanic craters, lava tubes, deep cracks, and vast lava fields on idahos snake river plain. Decided to visit it and finally we found it to be most magic place in wild west. Craters of the moon formed during eight major eruptive periods between 15,000 and 2000 years ago.
A guide to craters of the moon national monument, idaho national park service handbook national park service u. The craters of the moon trail map 400 kb includes all the trails in the park, including ones accessed from the main park road and in the designated wilderness on the trench mortar flat trail. The backcountry area of craters of the moon national monument was recently extended to include several hundred square miles of lava flows to the south and west of the original monuments boundaries. Cole of boise, he completed a 17 day, 80 mile odyssey. May 26, 2016 the craters of the moon occupy the snake river plain, the eastern half of which looks like a swath blasted through the mountains of idaho by a series of chained calderas due to the activity of the yellowstone hot spot over the last 15 ma. After reaching idaho falls, get on us 26 and travel the remaining distance to big sky, mt. Craters of the moon national monument has a lot of caves. Plan a field trip to the park or discover curriculum for use in the classroom. Most people have definitely heard of this park before. So much so that astronauts like alan shepard used the area to train on how to pick up moon rocks. Craters of the moon national monument protects the largest basaltic lava field in the lower 48 states. If you are looking for craters of the moon national monument travel information, expedia has you covered. This was a strange and beautiful place to navigate definitely. Dec 23, 2014 080614 craters of the moon arco koa is a nicely run, quiet campground located on the outskirts of arco, idaho.
The distance between twin falls to craters of the moon national monument is 150 mi by road. Millward said hes editing in boise and finishing the final product in new york city. However, this conclusion is erroneous as will be explained subsequently. Their relationship strains under the pressures of starvation, hypothermia, and wolves. Visit craters of the moon national monument in idaho expedia. The craters of the moon national park is an incredible part of the country. Jul, 2016 while not at all resembling the moons surface, the name craters of the moon national park, imparts the sparse landscape with an air of mystery. Located in the northeast corner of idaho along us route 20 between the small towns of arco and carey, this remote area is a haven to hikers in the summer and snowshoeing enthusiasts in the winter. National monument and national preserve in the snake river plain in central idaho. Wed been promising ourselves wed visit craters of the moon national monument before leaving idaho and we finally did. Mar 31, 2020 craters of the moon national monument.
Find all the transport options for your trip from craters of the moon national monument to portland right here. Exploring lava tubes at craters of the moon national monument idaho. The national park service describes it as a vast ocean of lava flows with scattered islands of cinder cones and sagebrush. By hiking short distances you can find yourself peering into the vent of a cinder cone or descending into the cool interior of a lava tube. There is one campground in craters of the moon, the 51site lava flow campground. The craters of the moon natural history association provides financial assistance to the national park service for educational, interpretive, scientific and cultural activities offered to the public at craters of the moon and hagerman fossil beds national monuments. An experimental, short documentary, presented in landscape triptych. Short cinematic nature film showcasing craters of the moon national monument. The national park service is modifying its operations on a parkbypark basis in. That song kept going through my head as we spent the day in craters of the moon national monument. Think of it as idaho s own planet earth style program. Craters of the moon, idaho tourist attractions and. Craters of the moon koa arco, idaho camp that site.
Craters of the moon national monument and preserve, located in southern idaho is a vast ocean of lava flows with scattered islands of cinder cones and sagebrush. It is a slowburning psychological thriller that builds to a horrifying climax in a small car at the craters of the moon national park. Disoriented by a blizzard in the back roads of the idaho lava rock desert, the couple becomes snowbound. Craters of the moon national monument, idaho legends of america. When visiting the idaho area, expedia can provide you with extensive craters of the moon national monument information, as well as great savings on nearby hotels and flights. It is along us route 20, between the small towns of. The byway runs right along the magnificent lost river mountain range which features nine of idaho s highest peaks including the tallest in the state, mount borah. We drove that seven mile loop and stopped at several pullouts along the way. Nasa scientists and the idaho space grant consortium use a differential gps unit to evaluate the surface of a lava flow at craters of the moon national monument and preserve on aug. Its a vast ocean of amazing lava flows, dotted with islands of sagebrush and cinder cones. Craters of the moon national monument short cinematic. Learn more about the laws and polices that govern the park. Scroll below this photo gallery for some info on visiting craters of the moon, and read about the proposal to make craters of the moon a national park. Craters of the moon national monument, idaho roc doc travel.
