Did you know you can explore lava tube caves in Idaho? You can! Here’s everything you need to know to explore the cave-like lava tubes at Craters of the Moon National Monument.
Lava Tube Cave Adventures in Idaho
At Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho, visitors can explore five different lava tube caves. Find four of these caves – Indian Cave, Dewdrop Cave, Scout Cave and Beauty Cave – while hiking along the Caves Trail. Another lava tube called Buffalo Cave can be accessed from the Broken Tops Trail.
Before entering any of the lava tubes, visitors must obtain a Cave Permit. Cave Permits are free and can be obtained at the Visitor Center.
RELATED: A Full Guide to Visiting Craters of the Moon National Monument
Our family found it super easy to get a Cave Permit and had an amazing adventure exploring the caves at Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho.
Hiking the Caves Trail
Hiking the Caves Trail was the highlight of our family’s visit to Craters of the Moon. This is a paved trail winding its way through an expansive lava field. The trail is .8 miles (1.6 miles round trip), and leads you to four explorable lava tube caves – Dewdrop Cave, Indian Cave, Scout Cave and Beauty Cave.
RELATED: Helpful Tips for Hiking at Craters of the Moon
Access the Caves Trailhead off from Loop Road. In the trailhead area, there is plenty of parking and a couple of vault toilets. Don’t forget to pack your cave gear (cave permit, sun protection, flashlight, etc) into your daypack before hitting the trails.
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Indian Cave and Beauty Cave
Indian Cave and Beauty Cave seem to be the most child-friendly as they both have wide openings to enter through. Both caves are very different experiences inside though.
Indian Cave
Indian Cave is 800 feet in length. The Craters of the Moon website classifies it as “easy” but, personally, I would say it is moderate. It features metal grated stairs at its entrance followed by a series of uneven steps made of boulders.
After entering the cave, it is pretty easy walking. The thing that makes this cave so exciting is that there are several areas where the ceiling has collapsed, and it is interesting to see the piles of rubble left behind. It is also thrilling to imagine the massive amounts of lava that must have flowed through this large tube thousands of years ago!
Beauty Cave
Beauty Cave is moderate in difficulty. The entrance has a large bouldered opening. You have to scramble down the large loose lava rocks to get into this short cave.
PRO TIP: Have a flashlight
The inside of Beauty Cave is very different from Indian Cave. Where Indian Cave had bumpy (sometimes jagged) walls, the floor and walls of Beauty Cave are quite smooth. Also, there are no collapsed areas and it is extremely dark. Everything seemed to sparkle as the beams from our flashlights bounced off the walls. (I assume the cave got its name because of this sparkling.)
Dewdrop Cave and Scout Cave
We chose to hike past Dewdrop Cave and Boy Scout Cave. We stopped to look at the entrance of each and to read the informational signs. But, ultimately, our overly-cautious family decided that these caves and their small bouldered entrances looked a little too challenging for our tastes. If you are more daring than we are, both of these lava tubes could be great adventures.
Dewdrop Cave
The first cave we found along the Caves Trail was Dewdrop Cave. Dewdrop Cave is considered a moderate difficulty. It features loose rock underfoot, some low ceilings, interesting rock formations along the walls and ceilings, and what appears to be lichen.
SEE INSIDE THIS CAVE: Dewdrop Cave – Living in Idaho
Dewdrop Cave’s access point is an open pit of loose lava rocks. Off to one side is a bouldered entrance. In front of this large pit of loose rocks is a sign listing a few hazards (such as falling rocks and low ceilings) and advises visitors to “proceed with caution.” We chose not to proceed at all; instead, we moved on to the lava tubes that didn’t sound quite as treacherous.
Boy Scout Cave
Boy Scout Cave is considered a difficult place to explore. It is about 500 feet total in length. From the access point, the lava tube spans out in two opposites directions – each with its own cave entrance. Both bouldered entrances are small spaces with low ceilings. You will need to crawl over rocks to pass through either entrance.
PRO TIP: Consider wearing protective head gear when you explore Scout Cave. Knee pads
Like any good boy scout, you should BE PREPARED before entering this cave. It is quite dark so headlamps
If you choose to explore this cave, be sure to check out your impressive surroundings. Under your feet, you will find loose rock, water and ice. Moreover, you will find interesting rock formations along the ceilings and walls like stalactites, icicles and jagged pieces of lava rock. It is quite the adventure!
Why We Skipped the Broken Top Trail
The Broken Top Trail is a 1.8-mile loop encircling a cinder cone. Midway through this trail, you can find the entrance for Buffalo Caves.
PRO TIP: Be sure to grab a trail guide at the Broken Top Loop trailhead.
We chose to skip this hike. It was a very hot day during our visit, we had our three children with us, we had already done a lot of hiking at this point, and we wanted to make sure we had enough energy left to hike the Caves Trail.
You can read all about our day at Craters of the Moon National Monument is this other article: Exploring Craters of the Moon
Buffalo Caves
Buffalo Caves is considered a difficult adventure. It features a rocky entrance, some tight squeezes, a collapsed area and low ceilings but… what an exciting adventure it would be.
How to Obtain a Craters of the Moon Cave Permit
Cave permits are required for anyone who wishes to enter the cave-like lava tubes at Craters of the Moon National Monument. The National Park Service protects bats from a deadly fungal bat disease called white-nose syndrome. This is done by screening visitors for possible exposure to the disease and issuing permits only to visitors who pass this screening.
Obtaining a cave permit is really easy. Stop by the visitor center and inquire about it. The staff will ask you a few simple questions to screen you for white-nose syndrome and then hand you your permit.
IMPORTANT! Do not wear any clothing that you have ever worn in other caves. This is probably the most important thing that they will ask about before issuing you a cave permit.
You must carry your cave permit with you when you enter any of the caves on site.
Helpful Caving Tips
These helpful tips will provide you with an overall better experience in the lava tube caves at Craters of the Moon.
Cave Permit – Don’t forget to stop by the visitor center and obtain a cave permit. These permits are easy to acquire and required to enter any of the caves at this National Monument.
Parking – There is ample parking at the trailheads for both Caves Trail and Broken Top Loop Trail.
Water – It is a bit of a hike to access any of the caves, and it will be a hike across stark and barren land. That’s a hot hike on a sunny day. You will definitely want to bring drinking water with you.
Sun Protection – Again, you will be hiking along a trail with no shade to get to the caves. Sun protection (sunscreen
Flashlights – Not surprisingly, the caves are dark. Some are extremely dark. Bring a light source with you. Headlamps would be handy but small flashlights
Injury Protection – Consider what you may need to protect yourself from injuries. Depending on which caves you are exploring, you may want a helmet
Closed Toe Shoes – Closed toe shoes are required in the caves.
MORE CAVING TIPS: Cave Safely and Cave Softly – National Park Service
Lava Tube Cave Adventures Await You in Idaho!
There you have it – everything you need to know for a successful fun-filled adventure exploring the lava tubes at Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho!
Is this adventure for you?
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