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Welcome to the audio-described version of Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve's official print brochure. Through text and audio descriptions of photos, illustrations, and maps, this version interprets the two-sided color brochure that Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve visitors receive. The brochure explores the diverse environments of the park, some of its highlights, and information for planning your visit.
This audio version lasts about one hour, and it has been divided into 22 sections including this one. The first eight sections describe the front of the brochure, which has multiple illustrations showing the park's lava features and plant life. The remaining sections describe the back of the brochure, which has a map and provides information about the history of the park, its hiking trails, and visitor services.
You can listen straight through or choose which sections to hear. Most sections are less than one minute; the longest section describes the park map in detail.
A team from the National Park Service's Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve audio-described this brochure during the February 2025 Descriptathon led by the UniD team from the University of Hawai’i Manoa and NPS. We enjoyed working on it and hope you find it useful.
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, located in Idaho, is part of the National Park Service, within the Department of the Interior. The 750,000 acre monument and preserve is situated 18 miles southwest of Arco, Idaho on US 20, US 26, and US 93. Established in 1924, this (quote) weird and scenic (end quote) national monument attracts over 300,000 visitors each year. Originally set aside to protect its unique volcanic features, Craters of the Moon offers much more to discover. Wander through vast lava flows, gaze up at an unspoiled night sky, and explore the park’s resources that have supported groundbreaking research, drawing NASA scientists here since 1969. Most importantly, take a moment to honor the rich histories of this land, which remains the ancestral homeland of the Shoshone and Bannock peoples. For those seeking to learn more about Craters of the Moon during their visit, interpretive exhibits with tactile area maps can be found at the visitor center. To find out more about what resources might be available or to contact the park directly, visit the “Accessibility” and “More Information” sections at the end of this audio described brochure.
DESCRIBING: A rectangular color brochure cover.
SYNOPSIS: The front cover of the brochure is a colorful and inviting gateway to the park, neatly partitioned into three main sections of information.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION:
From top to bottom. The top third of the page gives an overview of the park, featuring a broad and inviting title with an expansive photograph capturing the heart of the park. The main text is all-black text and printed on a background of a lava landscape featuring a line of spatter cones. The background photo of the spatter cones fades into white at the bottom. To the right of the main text is an outline of Idaho indicating where Craters of the Moon is within the state.
The background image is a line of spatter cones- small, steep-sided volcanic cones, that rise above a black, lava landscape contrasted against a clear blue sky.
The next two-thirds of the page shows information on the geology and lifeforms found at Craters of the Moon National Monument.
The geology section fills the middle of the brochure and has the title “Comparisons with Active Volcanics Show How Park Features Formed”. The title is in white, bold text written on top of a distinct brown strip. Below the title are two images, side by side, that have five framed smaller images overlapping the bottom of the two photos. A long, narrow, horizontal white strip separates the two photos. The first of the two photos is an image of a Spatter Cone, a black colored, steep-sided cone, with ribbed looking lava rock traversing from the base of the cone. The sky behind the landscape has been edited out and made white to provide contrast. In the white portion of the sky the words “Spatter Cones” is written in orange. The second photo depicts the softly rolling lines of the top of a cinder cone. The surface of the cinder cone is reddish-brown in color and has a fine grain appearance. Several limber pine trees that have a windswept appearance are scattered along the surface. The sky behind the landscape has been edited out and made white to provide contrast. In the white portion of the sky the words “Cinder Cones” is written in orange.
The five photos superimposed on the bottom portions of the two photographs is accompanied by text. All images are a square image with a white outline. The photos are as followed from left to right. An active spatter cone. Rough, black rock forms around in a circle and has a hollow center. From the hollow center red and orange lava sputters upward. The lava is fluid and erupts in bright, fiery streams and droplets. The second image is of an active lava flow. It is dark black on the outer edges, and glows a bright red in the center, indicating how hot it is. The third image shows lava flowing down a mountain. It is surrounded by thick chunks of rock. The fourth image is a tan rock formation. The fifth image is the top of a volcano erupting smoke.
Below the five photos are six photos, organized in pairs with one image on top of another. They are in various sizes and are paired with text that describes the significance of the image. The first image pair shows lava tubes. The upper image shows a lava tube cave in Hawaii where molten lava still flows through the center of the cave. Below it is a photograph of the Indian Cave at Craters of the Moon National Monument with a person standing within and looking up to the sky. The second pair shows what fissures and rifts are, how they function, and their impact on the nearby ecosystem. The top image is of the Great Rift site, which is a 52-mile long fissure surrounded mostly by sagebrush, a native, scraggly-like green plant that lays low to the ground. The lower image is of an erupting fissure in Hawaii. The third pair shows the landscape. One image showcases a kīpuka, which is a type of land formation formed by new lava flowing over old, hardened lava. This image cross-fades to show how these lava formations affect the nearby landscape. Below is an image of sagebrush steppe vegetation sites at the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve.
The lifeforms section fills the last portion of the brochure and has the title “Erupting with Life”. The title is in white, bold text written on top of a distinct brown strip. Below the title is three columns of text superimposed on top of a sky portion of a photograph. The photo continues below the text and clearly shows a dark lava field that forms a gentle hill dotted with tiny flowers. Behind the hill in the distance is a cinder cone that comes to a point. The photo fades out below the lava field and a series of six, square, white outlined photos is seen in a line. Each photo features plants found at Craters of the Moon. The first photo is of colorful lichen on dark lava rock. The second is of five seedlings that emerge from a rocky terrain. The third is of a two-toned pink monkeyflower with bright green leaves that emerges from the black and grey cinders. The fourth is of two white flowering herbs, the bitterroot, taken from near ground level. The flowers sit side-by-side in the dark soil, but the head of the flower on the right leans forward, while the flower to the left and slightly behind is straight up, giving more of a profile view of the plant. The fifth is of the top portion of a red plant called a paintbrush. The background is blurred. The sixth and final photo in the line is a small syringa tree with white flowers grows up from a large crack in black lava.
Below the line of six photographs is a collage composed of photographs displayed in a fan pattern. Six separate flora and fauna are represented in this collage. They are a small mammal called a pika, a flowering shrub called antelope bitterbrush, prickly pear cactus, a male sage grouse, which is a large ground bird, an aromatic shrub called big sagebrush, and another small mammal, a pygmy rabbit.
The brochure ends with a solid black bar running across the whole page.
DESCRIBING: A long, horizontal black rectangle with white text.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: This standard National Park Service banner has a black background with large white text on the left side that reads Craters of the Moon. On the right side of the banner, there are five lines of smaller white text that read: National Monument and Preserve, Idaho, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Department of the Interior.
DESCRIBING: A horizontal color photograph that fades out at the bottom.
