Road Trip Through Craters of the Moon

Craters of the Moon National Park was the first real stop on our American road trip. Located near the town of Arco, Idaho, Craters of the Moon is a protected park close to the mountains and covered in lava.

The park was established in 1924 to preserve the unique and beautiful lava fields. The plants and trees that have broken through the lava make the landscape more appealing. It is incredible to see how nature can withstand any environment.

The park has even been visited by astronauts. In August of 1969, four of the man who were going to take flight on Apollo 14 came to the park to understand the geography of the moon better. This trip was to help them understand which rocks were valuable and understand the features of the moon in order to describe them once they got back to Earth.

The wind is intense, especially as you climb higher throughout the park and when you stare off the side of a cliff, it really does look like the moon.

We visited in early May, and were one of about five groups in the whole park. It was nice to be able to take our time through each of the lookout stops. Craters of the Moon is a great stop, and if you have time, a really nice campsite. There is a lot to explore and is not to be skipped as you travel the country.