Moon Scapes

We drove through Arco, Idaho on our way to Craters of the Moon National Monument.  We stopped at a little park to "water" the dogs and learned that it was the first city in the world to be lit with atomic energy. 

We also drove past roads going to several Idaho National Laboratory facilities. INL is part of the US Department of Energy's complex of national laboratories and is the nations leading center for nuclear energy research.  Who knew all this happens in Idaho!

We arrived at Craters of the Moon on August 31st and were fortunate to find a spot in the park campground. We noted that our trip odometer totalled 1,000 miles when we parked for the night. 

The next day was all about exploring. The park visitors center was closed due to Covid. That actually saved us some time and probably some money. 

Our first stop on the 7 mile scenic loop was Snow Cone and Splatter Cones. These sites have been well developed to limit the damage done by people. 

On the way to the Caves, we went through the Lava Cascades. This is lava that leaked from a huge lava lake. 

Next stop - the Caves.  Our hike through Indian Tunnel, one of 4 caves in the area, was Brutal!  We climbed over and down huge piles of lava rock that had collapsed long ago. The blessing of the piles was that it provided ample light so we could see without the use of flashlights.

To be continued...