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Hiking With Barry
Wilderness Adventure
Spatter Cones – Craters of the Moon – Hiking Idaho
Posted on October 5, 2011 by hikingwithbarry
Spatter Cones and the Snow Cone are southwest past Inferno Cone at the next stop along the one-way loop road in Craters of the Moon National Monument.
The pair of small volcanoes are accessible by a short, paved trail which makes a flat approach, then curls up the side and into a fenced viewpoint into the small crater. The close proximity makes a good photograph difficult to capture.
The short paved trail to, and up into, the view inside the crater of a Spatter Cone
Approaching the Spatter Cone crater in Craters of the Moon National Monument
The wall at the top of the Spatter Cone crater - rugged with brilliant colour
Looking over the protective railing and down into the Spatter Cone crater
The Snow Cone is adjacent to the two Spatter Cones and accessible by another very short trail. A viewing platform provides an expansive view of the stark, surrounding terrain. The Snow Cone is a third Spatter Cone where the small, narrow, and deep crater allows snow to reside in the bottom year round.
The Snow Cone is a Spatter Cone with snow in the bottom year round
Inferno Cone from the base of the Spatter Cones in Craters of the Moon National Monument
Approaching the Snow Cone in Craters of the Moon National Monument
The signage at Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho, is impressive. A lot has been done to inform visitors of length, elevation and grade. Many of the trails are suitable for small children, the elderly and people using wheelchairs or other navigation assistance. It is a unique and beautiful place to learn a lot about how our planet evolves. The terrain surrounding the Spatter Cones is unusually rugged with evidence of upheaval creating lava bridges and large areas of lava flow.
Lava bridges created at the base of the Spatter Cones
Another trailhead (or terminus) at the Spatter Cone parking area is the North Crater Trail between the North Crater Flow Trail and the Spatter Cones. We reluctantly choose to pass on this more aggressive 3.5 mile (5.6 KM) alternative which provides spectacular views of the Silent Cone and the Big Craters. The North Crater trail requires two vehicles or a shuttle service and our short allocation of time here prevents our participation. Mel and I are limiting ourselves to short, diverse trails for a good overall experience in a very brief timeframe. As we continue driving along the one-way loop road to the Broken Top Trail and the Tree Molds Trail, one stop along the way provides images of the Spatter Cones from a distance with the diversity of the lava flows in the foreground as plants establish a future landscape.
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This entry was posted in Idaho, Yosemite National Park and tagged Big Craters, Craters of the Moon National Monument, hiking, hikingwithbarry, Idaho, Inferno Cone, North Crater Flow Trail, north crater trail, Silent Cone, snow cone, spatter cone. Bookmark the permalink.
3 Responses to Spatter Cones – Craters of the Moon – Hiking Idaho
Hello Barry. I am gobsmacked by this one – a tiny volcanoe one can actually peer into.
Thanks for sharing all your hikes. I have left you a message about Professor Falls in Canmore. I had a reply from a chap who said he had never seen a photo of them in the summer – surely non-ice climbers would want to climb them in the summer or autumn.
Very Best Wishes. Sandy in Oxford
Professor Falls is a 280 metre WI-4 ice climb near the Banff end of Mount Rundle. I have not done this climb. It is one of many ice climbs in that area which are clustered together. The access distance to Professor is listed at about 3 KM. Most of my time on Mount Rundle has been on the other side hiking to the summit and once into the Central Gully. It is a landmark mountain looming above Banff Townsite. Apparently there is a trailhead at an old parking area for the Banff Springs Hotel that accesses a trail between Banff and the Nordic Ski Centre near Canmore. I have not hiked this trail but I will check it out. It may noy be this year although a fair weather day and dry conditions could change my mind. My curiousity is aroused. I have hiked and biked the length of Rundle on the other side but I have not spent much time on the highway side. Professor Falls is defined as a permanent water source. It may be your falls but it is a long way from Canmore. If I get there I will let you know how it turns out and also if there are any remaining signs of an old quarry.
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