OffBeat Pathfinder Basecamp

Ever hiked somewhere that looked more like Mars than Idaho? Welcome to Craters of the Moon—where the ground crunches like burned toast, caves chill you in July, and the sunsets are out of this world (pun fully intended).


I rolled in with a trunk full of snacks, flashlights, and an 8-year-old’s sense of adventure. The loop road alone had me gaping: black lava fields stretching for miles, spiky cinder cones, and sagebrush that somehow refuses to die. If you want a trip that’ll have your phone’s GPS sweating, this is it.


**Lava Tubes & Caves:**
Grab a permit at the visitor center (don’t skip this or the rangers will find you—and they’re friendly, but strict!). Indian Tunnel is the crowd favorite: enormous, skylit, and just spooky enough for bragging rights. If you like things tight and twisty, Buffalo Cave will have you crawling like a lunar mole. I recommend a helmet if you value your scalp.


**Night Skies & Space Vibes:**
Camp out if you can. When the sun dips, the whole park transforms. There’s zero light pollution, and the Milky Way will make you rethink city life. One night I heard coyotes yipping, spotted Jupiter through my binoculars, and even saw a group howling at the moon. Zero judgment—it’s contagious.


**What to Pack:**
- Layers: Hot days, cold nights, random wind gusts that’ll steal your hat.
- Water, and lots of it.
- Good shoes: The lava will eat flip-flops alive.
- Flashlight/headlamp with extra batteries for tube crawling.
- Snacks that don’t melt.


Anyone else nearly lose their nerve in Beauty Cave? Or see those wildflowers pushing through basalt like they own the place? Drop your best stories or oddest finds below—bonus if you’ve got lunar selfie tips!

Caught a meteor shower from the campground last summer. Never seen skies so clear—brought my guitar and played “Space Oddity” by the fire. Ten out of ten, would jam again.

Hiked the North Crater Trail at sunrise—total silence except for my crunching boots. Feels like you’re walking on another planet!

Pro tip: Don’t try to hike Inferno Cone barefoot. Ask me how I know.

Ranger talk after dark was wild—learned more about volcanic history in 30 minutes than in all of high school.


PS: They sell astronaut ice cream at the gift shop!

If you haven’t climbed a cinder cone, you haven’t lived. Pack extra water.


Also: tiny wildflowers everywhere in spring. Look close, you’ll miss them!

Stayed late hoping to spot some bats in the caves—got totally spooked by my own shadow. Would do it again.

Brought a telescope for a little “lunar” viewing—forgot to check the moon phase, but still saw enough stars to keep me up all night.