Craters of the Moon National Monument

Permit Information

NPS Special Use Permit required for weddings, vow renewals, and organized group events. Photography or filming tied to an authorized ceremony is covered by the same permit and does not require a separate filming permit. Call the park at 208 527 1300 to request current application fees (set through annual cost recovery) and to confirm approved ceremony locations. Most weddings take place along the Loop Drive or at accessible lava fields rather than on fragile lava tube surfaces. Apply at least 6…

Planning Your Day at Craters of the Moon National Monument

One-Spot Day

Craters of the Moon is a one spot day by default because everything sits along the 7 mile Loop Drive. Inferno Cone for panoramic summit views, Spatter Cones for accessible volcanic oddities, or Devil's Orchard for a shaded paved loop. The longest drive between any two of them is about ten minutes. Pick the cone or orchard that matches your group's mobility and light window, and commit.

Ceremony + Portraits Split

Splits are trivial here. Every approved ceremony spot sits along the same Loop Drive. A sunrise vow exchange at Inferno Cone flows into portraits at Devil's Orchard, and lunch back at the visitor center is 15 minutes by car. Most couples use two or three of the sublocations in a single day. The Loop Drive closes roughly November through April with snow, so plan around the season before anything else.

A Note on Light

The cinder is jet black, which means it reads beautifully with white or light colored fabric but absorbs light hard at midday. Early morning and the last hour before sunset are the reliable windows. Summer afternoons the cinder can hit 120F and become genuinely unsafe to stand on. Spring and fall give softer light and cooler temperatures. Golden hour backlights the Pioneer Mountains from Inferno Cone.

Ceremony Spots at Craters of the Moon National Monument

• Inferno Cone Summit — Dramatic panoramic ceremonies above the lava fields
• Spatter Cones — Intimate vow exchanges beside unique volcanic formations
• Devil's Orchard — Relaxed ceremonies with some shade and flat footing