Arco in Butte County, Idaho — The American West (Mountains)

Devil's Orchard Trail

Craters of the Moon National Monument

Photographed By Don Morfe, June 26, 2009

1. Devil's Orchard Trail Marker

Inscription. Two thousand years ago, nearby volcanoes erupted so violently that they tore themselves apart. Rivers of lava floated huge chunks of crater wall down to this spot. Time passed. Rocks crumbled. The seeds of rabbitbrush and limber pine root in the sparse soil. A hundred years ago, a visiting minister declared this jumble of rocks, shrubs, and trees to be a garden fit for the devil himself. Welcome to Devil’s Orchard.

"What you see depends mainly on what you are looking for." –Richard J. Vogl, biologist.

The trail through this place is as unusual as its name. Rather than identify objects the exhibits here challenges you to think about ideas, concerns, and possible solutions.

Erected by National Park Service-United States Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Environment.

Location. 43° 27.089′ N, 113° 32.314′ W. Marker is in Arco, Idaho, in Butte County. Marker is on Loop Road. This marker is located on the grounds of the Craters of the Moon National Monument. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Arco ID 83213, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Boy Scout Cave (approx. ¾ mile away); Indian Tunnel (approx. ¾ mile away);

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North Crater Lava Flow (approx. 1.1 miles away); North Crater Flow Trail (approx. 1.1 miles away); Are We Loving Them to Death? (approx. 1.2 miles away); Vanishing Landmark (approx. 1.3 miles away); Just Down The Road (approx. 1.4 miles away); Get over it! (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arco.

Devil's Orchard Trail image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, June 26, 2009

2. Devil's Orchard Trail

Lava on the Devil's Orchard Trail image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, June 26, 2009

3. Lava on the Devil's Orchard Trail

Credits. This page was last revised on October 12, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 5, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 764 times since then and 28 times this year. Last updated on October 10, 2021, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 5, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.