SYNOPSIS: A line of spatter cones- small, steep-sided volcanic cones, rise above a black, lava landscape contrasted against a clear blue sky.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: At the top of the image, a line of rugged spatter cones stretches across the horizon. Below them, a smooth, reddish-colored cinder hill slopes downward, standing out against the dark volcanic landscape. Two small green bushes dot its surface. Further below, a vast field of black cinders extends across the foreground, scattered with large, isolated lava rocks. Small plants emerge sporadically from the cinders, adding touches of cream color to the stark terrain. Above it all, the sky is a brilliant, cloudless blue, emphasizing the raw beauty of the volcanic scenery.
CAPTION: A line of spatter cones identifies the park’s volcanic rift zone.
CREDIT: Copyright Kirkendall-Spring
RELATED TEXT: (Quote) The surface of the moon as seen through a telescope (End Quote) is how geologist Harold T. Stearns described this area in 1923. Stearns saw a place where (Quote) the dark craters and the cold lava [were] nearly destitute of vegetation. (End Quote) Its strangeness stirred local legends, wider public interest, and a feature story in National Geographic magazine. In 1924, responding to growing public concern, President Calvin Coolidge used the 1906 Antiquities Act to proclaim Craters of the Moon National Monument, preserving (Quote) a weird and scenic landscape, peculiar to itself. (End Quote).
Many lava flows exist on Earth’s actual moon, but astronauts confirmed that most lunar craters resulted from meteorite impacts, not volcanism. The craters of Craters of the Moon, however, are definitely of volcanic origin. But where is the volcano? These vast volumes of lava issued not from one volcano but from a series of deep fissures, known collectively as the Great Rift, that cross the Snake River Plain. Beginning 15,000 years ago, lava welled up from the Great Rift to produce this vast ocean of rock. The most recent eruption occurred a mere 2,000 years ago, and geologists believe that future events are likely.
DESCRIBING: A simple color graphic of Idaho.
SYNOPSIS: A vertical color graphic of Idaho. The background is a pale tan with green, blue, and grey.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A close-up graphic of Idaho shows major features of the state. The outline of Idaho is mostly shaped like a capital letter L, with some jagged edges along the northeast edge. Along the western edge of the state is a blue line, denoting the Snake River which then stretches east across Idaho to Wyoming. Along the blue river is "Snake River Plain" in grey text. Near the center of the state is "Craters of the Moon" in green text, with a line pointing to a green area on the map.
The background shows black basaltic rocks, most likely cinders.
CAPTION: The Snake River Plain forms a conspicuously flat volcanic arc across otherwise mountainous Idaho.
CREDIT: N.P.S.
DESCRIBING: A section of the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve park brochure.
SYNOPSIS: A thin, brown rectangular banner stretches across the width of the brochure. In the banner in white text reads: "Comparisons with Active Volcanics Show How Park Features Formed". The middle third of the brochure has a collection of images and text describing the different types of lava, land formations created by lava, and the impact of volcanic activity on the nearby ecosystems.
In-depth descriptions of the volcanic features will be highlighted next.
DESCRIBING: Two full-color images. One is rectangular and used as a creative backdrop, the other is a square cut-out.
SYNOPSIS: Two images featuring spatter cones, or "mini volcanoes". One is an unerupting spatter cone, with the focus on the dry, barren landscape that stretches before it. The other showcases how lava bursts from the top of the cone and can create the land formation.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A full color image of spatter cones. The ground is charcoal gray and cracked, creating an uneven terrain detailed by fissures. In the distance there is a mountainous structure with gravel-like slopes. This is a spatter cone, which is sometimes referred to as a "mini volcano". The sky has been edited out of this background photo, replaced with white to place emphasis on the landscape. In the top left corner of the image in orange, italicized text in all capitals reads, "Spatter Cones".
There is a smaller, full-color square image of an erupting spatter cone. The top of the spatter cone fills the frame. Dark black and grey rocks create the rounded opening. Bright orange liquid sprays out from the top of the opening in thick globules. The liquid has a hot glow to it, like embers from a fire. Along the back rim of the opening there is a dim red glow, demonstrating the heat of the lava. The backdrop of the photo appears to be a close-up of a similar landscape. The ground appears gray and rocky.
CAPTION: The Spatter Cones (above and top) are excellent examples of these miniature volcanoes. An active spatter cone (inset, from Hawai‘i) shows how these features form as the ejected globs of tacky lava weld together.
CREDIT:
Main photo: Copyright David Muench / Corbis.
Inset: Copyright G. Brad Lewis
DESCRIBING: Three full-color square images of the different types of lava.
SYNOPSIS: Three photos showing the three different types of lava. On the left is pāhoehoe lava, which is known for its line-like patterns and thin viscosity. In the center is aa lava, which is a thicker, more dense lava traditionally seen in media depictions. To the right is a lava bomb, which is formed as large drops of lava begin to cool mid-air during eruptions.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Three square, full-color images of different types of lava.
On the left is a photograph of pāhoehoe lava. The lava takes up the entirety of the small square frame. It is dark black on the outer edges, and glows a bright red in the center, indicating how hot it is. The liquid is viscous and relatively thin. There are what appear to be deep creases in the liquid, creating a linear 'v'-shaped pattern as it flows down. The darker parts of the lava appear to have more of these linear folds. These lines and the thinness of the lava are what denote it as pāhoehoe, a word that comes from the Hawaiian language and means "smooth".
In the center is a photograph of lava flowing down a mountain. There are tall trees in the background with thick leaves at their tops. Smoke obscures the midday sky in the image. Pale tan grass sways in the breeze, unbeknown of the threat looming nearby. Rolling down the mountain is a dark liquid with glowing hot orange spots peeking through the dark. Thick chunks of rock tumble from the top of the hill down its slope. Smaller rocks make the liquid appear "crummy". This liquid is known as aa lava, which is denoted for its viscosity and thickness.
On the right is a tan rock formation that juts out of the frame in the upper left corner. The base is round and thick. On the left side it appears as though a piece of the rock was pulled while it was still hot to form a cylindrical shape that bursts out from the base and comes to a point. The very tip of this formation is black. While it may appear to be a simple rock, this is actually what is known as a lava bomb, which form as globules of lava erupt from a volcano and begin to cool as they fall.
CAPTION:
First Image: Fluid lava forms smooth, ropelike pāhoehoe lava, shown here in Hawai‘i.
Second Image: When thicker and more viscous lava emerges, rubble-like, crusty aa lava results, as shown here in Hawai‘i.
Third Image: Big globs of lava blown out of cinder cones may harden in flight, forming lava bombs that can take many shapes.
CREDIT:
First Image: Copyright G. Brad Lewis
Second Image: Copyright Corbis
Third Image: NPS
DESCRIBING: A full-color background image of Cinder Cones and a smaller, square image of an erupting Cinder Cone.
