# Craters of the Moon National Monument

**URL:** https://diyrvforum.com/t/craters-of-the-moon-national-monument/203
**Category:** Travel
**Tags:** idaho
**Created:** [May 14, 2024, 3:16pm UTC](https://diyrvforum.com/t/craters-of-the-moon-national-monument/203 "2024-05-14T15:16:43Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Matt](https://diyrvforum.com/user_avatar/diyrvforum.com/matt/32/14_2.png) [@Matt](https://diyrvforum.com/u/Matt)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2024, 3:16pm UTC](https://diyrvforum.com/t/craters-of-the-moon-national-monument/203/1 "2024-05-14T15:16:43Z")

</div>

> …the serpent coiled around the mountain and squeezed until liquid rock flowed… -  
> Shoshon Legend

It is easy to see why Craters of the Moon make many bucket lists. The setting is very unusual in that some of the lava is only 2,200 years old and the surface closely resembles the moon.

 ![Camping in the lava field](https://diyrvforum.com/uploads/default/original/2X/a/a110a38ec3b559eb9f3b66673348c0d0e8835356.jpeg)

This satellite image tells the story rather well. A shift in the tectonic plates opened up a fissure that spewed lava over the surrounding area.

 ![Craters from Space](https://diyrvforum.com/uploads/default/original/2X/c/c99072d0d9f8882710d46a515a2238f8a790da22.jpeg)

 ![Craters and the Cosmos](https://diyrvforum.com/uploads/default/original/2X/d/de0ef2e2d7a3e55221dccf4556d0531d43630a3a.jpeg)

 ![View from above](https://diyrvforum.com/uploads/default/original/2X/6/64b9d40f2325519c82b310c3c653d78a6f7259ba.jpeg)

 ![These old couple is still hanging in there](https://diyrvforum.com/uploads/default/original/2X/0/0b31aa84672e5e2d88f1357de8b954c3acfc9fa3.jpeg)

 ![Tree trying to survive](https://diyrvforum.com/uploads/default/original/2X/f/f08845040b682304e66d8d044fc2747cb7dba644.jpeg)  
 ![Plants that thrive in the desert](https://diyrvforum.com/uploads/default/original/2X/f/fa3fe8465fc1af835d71660ced53bb59483a28d6.jpeg)

## YouTube Drive To The Campsite

[![](https://diyrvforum.com/uploads/default/original/2X/c/cf9e497ebd2541d069e64b36a68d670471846410.jpeg "Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS7ZOnoZXAA)

**Short drive around the campground**

 ![Rocky profile](https://diyrvforum.com/uploads/default/original/2X/2/2a9c1f8084e9e6aa32ff70934df9050caa941bb0.jpeg)

 ![Lava rock 1](https://diyrvforum.com/uploads/default/original/2X/8/8870e72d4724968d9742e95ac645d941e1bfd752.jpeg)  
 ![Lava rock 2](https://diyrvforum.com/uploads/default/original/2X/8/83803872051960cd43a9338053789a6651499374.jpeg)  
 ![Lava looks like wood](https://diyrvforum.com/uploads/default/original/2X/1/10eb6e27d9d9d111fe10bd3984f91b2d0a032915.jpeg)  
 ![Lava rock](https://diyrvforum.com/uploads/default/original/2X/6/68d7327b921378331c703b2719e58bbf2ebb69dd.jpeg)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Rosellen](https://diyrvforum.com/user_avatar/diyrvforum.com/rosellen/32/464_2.png) [@Rosellen](https://diyrvforum.com/u/Rosellen)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2024, 7:18pm UTC](https://diyrvforum.com/t/craters-of-the-moon-national-monument/203/2 "2024-05-14T19:18:36Z")

</div>

This is really nice! The pictures of the pumice are so nice, I was shocked to realize those are my husband’s hands!

The barrenness of the campground reminded me of drive ino Hetch Hetchy valley. I can’t find any Google pics right now, but this is close. [https://ugc.naturalatlas.com/photos/0/29/261/29261/DM6XDrsT/2400.jpg?1505367625](https://ugc.naturalatlas.com/photos/0/29/261/29261/DM6XDrsT/2400.jpg?1505367625)