Craters of the Moon / Arco KOA

City of Arco

Check out the City of Arco online for local recreation activities.

Craters of the Moon National Monument

Craters of the Moon National Monument is a vast ocean of lava flows with scattered islands of cinder cones and sagebrush. We invite you to explore this "weird and scenic landscape" where yesterday's volcanic events are likely to continue tomorrow... The visitor center is located off Highway 20/26/93 mid-way between Arco and Carey, Idaho. The Visitor Center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Memorial Day through Labor Day).

Hiking

Arco also offers hiking not only at the Craters of the Moon National Monument. Through the USDA Forest Service there are several trails to be considered. A few include Upper Iron Bog Lake and Fish Creek Summit, which are located just out side of Arco up Antelope Creek. Upper Iron Bog lake trail is partly through rough terrain. This lake is lovely to look at but doesn't have fish. Elk, deer, and grouse are noted to be a site to see here. The best time to take the trail is early July through mid October. It is about 1.5 miles and is an easy to moderate trail. Fish Creek Summit is not only in one canyon. As you follow the trail you will come across Deer Creek Canyon as well as Horse Thief Canyon and across a rocky ridge with patches of alpine fir and lodge pole timber. Visitors will enjoy the rich bouquet of wildflowers as well as spot a few domestic sheep. This trail is about 4 miles and is an easy to moderate trail to take during the best time of the seasons beginning in July through mid October. For more information on the hiking opportunities in the Arco areas contact the USDA Forest Service online or in Mackay, phone: (208) 588-3400.

The Big Lost River and Pioneer Mountains

Recreational opportunities abound in the National Forest that surrounds Arco. Fishing in the Big Lost River and Mackay Reservoir, hunting for deer, elk, and other game animals in the foothills, and snowmobiling up Antelope Canyon or the Copper Basin are just a few of the activities available. Hang gliders launch off of mountain slopes, campers head for the forest, and hikers take off on trails into alpine lakes. All of this is available within a short distance of Arco.

Snake River Plain

A vast area of sagebrush and lava, this high desert is a stark contrast to the mountain ranges that border it. Most of it is managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the area offers a whole new set of recreational possibilities. Visitors can camp, look at wildflowers, ride all-terrain vehicles, hunt, and explore areas such as Kings Bowl, a huge blow out in the lava caused by hot magma exploding as it contacted water just below the earth's surface.

Rock Collecting

The Lost River Ranger District is geologically diverse. This diverse geology provides numerous opportunities for rock collecting. Areas of particular interest are the sedimentary limestone formations of the Lost River Mountain Range which are often rich in fossils and the Challis Volcanics which contain jasper, quartz, agate, and geodes.