Day 41 - July 25 - Craters of the Moon ID to Yellowstone WY

Day 41 - July 25 - Craters of the Moon ID - Yellowstone WY

The day started early at the Craters so we could see as much as we wanted and still leave time to move towards WY.

After we de-camped, we started exploring the designated sites on the eleven-mile loop around a small portion of the lava fields. We visited the "Devil's Garden", which was a walk around a natural site that contained a large variety of trees, brush, and wild flowers. All of which were growing happily within the lava & sand. It was a beautiful, quiet walk, where we found lots of small animals scurrying through the underbrush. One small chipmunk was kind enough to pose for pictures for several minutes. We also saw tracks from larger animals like deer and rabbits. There are even tracks in the concrete walks were animals scooted across while it was wet.

We also climbed up to the tops of various kinds of small volcano cones and looked down their throats, one of which had a small patch of snow at the bottom and was affectionately called "Snow Cone." Another walk covered a tour of different types of lava flows and how to recognize them:  Pahoyhoy & Ah Ah. Seems that lava flows have Hawaiian names.  

Most interesting to learn was that early wagon trains travelled over portions of the lava fields following Indian trails. And, if you could see the landscape, you say, NO WAY. This area is covered with giant bolders and big rocks.

Trivia FYI: the last series of volcanos to have been active were the ones at Yellowstone. And, they are expected to erupt again any time in the next 100,000 years. When they do, it'll be devastating for the entire North American continent.  

After browsing the gift shop and dioramas of the animals to be found in the Craters, we headed out for Yellowstone. We arrived near West Yellowstone in the early evening and set up camp at the Lionheads RV Park.