Hell's Half Acre - Interstate 15, Idaho
Posted by: 
oiseau_ca
N 43° 18.167 W 112° 16.137
12T E 397078 N 4795220
Hell's Half Acre Lava Field is a basaltic lava plain located on the Snake River Plain of Idaho, United States.
Waymark Code: WMPPWT
Location: Idaho, United States
Date Posted: 10/04/2015
Views: 3
According to Wikipedia, "Hell's Half Acre Lava Field is a basaltic lava plain located on the Snake River Plain of Idaho in the United States. It is the easternmost of the basaltic lava fields on the Snake River Plain, located about 25 miles (40 km) west of Idaho Falls, Idaho and 30 miles (48 km) north of Pocatello, Idaho. In 1976, the National Park Service designated the northwestern portion of the site a National Natural Landmark. In 1986, the Bureau of Land Management recommended that 68,760 acres (27,830 ha) of the site, located just southeast of the National Natural Landmark, to be a wilderness study area.
The site is fairly accessible. Interstate 15 just crosses the southeast corner of the lava field. Two trails have been marked by U.S. Bureau of Land Management personnel. The shorter 0.5-mile (0.80 km) long trail is marked by blue flags, and takes about 30 minutes to walk. The longer, 4.5-mile (7.2 km) long trail is marked by red flags, and takes a full day to walk. The latter trail leads to the central vent. A short trail (about 0.75 miles (1.21 km) in length) with educational signage along the way may be accessed from the north parking lot near the Hell's Half Acre rest area on I-15. A second trail (about 1 mile (1.6 km) in length) with educational signage may be accessed from the south parking lot. This longer trail has a gazebo and scenic overlook at about the midpoint.There is also a 0.25-mile (0.40 km) long handicapped-accessible paved loop with educational signage as well. All trails are closed in winter.Over 100,000 people used the trails in 2007.
The Hell's Half Acre lava plain is home to a variety of plant species. Among them are bitterbrush, bluebunch wheatgrass, foothills death camas, evening primrose, ferns, geraniums, gray rabbitbrush, Indian paintbrush, needle-and-thread grass, penstemon, prickly pear cactus, sagebrush, Utah juniper, and wild onion. Wildlife is also abundant. Species commonly found here include bobcats, coyotes, golden eagles, mule deer, prairie falcons, pronghorn, red foxes, red-tailed hawks, and sage grouse".
Source: Wikipedia
Visit Instructions:
To post a visit log to this waymark you need to visit and write about the actual physical location. Any pictures you take at the location would be great, as well.