ARCO — Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve has begun its summer hours, lasting through Sept. 30.

Bookstore and museum: The Craters of the Moon Natural History Association Bookstore and park museum will be open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Park films are available on request.

Ranger Visitor Center Information Tent: The information tent, in front of the visitor center, will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Park rangers will be on duty and will provide trail information, maps, park and area information, free cave permits and free backcountry permits.

Campground: The 42-site Lava Flow Campground is open on a first-come, first-served basis. The water is currently not turned on but will once weather conditions allow.

Cave area: Indian Tunnel and Dewdrop are open. Beauty Cave and Boy Scout Tunnel are currently closed due to hazardous conditions and are expected to open once conditions allow. Free cave permits are required and are available at the Bookstore and Information Tent.

Ranger programs: A variety of free ranger guided hikes, talks, astronomy programs and campground evening programs will be available beginning June 6. Call or check the website for details.

Special events: Retired National Park Service geologist and educator, Doug Owen, in partnership with the Craters of the Moon Natural History Association will offer two wildflower walks and two nature and wildlife workshops. The wildflower walks will occur on June 4 and June 11 and are limited to 25 people. Reservations are required with a suggested donation of $5. It recommended that you purchase the $2.50 park wildflower guide, available in the bookstore. The photography workshop on June 17 and 18 is limited to 15 people. Reservations are required with a suggested donation of $10. Call 208-527-1335 to make a reservation or email crmo_information@nps.gov.

For more information, visit www.nps.gov/crmo/planyourvisit/conditions.htm.

Winter is coming to Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve near Arco, and the dark lava rock will soon wear a mantle of white. Once snow covered, the loop road is closed to motorized travel but there are still many excellent opportunities t…

Spring has sprung at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve .The Loop Road and campground are open, the mountain bluebirds are back, and wildflowers are beginning to bloom. Peak bloom on the lava flows and cinder slopes begins in early June.

The visitor center is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Extended visitor center summer hours, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., begin on May 24. View our spectacular new park movie, “Craters: The Movie!,” on the hour and half-hour throughout the day in the visitor center theater.

Join us for the following activities and special events:

June 1 and 8: Wildflower Walks (NHA): 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

June is the peak of the wildflower season at Craters of the Moon. Join former Park Ranger Doug Owen on a guided 2-mile walk that will cover a variety of habitats and introduce participants to a number of plant species. Donations will be accepted by the Natural History Association to support transportation assistance for local schools. Pack a lunch, bring water and wear sturdy shoes. Reservations are required and walks will be limited to 25 people. Contact the park at 208-527-1335 or crmo_information@nps.gov to make a reservation.

June 2: Labor Day: Ranger-guided Walks and Talks

Climb a volcano, explore a lava tube, join us for an evening presentation or a dark-sky viewing event. These events are offered daily throughout the summer. Look for a detailed schedule at: https://www.nps.gov/crmo/planyourvisit/calendar.htm

June 14: Full Moon Hike

Experience Craters of the Moon beneath the full moon! Bring a flashlight, hiking shoes, water, and your curiosity about our lunar connections. Reservations are required and walks will be limited to 25 people. Contact the park at 208-527-1335 or crmo_information@nps.gov to make a reservation.

June 14-15: Nature Photography Seminar

The seminar from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday will focus on tips, techniques, and practices to improve your nature photography. Field session is all day Saturday, which is Nature Photography Day. Donations will be accepted by the Natural History Association to support transportation assistance for local schools. Reservations are required and the class is limited to 25 people. Contact the park at 208-527-1335 or crmo_information@nps.gov to make a reservation.

June 28-29: Star Party

Join experts from the Idaho Falls Astronomical Society and our very own “Astro-Ranger” to experience the universe at this International Dark Sky Park. Opportunities for solar viewing will be available at the visitor center both days. At 9:30 p.m. each evening there will be a presentation about the night sky at the campground amphitheater. Then head to the Caves Area parking lot for telescope viewing of the skies above. Call 208-527-1335 for more information.

