Hike Caves Trail (Dewdrop Cave, Indian Tunnel, Beauty Cave & Boy Scout Cave), Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho

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The Caves Trail (1.6 mi/2.6 km) covers the Cave Area is the final stop on Loop Drive and, as the name indicates, has a collection of lava tube caves. On a summer day, the cool, dark lava tubes along the Caves Trail offer a radical change from the brilliant light and blistering heat on the surface. Formed from the Blue Dragon Flow, the caves are a half-mile (800 m) from the parking lot and include: Dewdrop Cave: This is a very small cave, most of which is visible from the trail. Beauty Cave: You enter through a large opening and scramble down a slope of large rocks to reach the smooth pahoehoe floor of this uniform 300' long tunnel. Boy Scout Cave: This cave retains ice year-round. You must crawl over loose rock to enter, due to the low ceiling at the entrance. The floor of the cave can be a sheet of ice covered by several inches of water, and is very slick. Walk carefully. Indian Tunnel: The tunnel is large. A stairway provides easy entry. Collapses in the ceiling allow sunlight to enter so a flashlight is not needed to travel in most of the cave. The size of the tube (30' high, 50' wide and 800' long) allows you to walk comfortably. If you are willing to scramble over a large pile and climb through a small opening, you can exit this cave at the far end. Follow the rock cairns with posts across the lava to return to the paved trail. Do not allow children to wander. There are deep holes in the rock near the trail. During the summer months, Rangers lead a guided hike to Indian Tunnel. Inquire at the Visitor Center for more information. The caves are open to visitors but flashlights are needed except in Indian Tunnel and some form of head protection is highly recommended when exploring any of the caves. Lava tubes are created when the sides and surface of a lava flow hardens. If the fluid interior flows away a cave is left behind. Entering caves requires a free permit. Note: A Cave Permit is required before entering any cave on National Park Service lands. Obtain a permit at the Entrance Station, or the Visitor Center, to enter Indian Tunnel, Dew Drop, Beauty, Boy Scout or Buffalo Caves. All other caves are closed to recreational caving.

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