SYNOPSIS: A wide landscape photograph of the Big Craters cinder cone complex. The sky is edited out to emphasize the landscape, with the words "Cinder Cones" written above in the empty space. A smaller, square image of an erupting cinder cone is in the bottom right.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A landscape full-color photograph. The ground is a reddish-brown, clay-like color, with four small brush-like, scraggly trees known as limber pines scattered far apart from each other. Loose-looking dirt covers the ground, giving it a grainy-like appearance. On the left side is a rocky, mountain-like structure. The rock is carved away in several places with bands of lighter brown stretching across the cliff side. In the distant horizon on the right are other mountainous structures. They are too far off to notice any details. The sky has been edited out to place emphasis on the landscape instead. Above the image is orange, italicized text in all capital letters that reads, "Cinder Cones".
In the bottom right is another square, full-color image. The sky is pale blue, but obscured by a thick cloud of deep, dark gray smoke billowing up into a plume. The ground beneath it is dark gray, with pale brown pathways crisscrossing it. The Earth comes up into a rounded point for a mountain, with the smoke seemingly coming from just below its peak. Where the smoke begins it appears there is a faint red glow to indicate the heat. This is an erupting Cinder Cone, which causes these foamy-appearing cinders to form as gas erupts.
CAPTION: The trail leading beyond the Spatter Cones (pictured) provides access to the Big Craters cinder cone complex. When lava with high gas content is erupted (inset, from Alaska), foamy cinders accumulate near the vent.
CREDIT:
Main Image: NPS
Inset: US Geological Survey
DESCRIBING: Two full-color images of lava tube caves.
SYNOPSIS: Two images of lava tube caves. The upper image shows a lava tube cave in Hawaii where molten lava still flows through the center of the cave. Below it is a photograph of the Indian Cave at Craters of the Moon National Monument with a person standing within and looking up to the sky.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A rectangular, full-color image of a lava tube cave. The sky has been edited out of the background to place emphasis on the subject. Two members of a survey crew stand atop the structure in the distance. They appear like miniatures on a table, demonstrating the monstrous size of the cave in comparison. The surface appears almost polished and is a deep, charcoal gray color. The terrain is uneven, sinking and rising to create dips in the ground. Beneath the smooth surface are jagged walls supporting it. These walls darken in color the farther down they go, with smaller rocks breaking off to show the steep decline. In the center of the structure is an oval-shaped opening glowing a hot orange. Lava still flows within the center of this cave, demonstrating how their formation comes to be.
Above the image in italicized orange text in all capitals reads, "Lava Tube Caves".
Below this first image is a larger, full-color square image of Indian Tunnel at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. The top of the image gradually fades out into a white background to allow the caption below the first image to be more easily readable. The top of the image is a bright blue sky with few clouds scattered throughout. In the center there is a rounded wall of jagged rocks. The upper rim is mostly black, with strips of tan and beige scattered throughout. The surface of the rocks seems rough and unfinished. As the rock wall stretches down it becomes pitch black, impossible to see detail on. In the bottom left corner of the image is an outcropping of black, tan, and beige rocks with a visitor standing on them. They are wearing a red, short-sleeved t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans. Their head is tilted upwards and looking to the right at the bright sky above them. The rock walls completely engulf their figure, making them appear miniscule.
CAPTION: Indian Tunnel (below) is a lava tube cave, a lava flow that hardened on the outside while the lava still flowed within. A lava tube cave in Hawai‘I (above), with molten lava still flowing inside, shows how these caves form.
CREDIT:
Top Image: Copyright Scott Rowland
Bottom Image: Copyright Mark E. Gibson / Corbis
DESCRIBING: Two full-color images of fissures and rifts caused by volcanic activity.
SYNOPSIS: Two full-color images depicting what fissures and rifts are, how they function, and their impact on the nearby ecosystem. The top image is of the Great Rift site, which is a 52-mile long fissure surrounded mostly by sagebrush, a native, scraggly-like green plant that lays low to the ground. The lower image is of an erupting fissure in Hawaii.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A full-color image of the Great Rift site at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. The image is an aerial shot of a densely forested area. Plants in mostly light green cover the ground below, with some dark green creating a splotch in the center of color. There appears to be a thin crack running through the center of the landscape. This is the Great Rift site, which is 52-miles long. Lava can erupt from these fissures and create unique land features, allowing for a greater variety of wildlife and plants to thrive in the distinct environment. Most of the plants visible in this image are sagebrush, rabbitbrush, and bitterbrush, which are low-lying, deep green-colored plants. Below the image is a title in orange italicized text, all capital letters, that reads, "Fissures and Rifts".
Below the captioned text is another full-color image, this one rectangular. It is an aerial shot of a volcanic fissure in Hawaii erupting. The ground is gray and has a jagged texture. The fissure is a near straight-line running from the bottom right of the image to the top left. It glows a bright orange from the heat of the erupting magma. White smoke billows up from the fissure and obscures the upper right corner of the image.
CAPTION: An aerial photo shows a portion of the 52-mile-long fissure called the Great Rift (above). Active volcanism in Hawai‘i (below) shows how molten lava spreads from a fissure. As parts of an erupting fissure become clogged, fountains of lava accumulate, forming cinder cones and other features.
CREDIT:
Top Image: Copyright Glenn Embree Photography
Bottom Image: U.S. Geological Survey
DESCRIBING: Two full-color images of kīpukas and their impact on the environment.
SYNOPSIS: Two images. One showcases a kīpuka, which is a type of land formation formed by new lava flowing over old, hardened lava. This image cross-fades to show how these lava formations affect the nearby landscape. Below is an image of sagebrush steppe vegetation sites at the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A rectangular, horizontal full-color image of a kīpuka lava flow in Hawaii and how it impacts the nearby environment. The left side of the image focuses on the lava flow. Thick dark stone covers the ground with a mottled texture. Thin rivers of fresh red magma flow atop the older stone surface, branching off into three different smaller rivers. One farther back flows off to the right. Two in the front create a fork, flowing in an 's' shaped curve on the left and a straighter line on the right. These formations are known as kīpukas. The kīpukas cross-fade into a photograph of vegetation. On the left side, the plants look dry and burnt, but slowly fade into fully blooming, green-leafed trees. Above the image, in orange italicized text and all capital letters, reads the title "Kīpukas".
Below the caption is another full-color square image. It is an aerial photograph of a lush landscape. There are tall mountains on the horizon of the photo. The landscape is completely covered by thick, dark green vegetation. From this distance, their tops almost look like pulled cotton balls. Towards the foreground of the image are two, lighter-green plateaus that are surrounded by these darker plants. These are sagebrush steppe vegetation sites.
CAPTION: Young lava flows that surround older flows can form kīpukas like the one shown in a photo from Hawai‘I (above). The same searing lava flows that once destroyed everything in their path today protect some of this region’s last refuges of sagebrush steppe vegetation (below).
CREDIT:
Top Image: U.S. Geological Survey
Bottom Image: NPS
DESCRIBING: A horizontal, colored panoramic photo.