Blue dragon obsidian mineralogical society of america. Craters of the moon national monument, idaho travel and. Craters of the moon national monument wikimedia commons. Although many will take from this film the message of always stay on the main road, the message of be careful who you marry came to mind. Whether you approach craters of the moon from blackfoot along interstate 15 to the east or from twin falls along interstate 84 to the west, it is an approximately 90 minute drive off the freeway to craters of the moon national monument, located along us route 202693 three routes in one, 19 miles southwest of the. At first, my husband and i debated whether it was actually lava or just a shadow of a cloud across the land.
Watch craters of the moon now on your favorite device. Blue dragon basalt from craters of the moon national monument, idaho. Know the trip cost from idaho falls to craters of the moon. Radiocarbon and 40 ar 39 ar ages and paleomagnetic data are used to construct stratigraphic relationships for the pleistocene lava fields.
Craters of the moon idaho part 1 the lava fields youtube. It is along us 20 concurrent with us 93 and us 26, between the small towns of arco and carey, at an average elevation of 5,900 feet 1,800 m above sea level. You can also find the distance from twin falls to craters of the moon national monument using other travel options like bus, subway, tram, train and rail. Craters of the moon national monumentlava flow campground in arco, idaho. Craters of the moon national monument and preserve national park service p. Rome2rio makes travelling from craters of the moon national monument to portland easy. Craters of the moon is one of those special and unique places that you just have to see to understand why it is so special. Throughout this surface film numerous microphenocrysts of plagioclase. Read more the loop road is closed to motorized travel but open for. Craters of the moon is a vast ocean of lava flows with scattered islands of cinder cones and sagebrush.
Roger and molly get their car stuck in the snow with no hope. During our 5th roadtrip in usa we stopped in idaho falls, after yellowstone. Craters of the moon idaho part 1 the lava fields richard wilson. This is unforgiving terrain, with little or no natural sources of water or shelter, but for those who come prepared the stark beauty of the lava. Explore this unique landscape via the loop drive, stop at the visitor center, or hike to caves and craters. At the junction of front street in arco, turn right and continue to follow us20.
Craters of the moon lies at the north edge of the eastern snake river plain. The purpose of craters of the moon national monument and preserve crmo is to protect a vast weird and scenic landscape with remarkable and diverse volcanic features, sagebrush steppe ecosystems, and wilderness, which provides opportunities to explore, understand, and value the rugged and remote high desert landscape of the great rift region. It is a preserved area representing a massive lava field from flows that originated from. Send the completed application along with the application fee in the form of a credit. Geologic activity craters of the moon national monument. Craters of the moon national monumentlava flow campground. Five reasons you need to visit craters of the moon visit idaho. Idaho is home to several places of interest to visitors of the state. Peaks to craters scenic byway features some of the most diverse stretches of road in idaho, with massive lava flows, wetlands, high desert and some of idaho s tallest mountains. Craters of the moon national monument and preserve is a u. A guide to craters of the moon national monument, idaho national park service handbook. Short introductory film in museum was updated with a new film in 2012. Located in arco, idaho, this unique area features interesting and breathtaking beauty that was thousands of years in the making.
Craters of the moon idaho craters of the moon national. To find the car driving direction from idaho falls to craters of the moon, start by entering the start and end locations, find directions and finally show directions to get the complete car driving direction for the required locations. We worked out the schedule for next day and found in map a place with intriguing name craters of the moon nm. The most common cave type are lava tubes, which form when as an exterior crust of a lava flow cools, and the interior lava continues to flow within. We were lucky we had good weather in november and the loop road was all open. Craters of the moon national monument is located in central idaho near the town of arco. I hope my legs dont break, walking on the moon the police. There are also several places, such as yellowstone, that are within a few hours drive of most major cities in the state.