As summer moves into autumn come out to Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve and enjoy the nice temperatures and sparse crowds in your national park. The Lava Flow Campground remains open and accessible until the road is covered with snow.

Daily, Visitor Center: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Sept. 23; 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. after that

View exhibits and audio-visual presentations to learn more about your national monument. There are also publications on sale in our bookstore about the cultural and natural history of the park and the region.

Daily, Ranger-guided Walks and Talks: Cave Walks at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and Patio Talks at 1:30 and 3 p.m. through Sept. 23

Explore a lava tube cave with a ranger or join us for a short introductory presentation on the Visitor Center patio. Call or check out our interactive event schedule for details: www.nps.gov/crmo/planyourvisit/events.htm

Sept. 22, A Park Ranger’s Guide to Photography: 1 to 3 p.m.

Retired park ranger and nature photographer Douglass Owen will present tips, techniques and practices to improve your nature photography with whatever camera gear you have. Class is sponsored by the Craters of the Moon Natural History Association and will be held in the Craters of the Moon visitor center. Class is free, but a suggested donation of $10 to support school visits to the park is recommended. Reservations are required and the class is limited to 30 people. Contact the park at 208-527-1330 or crmo_information@nps.gov to make a reservation.

Sept. 22 and Nov. 11, Fee Free!

Craters of the Moon National Monument will join all national parks across the country in waiving entrance fees to celebrate National Public Lands Day (Sept. 22) and to honor our veterans (Nov. 11).

Sept. 23, Full Moon Hike: 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Explore this unearthly landscape under a full moon on a 1-mile evening hike. Wear sturdy shoes, and bring snacks, water and a jacket. Reservations are required by calling 208-527-1335 or emailing crmo_information@nps.gov. Meet at the Tree Molds Parking Lot.

With sparse crowds, nice temperatures and abundant wildflowers, spring is a great time to visit Craters of the Moon. Here are following special events for the month of June:

June 10: Wildflower Walk

The Craters of the Moon Natural History Association will be offering a wildflower walk led by retired park ranger, Douglass Owen. Donations will be accepted to assist schools with travel expenses for field trips. Pack a lunch to be eaten in the field, wear sturdy shoes and bring water. Meet at the Tree Molds parking lot at 10 a.m. Call 208-527-1335 to make a reservation, the walk is limited to 25 people. 

June 10: Pioneers Bike Tour

Bring a mountain bike and join us for a tour of Goodales Cutoff, where the Pioneer Mountains meet the lava. This 16-mile ride covers relatively flat terrain along an old pioneer trail with part of the loop circling back on the highway. Mountain bikes are recommended because of soft sections of trail. Meet at the Visitor Center at 9 a.m. Rides are co-sponsored by the Pioneer Alliance. Call 208-726-7485 for reservations. Bring water and snacks.

June 4 through Labor Day: Ranger-Guided Walks and Talks

Explore a lava tube or join us for an evening presentation. Walks and talks and Junior Ranger activities are offered daily throughout the summer. Look for a detailed schedule at https://www.nps.gov/crmo/planyourvisit/calendar.htm.

June 16-17: Nature Photography Workshop

The Craters of the Moon Natural History Association will be offering a photography workshop taught by photographer and retired park ranger, Douglass Owen. You will learn photographic techniques and naturalist skills that will lead to greater success in nature photography. There will be a classroom session from 1 to 5 p.m. on the evening of June 16. On June 17, time will be spent in the field shooting pictures. Donations will be accepted to assist schools with travel expenses for field trips. Call 208-527-1335 to make a reservation, workshop is limited to 15 people. Meet at the visitor center.

June 23-24: Star Party

Join experts from the Idaho Falls Astronomical Society and our very own “Astro-Ranger” to experience the universe under our naturally dark skies. Opportunities for solar viewing will be available at the visitor center both days. At 9:30 p.m. each evening, there will be a presentation about the night sky at the campground amphitheater. Then head to the Caves Area parking lot for telescope viewing of the skies above. Call 208-527-1335 for more information.