SYNOPSIS: A dark lava field dotted with light-colored plants that grow close to the ground. A short, pointed hill is in the distance on the right side of the photo. The sky is light blue with wispy white clouds.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: This large photo serves as the backdrop for both the text and the additional photos and text below. The center of the image is uncovered, leaving a narrow, horizontal strip with no other elements obscuring the image.
The majority of the image consists of a dark lava field that forms a gentle hill. It is dotted with low, light-colored plants called dwarf buckwheat. The plants are not clustered together but are spaced apart, leaving the dark surface visible around them. Millions of these tiny plants fill the expansive hillside, giving the impression that it would be impossible to walk in this field without stepping on any.
On the right side in the distance is Paisley Cone, shaped like a small hill that comes to a point. Splotches of yellow blanket parts of the cone due to the growth of low shrubs with yellow flower heads. On the right side of the hill near the bottom is one taller limber pine tree that juts up into the light blue sky. A few other limber pines are just barely visible in the distance.
The top portion of the image is the bright blue sky with thin, wispy white clouds. Black text is superimposed over the sky.
CREDIT: Copyright Ed Degginger
RELATED TEXT: While seemingly barren, the park’s lava fields and arid sagebrush areas sustain a surprising diversity of plant and animal life. The most startling example of this can be seen when annual wildflower blooms peak in mid-June. Delicate annuals bloom beginning in late May as snowmelt and occasional rains provide needed moisture. Summer dryness allows the more drought-resistant plants to grow and bloom through mid-September.
Dwarf buckwheat plants (below) grow with such regular spacing that you might think someone planted them. But the regular spacing occurs because the plants compete for water through their extensive root systems. Many plants here are adapted to resist losing moisture from the heat and wind. Some have small leaves that minimize water loss. Many grow in crevices that give them shade and wind protection and collect precious moisture.
Islands of vegetation surrounded by lava flows are known as kïpukas (above). They preserve areas of the sagebrush steppe plant-and-animal community and provide relatively undisturbed havens for native plants and animals. Kïpukas can reveal what the native vegetation was like before livestock grazing and the invasion of nonnative plants like cheatgrass. They can also teach researchers how native plant communities might be restored.
DESCRIBING: A small, square, color photograph taken from above. A thin white border edges the photo.
SYNOPSIS: Colorful lichen grows on dark lava rock.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Splotches of bright yellow and smaller spots of red and white splatter the dark grey surface of lava rock. The colored portions are lichen, a complex, hybrid life form that is a symbiotic partnership of two separate organisms, a fungus and an alga. It grows low and close to the surface, down in the craggy creases and cracks. It clings to the surface so closely it looks like the rock has been doused with paint.
Most of the top half of the photo is covered in a large blob of yellow, while the lower half is dotted with bright orange or red with a few bits of white. The portions of the rock that are not coated with lichen are dark grey.
After lava flows were formed and cooled, lichen was one of the first plants to grow on the new landscape. The lichen helps break the rock down and turn it into soil. Because of the lichen, other plants can grow in the new soil that forms.
CAPTION: Lichen
CREDIT: NPS / Joel I. Mur
DESCRIBING: A small, square, colored photograph taken from extremely close up and at ground level. The photo is outlined with a narrow white border.
SYNOPSIS: Five tiny seedlings emerge from the rocky terrain.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A cluster of five limber pine seedlings sprout up from the dark, rocky soil.
Each has a narrow, pencil-like brown stem that grows erect from the ground. This straight stem turns into numerous individual green pine needles. In the three tallest seedlings, the tips of the needles bulge out in the center and then come together at the top with an oval brown seed. The shortest seedling does not have a seed but the needles still come together, curving up like a closed hand with the fingers touching the thumb. The fifth seedling has no seed and looks like the needles have sprung free, with the green and brown needles jutting out in all directions.
The position of the seedlings gives the whimsical impression of five little beings or stick figures in two rows. The narrow stems for legs, the needles forming a bulbous shape in the center for bodies, and the smooth, brown seeds on top for heads. The two on the left give the impression of an adult and a child--one tall and upright, the other shorter with no seed. The three on the right look like two adults with seed heads on either side of the shorter seedling with the free-flowing needles. One of the taller seedlings is even bent forward as if with their needle hands on their knees, toward the wayward seedling.
The ground below and all around them is dark and rocky with no other vegetation.
CAPTION: Limber pine seedlings
CREDIT: NPS / JOEL I. MUR
DESCRIBING: A small, square, color photograph taken from above. A thin white border edges the photo.
SYNOPSIS: A two-toned pink monkeyflower with bright green leaves emerges from the black and grey cinders.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: This photo is taken from directly above a monkeyflower. A cluster of color seems out of place in the middle of a bed of dark grey, rocky cinder. Bright green triangular leaves form the body of this small shrub. Seven two-toned pink flowers jut out in different directions.
The blossoms are roughly shaped like five-pointed stars. The centers are dark pink with wide, light pink outlines. Each flower extends from a long, pink stem out from the green-leaved body in all directions.
The smooth, flat leaves and flowers of varying sizes of the same shape contrast against the craggy cinder chunks. While the parts of the flower are geometrical, the rocks are all shapes and sizes. The plant looks delicate compared to the rough, hard ground below.
CAPTION: Monkeyflower
CREDIT: Copyright CHARLEY GURCHE
DESCRIBING: A small square color photograph with a thin white border.
SYNOPSIS: A color photograph of two white flowering herbs, the bitterroot, taken from near ground level. The flowers sit side-by-side in the dark soil, but the head of the flower on the right leans forward, while the flower to the left and slightly behind is straight up, giving more of a profile view of the plant.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Two bright white blooming bitterroot flowers grow up from dark soil. The flower heads are round and each is made up of more than a dozen individual, narrow white petals that radiate out from the center. Each long petal is slightly cupped like a piece of paper folded in half and then reopened to curve slightly upward. Most of the petals overlap each other.
In the middle of the blossom is a cluster of tiny bright yellow stamen, which stick up like stiff hairs with minuscule yellow puffs on top. The colorful yellow center contrasts the stark white of the flower's white petals.
Beneath the main white petals are a few more similarly shaped in light pink. These pink petals are a little flatter and don't curve up. They match the color of the stem, which is obscured by the blossoms on the flower on the right. On the stem of the left flower is a pink egg-shaped bud.
The lower third of the photo is the soil made up of dark browns and black, which looks clumpy and may include some small rocks.
Unlike the other five photos in this series which are completely contained within the white-rimmed border, the flower petals burst through the white frame of the photo box and extend out slightly over the background photo of the brochure.
CAPTION: Bitterroot
CREDIT: NPS / JOEL I. MUR
DESCRIBING: A close-up, square, colored photograph
SYNOPSIS: The top portion of a red plant called a paintbrush. The background is blurred.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: This small photo captures just the very top portion of a showy red plant. It's called a paintbrush, because it looks like paintbrush bristles dipped in paint, ready to color the landscape. Dozens of narrow red bracts protrude out from a cylindrical center. These red bracts may look like petals, but they're actually a type of leaf. Each attaches to the center stem individually, leaving space between them to reveal the yellowy-white stem.
