Loading trail…
North Crater Flow Trail
Free — you'll pick up right here.
Watch this trail
Sign up to watch it — saving subscribes you to gate, closure and report changes.
Idaho
We won't guess. Here is exactly what we do and don't know.
What we do know
Inside Craters of the Moon National Monument
National Park unit boundary is mapped — agency alerts for it feed this page automatically.
Boundary data
What's missing
No access route mapped
We don't yet know which road reaches this trailhead, so we can't tell you if it's gated.
Nobody's filed a report here yet — be the first.
Why you'll love it
North Crater Flow Trail
AI-suggested draft · review before you go
No elevation data on file for this trail.
An excellent introduction to the Craters of the Moon landscape, an easy, paved 0.3 mi (0.5 km) loop winds through a pahoehoe lava flow that spilled from the North Crater vent about 2,100 years ago. For your safety and in order to protect this sensitive area, off-trail travel is not permitted. This raised boardwalk is wheelchair accessible. The trail is one-way and begins at the left side of the parking area. Caution should be used as the distance between the boardwalk and the ground exceeds 4 feet in some places. Corresponds to #2 on the park brochure map.
Big Craters
~2 min drive
The source of one of the most recent eruptions at Craters of the Moon, Big Craters allows visitors to venture up to the edge of one of the park's larger craters. Big Craters is located at the southern end of North Crater Trail near the Spatter Cones area. A short, steep hike…
Hurst Canyon
~25 min drive
Challenging 16-mile canyon trek with 2,667 ft elevation gain in remote Idaho backcountry.
Upper Iron Bog
~34 min drive
Easy 1.76-mile bog walk with minimal elevation gain near Upper Iron Bog.
Swede Peak
~44 min drive
Quick 2.86-mile climb to Swede Peak with 523 ft elevation gain.
Devils Orchard Nature Trail
~2 min drive
This paved 0.5 mi (0.8 km) trail explores an area of cinder beds scattered with pieces of North Crater. Exhibits along the trail challenge you to consider the difficulties of protecting this fragile environment. This trail is wheelchair accessible. Corresponds to #4 on the pa…
Antelope Road - FR 137
~26 min drive
15-mile forest service road with 815 ft gain through Idaho high country.
White Mountain
~50 min drive
Steep 2.4-mile climb with 774 ft gain near White Mountain, Idaho.
Sawmill Canyon
~45 min drive
Steep canyon climb with 1,577 ft gain over 4 miles near Sawmill Canyon, Idaho.
Craters of the Moon, the Oregon Trail
~14 min drive
History A Safer Alternative The Oregon Trail followed the course of the Snake River, about 100 miles south of the monument. In 1852, John Jeffrey began promoting a spur trail which traced traditional Shoshone migration routes. He wanted to generate business for his ferry at…
Fish Creek Summit
~26 min drive
12-mile moderate summit hike with 1,700 ft elevation gain in central Idaho.
