Out On The Snake River Plain, 6 Idaho Volcanic Craters Let Families Hike Right To The Rim
In one corner of Idaho, you can stand on a volcano’s rim and see the Teton mountains in the distance. That alone sounded made up to me the first time I read it.
The Snake River Plain is packed with old vents, cinder cones, and craters. Some lava out here cooled only about 2,000 years ago, which is practically yesterday in rock years.
The best part is how reachable many of these spots are. A few take just minutes on a paved path, so little legs can make it to the top.
Others ask for a sweaty climb, and the view pays off big.
I love that a family day trip can include peering straight into a volcanic vent. Pack water, sturdy shoes, and a few snacks for the ride.
So which rim do you want to stand on first?
1. North Menan Butte Trail
Most volcano hikes don’t come with a mountain range bonus, but this one hands you the Tetons. On a clear day, you can spot them across the valley from the rim.
The North Menan Butte Trail sits near Menan on the eastern Snake River Plain in Idaho. The Bureau of Land Management oversees the trail, and the start is steep.
Expect your calves to file a complaint early.
Once you top out, the trail levels off into a lollipop loop around the crater rim. That flat stretch is the reward.
You get big views of the Snake River while circling the edge of an old volcano.
Kids tend to do well here because the path is well kept. The climb is challenging, so plan a few breather stops on the way up.
Call it a good sweaty hike with a view to match.
Dogs are allowed on this trail, which sets it apart from the national monument sites on this list. The area stays open around the clock, though daylight makes the views worth the effort.
Bring plenty of water, since shade is scarce on the slopes.
Address: Menan, ID 83434
2. Inferno Cone Trailhead
Half a mile round trip sounds like a stroll until you see the black cinder slope pointed straight up. Inferno Cone packs a lot of climb into a short walk.
You’ll find the trailhead on the Craters Loop Road inside Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve near Arco. The hike gains about 160 feet to a summit near 6,181 feet.
It’s quick, but it is steep.
Here’s a fun twist for curious kids. The cone has no bowl at its top, because piling cinders buried the original vent.
It formed from gas-rich, frothy eruptions.
The summit view is the real prize. You can scan lava flows and a crowd of other cinder cones across the plain.
It’s one of the easiest ways to grasp how big this Idaho lava landscape really is.
Plan your visit for the warmer months. The Loop Road usually closes to vehicles from mid-November through mid-April because of snow.
Dogs aren’t allowed on monument trails, so leave pups with a sitter.
Address: 1266 Craters Loop Road, Arco, ID 83213 (within Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve)
3. Spatter Cones
Two volcanoes for the price of one short walk? Yes, please.
The Spatter Cones at Craters of the Moon sit right next to each other along the Great Rift volcanic system. A clearly marked, easy trail leads to the top of both.
It’s an out-and-back path, so nobody gets turned around.
What makes this stop special is the chance to peer down into a volcanic structure. Spatter cones form when blobs of lava fling out of a vent and stick together as they land.
Think of a giant pile of molten pancake batter.
For families with younger kids, this might be the sweet spot of the whole trip. The walk is short enough for small legs.
The payoff is a real look inside a vent.
Bring a camera and some patience for the line of other curious faces at the edge. Stay on the path, since the rough rock can scrape shoes and knees.
Afterward, Big Craters sits close by for anyone ready for more.
Address: Arco, ID 83213 (Craters Loop Road, Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve)
4. Big Craters
Sometimes the name says it all. Big Craters really are big, and you get to walk along the top of them.
The site is a connected chain of spatter and cinder cone vents in the heart of Craters of the Moon. From the Spatter Cones area, a walk of roughly ten to fifteen minutes brings you up to the craters.
It’s a short climb with a large reward.
Once you’re up, the rim walk is the highlight. You can trace the edge and look down into the vents that fed the lava flows around you.
It feels a bit like standing on the lip of a giant cereal bowl.
Kids usually love spotting the color changes in the cinders. Point out the dark rock and reddish patches as you walk.
Each shade hints at a different moment in the eruption story.
Big Craters works well as a pairing stop. Combine it with the Spatter Cones for a double dose of Idaho volcano in one outing.
Wear closed shoes, since loose cinders slide easily underfoot.
Address: Arco, ID 83213 (Craters Loop Road, Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve)
5. North Crater Trail
Ready to level up from the quick climbs? North Crater is the trail for families with older kids and strong legs.
The full North Crater Trail runs about 3.5 miles round trip with roughly 758 feet of elevation gain. The park rates it as strenuous.
Along the way, you follow the rim and even descend into the crater’s mouth, the old vent itself.
Not up for the whole route? Plenty of hikers simply climb to the top for a walk along the rim.
That shorter option still delivers the main event.
Look closely at the nearby North Crater Flow. It shows both ropy pahoehoe and broken, jagged a’a lava side by side.
It’s one of the youngest flows here, with eruptions ending around 2,000 years ago.
That makes this a handy outdoor science lesson. Have kids compare the smooth, twisted lava to the rough chunks next to it.
Bring sun protection and extra water, because the dark rock soaks up summer heat.
Address: 1266 Craters Loop Road, Arco, ID 83213 (within Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve)
6. Kings Bowl
Out in the lava desert, one stretch of ground looks like it simply blew open. That’s Kings Bowl, a phreatic explosion crater on the Great Rift.
A phreatic blast happens when hot lava meets groundwater and flashes it into steam. The pressure punched out a gaping pit in the rock.
It’s a different kind of crater from the cones on this list.
The site sits in the lava fields southwest of American Falls on the southern Snake River Plain. You turn off and drive a stretch of rural road to reach the parking area.
From there, a flat desert walk takes you to the rim.
That easy approach makes it a great pick for families. No steep climb is needed to stand at the edge.
Keep kids close, though, since the drop is sudden and rugged.
Services are limited out here, so fuel up and pack water before you leave town. Check road conditions before driving, especially after wet weather.
Kings Bowl is a quiet Idaho surprise that rewards anyone willing to wander a little farther.
Address: Kings Bowl, Idaho 83211 (lava fields southwest of American Falls)