The dark background of the photo is blurred.
CAPTION: Paintbrush
CREDIT: NPS / RICHARD SCHNEIDER
DESCRIBING: A small, square, colored photograph.
SYNOPSIS: A small syringa tree with white flowers grows up from a large crack in black lava.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A long, meandering crack splits sections of dark grey lava flow. A short shrub called a syringa grows up out of the jagged crevice. The deciduous shrub stands upright and comes to a point at the top. Most of its white blossoms are on the upper portion, leaving the dark green stems visible at the bottom. Each blossom has four white petals. Although the inside of the crevice isn't shown, it must be deep to provide the soil, moisture, and cooler temperatures needed for this plant to grow.
The ground from which the plant springs is a slab of lava flow that cooled thousands of years ago. The surface seems flat and relatively smooth and is dappled in shades of grey.
No other plants are shown, just this solo bit of foliage growing from the harsh lava flow.
This particular plant isn't completely covered with the white flowers so it may not be as fragrant as others, but the syringa is known for its vibrant scent similar to orange blossoms. It's also the state flower of Idaho.
CAPTION: Syringa
CREDIT: NPS / Dave Clark
DESCRIBING: A color collage of six images that overlap each other to form a horizontal banner along the bottom of the brochure.
SYNOPSIS: Six separate flora and fauna are represented in this collage. They are a small mammal called a Pika, a flowering shrub called antelope bitterbrush, prickly pear cactus, a male sage grouse, which is a large ground bird, an aromatic shrub called big sagebrush, and another small mammal, a pygmy rabbit.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: In this vignette, the plants and animals are arranged in an elegant horizontal collage, almost like a centerpiece. From left to right they are a pika, antelope bitterbrush, prickly pear cactus, male sage grouse, big sagebrush, and pygmy rabbit.
The taller foliage and tail feathers of the grouse form a fan-like background. The two small, furry mammals face out on each end, like cuddly bookends. The sage grouse stands regally in the center.
Starting from the lower left is the pika, a small rodent-like mammal with brown fur, large round ears, and lots of thin whiskers. Wispy hairs stick up above its dark eyes. Bits of yellow flowers peek out from inside its slightly open mouth. Although it is reminiscent of a gerbil or hamster, it's actually more closely related to a rabbit.
Standing up tall behind the pika is the antelope bitterbrush. This hardy bush is part of the wild rose family. A bundle of five or six branches with small green leaves and five-petaled yellow flowers are clustered together. Some of the thin brown stems are visible, but the yellow flowers take up most of the space.
In front of the bitterbrush and to the right of the pika is the prickly pear cactus. Only a small portion of the green cactus pad lies horizontally at the bottom of the collage. Two straight horizontal lines of small buds grow along the pad. Three large, open yellow flowers grow out from the cactus pad, one from the top and two on the side.
To the right of the cactus and the center of the centerpiece is the male sage grouse. This tall ground bird is shown in profile, facing the right. It towers over the pygmy rabbit to its right. It has a small brown head with a dark eye and thin feathers that stick out behind its neck like a high collar. White, fluffy feathers puff about around its neck as if it's wearing a fur coat. Its creamy brown chest has two long sacs that bulge out. Its wing is dark brown and matches the color of its head. Behind it, tall brown speckled tail feathers stick up like an open fan.
To the right of the ground and slightly shorter is the big sagebrush. This multi-branched plant is densely covered in flat light green leaves. The leaves are covered with fine, silvery hairs, which give them a soft texture.
The final image in the collage on the far right is the pygmy rabbit. The small grey rabbit faces the right and has tall ears that are rounded at the top with a dark eye and several whiskers.
CAPTION: Photos, left to right: Pika; Antelope bitterbrush; Prickly pear cactus; Sage grouse (male); Big sagebrush; Pygmy rabbit
CREDITS: Left to right: Copyright TOM AND PAT LEESON; Copyright PRISCILLA ALEXANDER EASTMAN; Copyright ERIC AND DAVID HOSKING / CORBIS; Copyright D. ROBERT AND LORI FRANZ / CORBIS; Copyright ROBERT J. ERWIN / PHOTO RESEARCHERS, INC.; Copyright KEITH LAZELLE
RELATED TEXT:
Life on Lava
Pikas store dry grasses to eat under the snow in winter. Summer heat here would kill them but for the cool havens of cracks, crevices, and openings beneath the lava surface. Hardy limber pines are the first trees to pioneer lava habitat.
Life in the Sagebrush
Kïpukas and other sagebrush-covered areas are home to sage grouse, famous for their spring mating displays. These birds are missing from one-third of their historic range in southern Idaho because of the loss of habitat.
DESCRIBING: Overview of the back side of the brochure.
SYNOPSIS: An overview of the backside of the brochure. Information ranges from the exploration of Craters of the Moon and a map of the site to basic information and how to plan your visit. The page is long vertically and short horizontally with some color and black and white photos.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION:
From top to bottom. The top fourth of the page describes "Exploration and Preservation of Craters of the Moon" in white text with a brown background. The main text is in all-white text with a background of a sunset view from Craters of the Moon. The main text is accompanied by 6 side by side rectangular photos. The images are paired with text that describes the significance of the image. Images from left to right; two Shoshone men stand next to each other wearing traditional attire, a map of the state of Idaho showing major landmarks, a black and white portrait of Robert Limbert a white man wearing a brimmed hat, collared shirt, and vest, and tilting his head with a slight smile, a black and white portrait of Harold Stearns a white man with dark hair and glasses wearing a dark colored suit, an astronaut stands in a full space suit holding the American flag in their left hand, a colored photo of a man who stands with his arms in the air as he faces the sunset and his tent is pitched to the left.
The background sunset view of this section is mostly purple and pink hues with the pale yellow moon peaking out at the top of the low-hanging clouds. The scene also shows a plateau and dark rocky formations towards the bottom.
The next two-quarters of the page shows a map of the Craters of the Moon National Monument with a creamy white background. This map shows points of interest and is used for wayfinding. The map shows the 750,000 acres of land that is the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. The top left corner has a legend for different traffic routes such as walking or hiking trails, paved roads for vehicle use, and wheelchair-accessible routes. The legend also depicts a picnic table image for picnic use areas, a cartoon image of a man and woman standing side by side depicting where public restrooms are available, and a cartoon tent to show where camping is allowed.
