New York Times names 52 world sites to visit in 2024 — this Idaho attraction made the list

Nicole Blanchard
·2 min read

The New York Times published its annual list of 52 travel destinations around the world Monday, and an Idaho spot was one of the few places in the United States to make the list.

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve was one of eight U.S. destinations named, alongside places like Maui; Flamingo, Florida; Montgomery, Alabama; and various locations in the path of totality for this April’s solar eclipse.

The south-central Idaho monument, named for its otherworldly landscape of black terrain and lava tubes, celebrates its centennial in 2024. The New York Times reported that Craters will “unveil new and rehabilitated trails, wayside exhibits developed in partnership with Shoshone-Bannock tribal elders and a packed calendar of events” as part of the 100-year anniversary.

The publication encouraged visitors to enjoy the 750,000-acre park’s solitude, comparing its size to Yosemite National Park but noting Craters of the Moon receives just a fraction — 6% — of Yosemite’s visitors.

Another draw the New York Times named is Craters’ pristine night sky. The preserve stretches across the Snake River Plain between Interstate 84 and U.S. 26 with no major cities (just small towns like Carey and Arco) nearby to create light pollution. The area was named an International Dark Sky Park in 2017 by the International Dark-Sky Association, a nonprofit that fights light pollution.

Craters of the Moon is open year-round, although many of its amenities are closed for the winter, according to the National Park Service website. The Craters website touts winter snowshoeing and cross-country skiing as options for cold-weather visitors.

It’s not yet clear what the centennial celebrations will look like — the preserve’s event calendar doesn’t list any details, but a news release published in August said Craters officials will likely focus on cultural history in May, wilderness in June, research in July, geology in August and night sky in September.