Craters of the Moon National Wilderness Area
Craters of the Moon National Wilderness Area is a 43,243-acre wilderness area in Butte County, Idaho. It rises from about 5,195 to 6,511 ft. The nearest town is Arco, 13.2 miles away in a straight line.
Craters of the Moon National Wilderness Area map
Craters of the Moon National Wilderness Area boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
Agency fire restriction orders for this unit are not tracked here yet. Restrictions change with the season, so check the current orders before any campfire, stove or target shooting.
County and local burn bans may also apply on private, state, or county land nearby. On federal land, follow the land manager's order; off it, follow the strictest county or local rule that applies. When both touch your trip, obey both.
Common questions
- Arco, ID is the nearest town, 13.2 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). The wilderness.net page for this area places it about 18 miles southwest of Arco.
- The highest ground in Craters of the Moon National Wilderness Area is about 6,511 ft, and its lowest about 5,195 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Big Cinder Butte, about 6,511 ft.
Who manages Craters of the Moon National Wilderness Area
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Park Service | 43,243 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record, 208-527-1350 |
Getting to Craters of the Moon National Wilderness Area
- Arco, ID is the nearest town, 13.2 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-30)
- The wilderness.net page for this area places it about 18 miles southwest of Arco.
- Access roads named on the area's wilderness.net page: Loop Road.
Position, roads and vehicle notes: wilderness.net page for Craters of the Moon National Wilderness Area, accessed 2026-09-30. Roads and conditions change; check with the managing office before driving in.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Craters of the Moon National Wilderness Area
- Big Cinder Butte summit
- Half Cone summit
- Crescent Butte summit
- Bearsden Waterhole lake
Features whose official location is inside the boundary, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, accessed 2026-09-30. Summit elevations measured on the USGS 3DEP elevation model, which can read a few feet under a surveyed summit height.
Public lands next to Craters of the Moon National Wilderness Area
- BLM unitCraters of the Moon National Wilderness Area lies inside Craters Of The Moon National Monument.
- National Park Service unitCraters of the Moon National Wilderness Area lies inside Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
Other wilderness areas in Idaho
- wilderness.net (accessed 2026-09-30)
- prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com (accessed 2026-09-30)
- prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com (accessed 2026-09-30)
- www2.census.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
The sentences on this page are generated by software from the sourced records above, not written by hand. How this content is made.