There is a red line that curves upward from the top left corner of the map towards the top center, depicting U.S. Highway 93, U.S. Highway 26, U.S. Highway 20. Near the center of this curved red line is a green box with white text which reads "Visitor Center". The visitor center is at the north end of the site and off of U.S. Highway 93, U.S. Highway 26, U.S. Highway 20, where the main entrance to the site is. Snaking down and to the right, or southeast, from the visitor center is a thick black line, indicating the paved road for vehicles. This road continues southeast with some curves and turns, with offshoots from the road leading to picnic areas, camping areas, restrooms, hiking trails, and parking lots. Along the thick black line are blue circles with white numbers, which are accompanied by a legend below the map. 1 is the visitor center. 2 is the North Craters Flow trail. 3 is the North Crater Trail. 4 is the Devils Orchard trail. 5 is the Inferno Cone trail. 6 is the Spatter Cones and Big Crater area. 7 is the Tree Molds, Broken Top, and Wilderness area. And 8 is the Cave Area.
The bottom left of the map shows a topographical image of the geographic features and major landmarks of the area. This colored image shows dark green and black where the Craters of the Moon National Monument is and light brown around the monument where there is the dry high desert, full of sagebrush.
The last quarter of the page is titled "Planning Your Visit" and the title is in white text in a brown rectangle. This section describes the history of the site, points of interest, and seasonal activities in black text. With a background of white clouds at the top, light blue sky in the middle, and stacks of dark, jagged, lava rocks towards the bottom. There is also a paragraph about accessibility and more information. The more information part shares information about the two agencies who manage the land. A brown arrowhead with "National Park Service" in white is beside the physical address of the site, contact information, and the web address for the National Park Service. A blue and green triangle, pointing downwards with "U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management" in blue is beside the Shoshone Field office address, contact information, and the web address for the Bureau of Land Management.
The final element of this backside of the brochure is another, smaller map, in the bottom right. This rectangular map, with a mostly pale yellow background, shows the most south and eastern part of Idaho butting up to the most western part of Montana and western Wyoming. The map shows the main highways, state boundaries, Snake River, major points of interest, and other National Park sites within about 1,200 square miles.
DESCRIBING: Large color square photo of an information brochure with text and photos.
SYNOPSIS: A photo of a purple moonlit barren volcanic landscape. Over top of the purple moonlit background white text explains the exploration and preservation at Craters of the Moon in a long brown rectangle. Below the three columns of text are six small photos illustrating historic events and people and a photo of the state outline of Idaho. Below each of the photos is text that give relevant information.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A cloudy purple and pink moonlit barren volcanic landscape. At the top is a brown rectangle banner with the words “Exploration and Preservation of Craters of the Moon” written in white. An almost full circular yellow white moon slowly disappears into the pink purple clouds. Appearing out of a purple cloudy mist is a large dormant volcano that rises out of the flat lifeless ground in the distance. At the bottom of the photo are three smaller piles of remains of black ancient volcanic activity.
White text overlays the purple moon lit background in three columns. Text talks about the human history and its significant importance to the park. Below the three columns of text are six evenly spaces and size photos. Each photo depicts historic events or the people of Craters of the Moon. Three of the photos extend outside of the framed square, standing out in the purple clouds behind them. Below the smaller six photos is white text.
CAPTION: A moonlit, southeastward view from the Great Rift shows part of Craters of the Moon National Wilderness Area.
CREDIT: NPS
RELATED TEXT: The ancestral lands of the Shoshonean peoples, or Newenee, include southern Idaho and encompass the vast lava fields of Craters of the Moon. Since time immemorial, the deep relationship between the people and the land has been central to Newenee identity. Basalt grinding stones, hunting blinds, and rock shelters hold this relationship’s history. Songs, ceremonies, and legends record that the Shoshonean people are a part of the lava landscape.
In the early 1800s, European Americans passed through the region on the Oregon Trail and avoided the lava lands. Some emigrants remained on the more arable lands. They built trail stations, mines, farms, and ranches that damaged the natural resources on which the Shoshonean peoples relied. Conflicts ignited, leading some travelers in the 1850s and 1860s to take an alternate route through central Idaho. Called Goodale’s Cutoff, it passed through the lava landscape. Traces of this route are still visible along US 20, US 26, US 93.
Sheer curiosity eventually broadened awareness of Craters of the Moon. Federal geologists mapped the area in 1901 and again in 1923. In the 1920s, naturalist Robert Limbert made three epic journeys through the lava lands, which he called the “Valley of the Moon.” His lectures and articles helped publicize the area and contributed to the establishment in 1924 of Craters of the Moon National Monument. In 1970, Congress designated much of the land as wilderness. In 2000, Congress added most of the Great Rift and its associated lava fields to the monument and, in 2002, established the national preserve. In 2017, Craters of the Moon was designated an International Dark Sky Park for its starry nights. Today the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the American people care for this special place.
DESCRIBING: A small square black and white image. A thin white border edges the photo.
SYNOPSIS: A small square, black and white photo of two male members of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes from ca. 1897-1898. Their heads and upper bodies extend outside of the frame. The men are standing side by side in tribal regalia. Regalia is culturally significant clothing including accessories and adornments such as beads, shells, fur, brass, and feathers. Johnny Ballard on the left is holding a traditional trade pipe and Charlie Pizoka on the right is holding a traditional staff of feathers. Both men are looking straight into the camera with serious expressions.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Historic photo of Johnny Ballard (Left) and Charlie Pizoka (Right), both members of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes taken between 1897-1898 by Benedicte Wrensted. The Shoshone-Bannock ancestral lands include Craters of the Moon since time immemorial, time before memory. The traditional place name for Craters of the Moon in the Shoshone language is 'Tokoambaduape,' the place where the snake melted the earth. The men's heads and upper bodies extend out of the square frame. Both men wear an eagle feather headdress. Headdresses are worn for tribal or political importance. Mr. Ballard and Mr. Pizoka are both wearing two large round shell earrings and Mr. Ballard's waist-length hair is wrapped with otter fur hair ties. Both men are wearing bone choker necklaces, longer stringed beads draped down to the upper stomach, and brass-studded leather belts. Charlie Pizoka also carries a wool bag beaded with geometric designs. Both Charlie Pizoka and Johnny Ballard are wearing a white beaded vest over a dark long-sleeve tunic. Above each elbow is a beaded white band worn over the shirt. They both wear beaded knee-length aprons over wool leggings and moccasins that are each beaded with intricate geometric designs.
Johnny Ballard holds a traditional catlinite pipe in one hand and a pistol in the other. Charlie Pizoka cradles a medium-sized staff adorned with feathers. All of these items are still made and worn today by the Shoshone-Bannock people.
CAPTION: Archeological evidence and oral traditions both indicate that Shoshone likely witnessed some volcanic eruptions along the Great Rift.
CREDIT: National Archives
DESCRIBING: A small colored photo of the outline of the state of Idaho.
SYNOPSIS: A small colored photo of the state of Idaho. Indicated in a pale yellow is the Shoshone-Bannock Territory. A curvy red line is used to mark Goodale’s Cutoff. The path of the Snake River as it winds through Idaho is marked as a thin blue line. The boundary of Craters of the Moon is in a pale green. It shows how large the park is compared to Idaho. The historic Oregon Trail is depicted with a black wavy line.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A small white photo in the shape of Idaho on a purple background. Idaho is shaped like an axe resting on the ground. The Shoshone-Bannock Territory spans two thirds of southern Idaho in pale yellow. The words “Shoshone-Bannack Territory” are in all capital letters and in pale yellow.
