Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is a 750,000-acre geologic wonderland. Its central feature is the Great Rift, a 52-mile long crack in the Earth’s crust. Craters of the Moon is a remarkably preserved volcanic landscape with an array of exceptional features. Exposed fissures, lava fields, lava tubes, craters and cinder cones form a strangely beautiful volcanic sea on central Idaho’s Snake River Plain. This landscape was formed by eruptions that started 15,000 years ago and represents the last period of volcanic activity in this area. The most recent activity occurred just 2,100 years ago, and is likely to continue in the future. The Craters of the Moon offers countless opportunities for hiking, camping, cross-country skiing, wildlife viewing, and backcountry travel. For casual travelers the 7-mile Loop Road and trails in the National Park Service (NPS) Monument provide easy access to a range of volcanic features. A network of primitive roads, in the BLM backcountry, offer driving and exploration opportunities for motorists with high-clearance, 4-wheel-drive vehicles.

Source: BLM Website (March 2023)

Establishment Craters of the Moon National Monument — November 9, 2000

For More Information Please Visit The OFFICIAL BLM WEBSITE

The contents of brochures, site bulletins and trading cards (denoted with a colored caption) can be viewed by clicking on the cover. Most modern-day brochures, however, are cover only (denoted by a white caption) due to photograph copyrights. These items are historical in scope and are intended for educational purposes only; they are not meant as an aid for travel planning. The dates under each brochure do not reflect the complete range of years that a particular brochure was issued.

The Lava Trail System 2017

Additional Brochures can be found at this location

Annual Manager's Report: 2021, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve (Lisa Cresswell, Anthony Owens, Josh Corbett, Ashley Long, Danelle Nance, David Freiberg, Jesse Rawson, Samantha Seabrook-Sturgis and Shaynee Potucek, 2021)

Annual Manager's Report: 2022, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve (Lisa Cresswell, Anthony Owens, Josh Corbett, Daryl Ferguson, Shaynee Potucek, David Freiberg, Jesse Rawson, Samantha Seabrook-Sturgis and Kori Cummins, 2022)

Craters of the Moon Lands with Wilderness Characteristics Inventory Summary Report (2015)

Draft Management Plan Amendment and Environmental Impact Statement, Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve (BLM, 2016)

Laidlaw Park Driving Tour, Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho (September 2017)

Laidlaw Park: Sagebrush Oasis — A Guided Tour of the Largest Kipuka at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Idaho (Date Unknown)

Map (BLM, 2015)

Proclamation 7373—Boundary Enlargement of the Craters of the Moon National Monument (William J. Clinton, November 9, 2000)

Proposed Management Plan Amendment and Final Environmental Impact Statement, Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve: Volume I (BLM, 2017)

Proposed Management Plan Amendment and Final Environmental Impact Statement, Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve: Volume II (BLM, 2017)

Travel Map (Date Unknown)

Travel Tips (Date Unknown)

Volcanoes and Lava Flows (BLM, undated)

Additional Documents can be found at this location