This document provides a summary of Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve. It describes some of the key geographic features within the park, including the North Crater lava flow, spatter cones, Indian Tunnel, and cinder gardens. It also discusses the wildflowers that bloom in the spring and summer within the monument despite the harsh environment of lava fields and cinder cones with surface temperatures over 150 degrees Fahrenheit.

1. Craters of the moon National Monument & Preserve By Allen Shropshire

3. The southern entrance to the Monument

5. 25’ high crater wall fragments rafted into the distance by the North Crater lava flow.

6. The flow was hemmed in by the Pioneer Mountains to the west.

7. The North Crater Flow

8. Hiking into the North Crater This 3.5 mile trail leads up over the rim and down into the North Crater.

9. Decending into the crater

10. Sulfer (yellow) laden rock in a field of cinders

11. Craters of the Moon is a HUGE national park that covers over 1,100 square miles (over 750,000 acres) which is roughly the size of Rhode Island.

12. Spatter Cones

13. Walking across the lava flow in the Caves area. The surface temperature can reach more than 150 degrees fahrenheit in summer. Good shoes and some drinking water are essential. As you can imagine, the discovery of one of the areas caves a welcome respite from the heat.

14. Entrance to the Indian Tunnel

15. Indian Tunnel

16. A skylight in the Indian Tunnel

17. Wildflowers of the Craters Despite the seemingly barren nature of the cinder cones and lava fields, spectacular floral displays occur at Craters of the Moon each spring. Starting with the arrival of the wild onion in late April and ending with the disappearance of the yellow blossoms of the rabbitbrush in September, some variety of wildflower can be found blooming within the monument's boundaries. The ability to grow in this harsh environment means overcoming a lack of moisture, meager soil, and surface temperatures that exceed 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Many of the unusual characteristics of the wildflowers are adaptations for survival.

18. Idaho’s State Flower Syringa

19. Turpentine Parsley

20. In order to resist being robbed of moisture by wind, the fern bush (Chamaebatiariamillefolium) grows inside deep crevices in the lava. It has aromatic leaves that resemble the fronds of ferns and that contain an oily substance which also helps the plants retain moisture. Native Americans rubbed the leaves over their bodies to repel insects.

21. Dwarf Buckwheat

22. Bitterroot Flower in cinders

23. Fern Bush Seedling

24. Larkspur

25. Dwarf Monkey Flower

26. Sulfur Buckwheat

27. The Wildflower Community In the late spring, tiny wildflowers adorn the cinder slopes of the monument. Because they are so evenly spaced, they appear to have been planted in neat rows. Not so! Plants here must compete for a very limited amount of water; consequently, they cannot grow too close together and survive. The plants space themselves naturally according to the availability of limited resources.

28. Cinder Gardens

30. Transitional Zone near Devil’s Orchard

31. Devil’s Orchard

32. It’s a hard life after all

33. Camping here is only for the hardiest!