We stopped in northern Utah at Tremonton for a night's rest and then drove on into Idaho. We took an indirect route through Pocatello so we could visit the Crates of the Moon. It is an amazing place to see.
On Hwy 26, between the small towns of Arco and Carey, lies the entrance to this otherworldly land of lava flows and tubes. Volcanic eruptions between 15,000 and 2,000 years ago created a place that has earned its descriptive name.
Some plants do grow here, but not many. Lots of drought resistant plants mostly in this place that gets on 15-20 inches of rain/year. This results in a view that is mostly empty and filled with what feels like clinkers out of an old coal furnace.
In places, there are clear lava flows covering the ground. It says a lot about the tenacity of these plants that they are able to get a foothold in such a forbidding place.
Yet, there are trees that seem to do well here as well.
I find that on this tour through the west, I often imagine that I'm on horseback, alone, riding through whatever is in front of me. While the the canyons of Canyonlands were a formidable and dry maze, this is place is a daunting land of such extremes that I can imagine that neither man nor beast would survive long without outside aid.
Oddly enough, winter is perhaps your best chance to cross this on foot (or horseback). You'll notice below that there is still a small bit of snow on the ground. This suggests that in the winter there might at least be snowmelt to drink as you attempt that dreadful crossing.
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