A curvy red line marks the Goodale’s Cutoff. This cutoff was used in the mid-1800s by emigrants on the Oregon trail when conflicts ignited along the original trail. The Goodale’s Cutoff borders the top of Craters of the Moon Park boundary. The boundary is shaded in green, showing how large the park is compared to the state.
A green diagonal line points to the text “Craters of the Moon” in the bottom left concern of the state. Starting from the right of the state, the Snake River winds along the southern portion of Idaho on its way to Oregon and is depicted as a thin blue line.
A thick black line represents the historic Oregon Trail. The trail begins in Idaho just above the bottom right corner of the state. Like the Snake River, the Oregan Trail winds its way westward toward the left side of the state. Text reads “Oregon Trail" in big, bolded letters underneath the historic trail marked on the map.
CAPTION: During the mid-1800s, emigrants followed the Goodale’s Cut off along the lava lands’ northern edge. Present-day Idaho was then in the Oregon Territory. Idaho became a US Territory in 1863 and a state in 1890.
DESCRIBING: An historic black and white square photo of a middle-aged tanned man. A thin white border edges the photo.
SYNOPSIS: A studio portrait of Robert Limbert, a middle-aged man. Limbert was an early explorer, photographer, and writer who helped publicize the area.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Photo of Robert Limbert, a naturalist and photographer. Robert is a middle-aged and heavy-built tanned man. He wears a large cowboy hat, a scarf around his neck, and a vest over a white button-up shirt with long sleeves. He gives the appearance of a rough, old-time cowboy of the 1920s. His upper body is turned from the camera and he smiles slightly.
CAPTION: Robert Limbert, Idaho taxidermist and part-time explorer, hiked the length of the Great Rift in 1920. His work drew national attention to the fascinating volcanic formations and the need to protect them.
CREDIT: NPS
DESCRIBING: A historic black and white square photo of Harold Stearns. A thin white border edges the photo.
SYNOPSIS: A black and white studio portrait of Harold Stearns, a geologist.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A professional photograph taken from the shoulders up of Harold Stearns, a white male in his 30s who was a geologist. His hair is neatly brushed back from his face, giving him a large forehead. He wears round eyeglasses that sit on the bridge of his large nose and is dressed professionally in a tie, white shirt, and suit jacket.
CAPTION: Harold Stearns, a geologist, described this area as the nation’s “most recent fissure eruption” (outside of Hawai‘i) in 1923. He soon became an outspoken advocate for preserving the area as a national monument.
CREDIT: Copyright Wesleyan University
DESCRIBING: A historic black and white image of an astronaut standing on the moon that extends out of the square frame. A thin white border edges the photo.
SYNOPSIS: A historic black and white photo of an astronaut standing on the moon holding an American flag. Both the astronaut and flag extend outside the photo's frame. He wears a white space suit and heavy duty boots.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: NASA astronaut Alan Shepard stands on the moon during the Apollo 14 mission. He holds the pole of an American flag in his left hand. The flag is straight out, mimicking how it would flap in the wind.
He wears a large white spacesuit, grey gloves, and boots. He has a large domed helmet with a protective face shield. On his back is a massive pack. He stands on the grey surface of the moon.
CAPTION: NASA’s Apollo Astronauts Alan Shepard, Edgar Mitchell, Eugene Cernan, and Joe Engle learned basic volcanic geology here in 1969 as they prepared for their moon missions.
CREDIT: National Archives
DESCRIBING: A color square photo. A thin white border edges the photo.
SYNOPSIS: A man stands next to an orange tent as he greets the sunrise.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A man stands on a rock facing the sunrise with his arms stretched overhead in a Y shape. Next to him is a large orange tent with what appears to be a black hiking backpack. Below the horizon are a few trees.
CAPTION: Backpackers enjoy the challenge and solitude of Craters of the Moon National Wilderness Area.
CREDIT: Copyright LWA - Stephen Welstead / Corbis
DESCRIBING: A wayfinding map with a smaller inset ariel map.
SYNOPSIS: Detailed map of Craters of the Moon. The map show points of interest such as the visitor center, trails, camping, and restrooms. The map also has a smaller inset ariel map of the lava flows.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: This is a detailed map Craters of the Moon with a creamy white background. This map shows points of interest and is used for wayfinding. The map shows the 750,000 acres of land that is the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. The top left corner has a legend for different traffic routes such as walking or hiking trails, paved roads for vehicle use, and wheelchair-accessible routes.
All other iconography is represented by black squares with white icons inside them. The silhouette of a person walking with a walking stick and a backpack denotes hiking spots. These can be found at North Crater Flow, North Crater Trail, Devils Orchard, Inferno Cone, Spatter Cone, Big Craters Area, Tree Molds, Broken Top, Wilderness, and Cave Area. The profile view of a picnic bench and table mark picnic areas. Picnic areas can be found at the Visitor Center, Devils Orchard, Tree Molds and Caves. Triangular structures with a small black cut-out and a bottom that extends just past the outer walls represent campgrounds which can be found at Lava Flow Campground. A black square with man and women that stands side by side depicts public comfort stations. The only flush toilets can be found at the Visitor Center. Vault toilets can be found at Devils Orchard, Tree Molds, and Caves.
There is a red line that curves upward from the top left corner of the map towards the top center, depicting U.S. Highway 93, U.S. Highway 26, U.S. Highway 20. Near the center of this curved red line is a green box with white text which reads "Visitor Center". The visitor center is at the north end of the site and off of U.S. Highway 93, U.S. Highway 26, U.S. Highway 20, there the only entrance to the park. Snaking down and to the right, or southeast, from the visitor center is a thick black line, indicating the paved road for vehicles. This road continues southeast with some curves and turns in a loop, with offshoots from the road leading to picnic areas, camping areas, restrooms, hiking trails, and parking lots. Along the thick black line are blue circles with white numbers, which are accompanied by a legend below the map.
Higher peaks in the park are marked with a small black dot and their elevations. To the left of the red line is the Pioneer Mountains.
In the left-hand corner of the large map is a smaller map. A thin, green border shows the combined boundary of the National Park Service (NPS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) areas. The boundary is oddly shaped, almost like the top half of an axe. The land outside of the border is mostly a pale tan. Within the boundaries it gets darker, also showcasing some greens and browns. Most of these colors are in the upper right portion of the boundary, slowly stretching down into a crescent-like shape. The bottom extension of the boundary is also colored in dark brown like a splotch. These colors represent the lava flow in the area and demonstrate how the notable features at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve came to be formed.
