North Crater Trail is a 3.5 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Arco, Idaho that features a cave and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips and is best used from May until September.
kid friendly
hiking
nature trips
walking
cave
views
This one-way trail is especially interesting for its variety. The trail traverses North Crater and drops into the crater mouth, the vent for the North Crater flow. Notice that the northwest flank of North Crater is missing. An eruption tore the wall apart, and a series of flows rafted the fragments away. The trail continues to the rim of Big Craters before descending to the Spatter Cones. No off-trail travel is permitted in the Big Craters area in order to protect fragile lava formations.
Nice quick hike with great views all the way around
Beautiful, surreal. Worth the hike! Very windy the day we went so dust blowing. With younger children consider the sharp rocks.
Quite possibly the best trail in the park, and definitely the most challenging. Offers a good variety of scenery and features unique to Craters of the Moon. My most highly recommended in the reserve, for sure.