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United States

Idaho

Butte County

Spatter Cones – Indian Tunnel loop from Inferno Cone

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

United States

Idaho

Butte County

Spatter Cones – Indian Tunnel loop from Inferno Cone

Moderate

4.7

(7297)

8,549

hikers

Spatter Cones – Indian Tunnel loop from Inferno Cone

02:09

7.93km

110m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: May 26, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Craters of the Moon National Monument

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

535 m

The North Crater Trail is one of the longer trails in Craters of the Moon National Monument. It is a 3.5-mile trail if you hike it back and forth. You will pass the impressive Big Craters and hike up and down through the North Crater. The trail ends at the trailhead of the North Crater Flow Trail and you can take the Campground Trail to get to the campground.

Tip by

1.24 km

Spatter Cones

Highlight • Volcano

The Spatter Cones are no classic vents. They were formed when hot chunks of lava were thrown a short distance into the air before falling back to earth at the edge of a central vent. The still molten lumps landed on top of each other, cooled down and formed a kind of mini volcano.

Tip by

3.96 km

Parking and Info at Caves Trail

Highlight • Rest Area

There is a fairly large parking lot at the Caves Trailhead. You will find restrooms and picnic benches. To enter one or more caves along the Caves Trail, you need to obtain a free permit at the Visitor Center of Craters of the Moon National Monument.

Tip by

4.11 km

Caves Trail

Highlight • Trail

The Caves Trail leads to four different caves that are actually lava tubes: Dewdrop Cave, Indian Tunnel, Boy Scout Cave and Beauty Cave. Some of the caves might be closed to protect bats or for the season and you need to obtain a free permit from the Visitor Center to enter any cave. While walking above the ground, you can discover fascinating formations that were created by the latest lava flow: the Blue Dragon Lava Flow with bluish lava.

Tip by

4.48 km

Dewdrop Cave

Highlight • Cave

The Dewdrop Cave is one of four lava tubes that is open for the public (things may change though) and one of the shorter ones. It was formed during the latest lava flow known as the Blue Dragon Lava Flow. You climb down a short ladder and you can investigate just a little further.

Tip by

4.74 km

Indian Tunnel North Entrance

Highlight • Cave

The northern entrance of the "Indian Tunnel" is mostly used as an exit since you enter the lava tube from further south. Once you get out of the lava tube, follow the wooden poles over the lava back to the Caves Trail.

Tip by

4.88 km

Indian Tunnel

Highlight • Cave

The "Indian Tunnel" is the largest and longest of the lava tubes along the Caves Trail that can be accessed. To do so, you need to obtain a free permit at the Visitor Center. You will climb over rocks that can be slippery in places, but it is a unique small adventure. On the ceiling of the tube you can see lava stalactites formed as the river of lava pulled away from the ceiling, and molten material began to drip from the hot ceiling. The exit is about 800 feet further north.

Tip by

7.93 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

4.49 km

2.29 km

574 m

570 m

Surfaces

6.84 km

739 m

286 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (1,850 m)

Lowest point (1,750 m)

Weather

Today

Friday 17 July

31°C

17°C

74 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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Spatter Cones – Indian Tunnel loop from Inferno Cone

Inferno Cone Trail

North Crater Trail

Spatter Cones

Parking and Info at Caves Trail

Caves Trail

Dewdrop Cave

Indian Tunnel North Entrance

Indian Tunnel

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