In the bottom left corner of the map is a white roadway, labeled Route 24. It follows a diagonal line down until it reaches a round white point, indicating the town of Minidoka, at which point it turns sharply down and heads off of the map. At the middle and top of the map are two roads that converge into one. The northern one is labeled as US 20, and the bottom one is labeled as US 26 and Route 99. Where the roads converge is another white dot to indicate the town of Carey. These routes follow along the upper boundary of the Craters site, occasionally going through them. Approximately halfway down the road is a gray square and a green call-out box with white text that labels "Visitor Center". The route continues north until reaching another white dot to mark Arco, in the upper right corner of the map, when they split to the east and west. The road continuing east is labeled US 20 and US 93, while the road heading west is unlabeled.
CAPTION: The 750,000 acre Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve boundary and the Great Rift appear in this satellite view. The many miles of undeveloped, rugged dirt and gravel roads in the surrounding area warrant a high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle with good tires. For more information ask at the visitor center or the Bureau of Land Management Shoshone Field Office.
CREDIT: Copyright John C. Dohrenwend / GPO:20xx—xxx-xxx/xxxxx Reprint 20xx
RELATED TEXT:
Hiking Trails along the Loop Road
A scenic 7-mile loop road takes you to trails over, under, and around volcanic features. Trail distances noted below are one-way. Allow a half-hour for the drive and more time to stop at viewpoints and hike the trails.
1. Visitor Center
Begin here with films, exhibits, and the schedule of ranger-led programs. The Natural History Association bookstore is in the visitor center.
2. North Crater Flow, Easy
A 0.3-mile trail crosses one of the youngest flows to monoliths (crater fragments rafted here by lava flows).
3. North Crater Trail, Strenuous
A 1.8-mile trail climbs to the vent of North Crater and exits at the Spatter Cones parking lot (stop 6).
4. Devils Orchard, Easy
The spur road and a short walk (0.5-mile, wheelchair-accessible) take you past islandlike lava fragments in a sea of cinders.
5. Inferno Cone, Moderate
This trail leads to a view (0.2 mile) of cinder cones lined up along the Great Rift. Big Cinder Butte, one of the world’s largest basaltic cinder cones, towers above the lava plain to the south.
6. Spatter Cones and Big Craters Area, Easy/Moderate
A short trail (wheelchair-accessible) leads to miniature volcanoes. View the spectacular Big Craters by hiking a steep 0.25-mile part of the North Crater trail that branches off to the west.
7. Tree Molds, Broken Top, and Wilderness, Moderate
A spur road after stop 6 leads to these trailheads. View the imprint of lava-charred trees along the 1-mile Tree Molds Trail. Broken Top Trail (self-guiding) goes around a cinder cone (1.8 miles). Wilderness Trail leads to molds of upright trees called lava trees (2 miles) and the wilderness area beyond.
8. Cave Area, Moderate
Explore lava tube caves—Dewdrop and Indian Tunnel—by taking a 0.8-mile trail across the lava. Get a free cave permit at the visitor center before you enter the lava tube caves. Carry a flashlight and wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes. Only these two caves are open to the public. Ask at the visitor center about winter closures.
DESCRIBING: A vertical color wayfinding map.
SYNOPSIS: This vertical wayfinding map provides a guide to navigating notable landmarks and national parks in parts of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Green areas represent national parks, while blue markings denote rivers and water features like the Snake River.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The map highlights important landmarks and national parks with a color-coded system. Green-shaded areas signify national parks and protected lands. Key areas in Idaho include Craters of the Moon National Monument near Arco and Carey, as well as Hagerman Fossil Beds and Minidoka National Historic Site near Twin Falls. Important waypoints along Interstate 15 (I-15) include Idaho Falls, Blackfoot, and Pocatello. In Montana, Big Hole National Battlefield commemorates the Nez Perce War. Heading east into Wyoming, the map prominently features Yellowstone National Park, which extends into Montana and Idaho, and Grand Teton National Park to the south. Major highways such as I-15, I-84, I-86, and I-90 are marked in red for easy navigation between landmarks.
RELATED TEXT:
Craters of the Moon Visitor Center is 18 miles southwest of Arco, Idaho, on US 20, US 26, US 93. The visitor center, campground, and trails in red (map, pictured) are wheelchair-accessible. The visitor center has water and restrooms year-round. A campground (first-come, first-served; no reservations) has water, restrooms, charcoal grills, and picnic tables but no hookups. Wood is scarce; wood fires are prohibited. A separate camping area serves groups of 10 –30; to reserve, visit www.recreation.gov. The group campground and stops 4, 7, and 8 (map, pictured) have waterless restrooms. You can ski and snowshoe on the loop drive when it is closed, from November to April. For firearms regulations check the websites.
Craters of the Moon includes two of over 400 parks in the National Park System (www.nps.gov) and one of 28 national monuments in the Bureau of Land Management’s National Landscape Conservation System (www.blm.gov).
TEXT: Accessibility
We strive to make facilities, services, and programs accessible to all. For information go to the visitor center, ask a ranger, call or check the website at www.nps.gov/crmo
Information Not On Brochure:
Craters of the Moon provides the following services:
DESCRIBING: A block of information.
SYNOPSIS: The National Park Service logo and the Bureau of Land Management logo are displayed with corresponding text.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The National Park Service logo is a brown arrowhead, point down. At top right is white text stating National Park Service. On the left is a tall tree. At the bottom is a white bison that stands on a green field ending in a distant tree line with a white lake at right. A snow-capped mountain towers behind. Next to the logo is text providing the park's address, phone number, and website.
The Bureau of Land Management logo is triangular in shape with rounded edges, single point down. It features a green landscape with a stylized mountain range in the background and a river flowing forward into the foreground next to a stylized green tree. The sky is blue. At the top, green text, Bureau of Land Management. Next to the logo is text providing the address, phone number, and website of the Shoshone Field Office.
TEXT:
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is one of over 400 parks in the National Park System. To learn more about national parks and National Park Service programs in America’s communities, visit www.nps.gov.
Start your journey by getting information at the Robert Limbert Visitor Center found at 1266 Craters Loop Road, Arco, Idaho 83212
Or Contact:
208-527-1300
www.nps.gov/crmo
Use the official NPS App to guide your visit.
More information can also be found at the Shoshone Field Office
Bureau of Land Management
400 W. F St.
Shoshone, Idaho, 83352
208-732-7200
www.blm.gov
DESCRIBING: A panoramic color image
SYNOPSIS: A craggy rock-face dominates the foreground with a hazy blue horizon behind it.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A rock-face crosses the length of the panorama, filling the bottom portion of the image. Reddish-grey in color, these rocks formed when volcanic lava rapidly cooled. The rocks have a craggy appearance reminiscent of coral reef. Around them is a loose jumble of rocks with scattered clumps of grasses. The sky in the background is hazy blue with distant hills forming a darker blue line at the horizon.
CAPTION: Rafted blocks of lava stand tall in Devils Orchard.
CREDIT: NPS / Dave Clark