Heres a craters of the moon topographic trail map 200 kb, showing the main backpacking route into the craters of. Craters of the moon national monument houses interesting terrain that can easily be explored in a few hours. Learn about the park craters of the moon national monument. One of four national parks in idaho, president calvin coolidge created craters of the moon national monument on may 2, 1924. Guide to craters of the moon national monument in idaho. Hotels near craters of the moon national monument hotel guides. Craters of the moon prepares nasa for mars southern idaho. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page.
However, one of the most popular recreation sites in the state is craters of the moon national monument. That thought will definitely cross your mind as you venture across the awesome landscape of craters of the moon national monument and preserve. A sequence of eruptions in the area from roughly 15,000 to 2,000 years ago resulted from rifting of the surface due to residual heat from the yellowstone hotspot, thought to have been located. Craters of the moon national monument to portland 8 ways. Mar 01, 20 craters of the moon is a story based on the countless shared experiences of the residents in the icy tundra that is southeast idaho.
Filming location matching craters of the moon national monument and preserve, idaho, usa sorted by popularity ascending. A park newspaper was introduced in 2011 and is available in the visitor center and on the website each summer. To get from the craters of the moon national monument and preserve to big sky, mt, travel east on us20us26us93. It doesnt seem like there are many places to stay between idaho falls and craters.
Guide to craters of the moon national monument in idaho it. During this time the craters of the moon lava field grew to cover 618 square miles 1600 square km. Craters of the moon is easily one of the most famous attractions in idaho. Craters of the moon national monument and preserve wikipedia. Filming permit craters of the moon national monument. Watch idaho, the movie online vimeo on demand on vimeo. Its bizarre landscape is unlike anything youve seen before, which makes it a popular place to visit. Highway 202693 by phone visitor information 208 52735 headquarters 208 5270.
Craters of the moon is a survival film that is simple, a little rough around the edges but does tell a story i was interested in seeing the conclusion to. Craters of the moon national monument idaho youtube. Box 29 arco, id 832 physical address craters of the moon national monument 1266 craters loop road 18 miles west of arco on u. Explore destinations near craters of the moon national monument. Management plan for craters of the moon national monument and preserve monument plan. Craters of the moon national monument arco 2020 all you. Craters of the moon is a protected area, and was once the site of a volcanic eruption. From the sawtooths to the tetons, from the big lakes of north idaho to the deserts of the southwest, from unique landscapes like craters of the moon to thousand springs to mesa and shoshone falls to the rivers large and small, idaho, the movie shares them all. Craters of the moon national monument and preserve. Little did we know this national preserve would be the catalyst that drives us back to idaho over and overand over again. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license.
Filming location matching craters of the moon national monument. When the volcanic eruption occurred, a flood of lava and basalt swept through the area leaving some fascinating geological features. Craters of the moon national monument and preserve, a volcanic preserve in idaho. Craters of the moon national monument protects some 21,618 hectares of volcanic formations and lava flows on the northern edge of the snake river plain in southcentral idaho, u. The monument is filled with hundreds of unique volcanic formations, including lava tunnels, cinder cones, and ice caves, created by the heat and eruptions of the great rift.
Miles before arriving at the visitor center at craters of the moon national monument and preserve, a field of hardened lava appeared south of the highway. May 15, 2018 melynda harrison worked in partnership with visit idaho to create this travel tip. Craters of the moon national monument, idaho, is located along the northern edge of the yellowstone hot spot track on the snake river plain. From the sawtooths to the tetons, from the big lakes of north idaho to the deserts of the southwest, from unique landscapes like craters of the moon and thousand springs to mesa and shoshone falls, to the rivers large and small idaho the movie shares them all. He interweaves a narrative of self preservation and recovery with his passion for the strangest of idaho. We invite you to explore this weird and scenic landscape where yesterdays volcanic events are likely to continue tomorrow. Craters of the moon weather report, historic temperatures and climate info, searchable lists of craters of the moon tourism offices and other helpful government agencies. Our friend from boise invited us down to the gem state for. Craters of the moon national monument the digital atlas of idaho. As such this puts it about 18 miles north east of the visitors center of craters. Why you should visit craters of the moon in southern idaho craters, what. Mar 23, 2020 craters of the moon is a vast ocean of lava flows with scattered islands of cinder cones and sagebrush. Craters of the moon national monument and preserve is located in south central idaho along the peaks to craters scenic byway, and is one of the top geological attractions in the country.
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