Name: Caves Trail
Rating: 4.5

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Features Birding · Cave · Fall Colors · Geological Significance · Historical Significance · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Family Friendly Hiking around the Craters of the Moon with your family feels like you have journeyed to the moon and earth is a distant place. This unique and wonderful area is a prime memory-making adventure to go!

If planning to enter any caves in the area, get a permit at the visitors center. You'll need "virgin gear" and clothing. (white nose fungi issues)

Description

Three lava caves are visited by this paved trail, most of which runs over pahoehoe lava. The first cave you come to is Dewdrop Cave, beside a junction in the path. It is rather small but is still worth checking out. The Indian Tunnel Trail starts here too. Next, you come to the Boy Scout Cave that is technically a tunnel though the park has closed a small section in the middle.

At the end of the trail, you drop right into the mouth of Beauty Cave, and with the exception of some recent vandalism is very peaceful and sparkly with water drops. All are open for subterranean exploration, though all visitors first need a free permit, obtainable at the entrance station. Don't forget a flashlight. Bonus cave: Bat Cave is just another 20 feet north of the last paved turn.

Bat Cave is closed to the public just 50 yards in and barricaded with several tons of steel grating. Hang out quietly near the mouth of the cave as the sun sets for a cool show.