Snake River Plain

Footprints of Collapsed Volcanoes

The Snake River Plain was formed by eruptions beginning in southwest Idaho 13 million years ago. As the North American continent shifted to the southwest over the stationary hotspot (now currently under Yellowstone), the earth’s crust melted into magma and erupted. To the southwest, a straight line of ancient volcanoes were formed.  These volcanoes are oldest in the west and progressively younger to the east due to the continuous movement of the North American continent over the hotspot.


 

Big Southern Butte is one of the tallest volcanoes on the Snake River Plain.

Animals

• Wildlife 
• Raptors 

Geology

• Wind Bowl 
• Strange Rocks 
• Glass Mountains 

Views from the Top

• Snake River Plain 
• Deer Parks Wildlife
• Henry's Fork Habitat
• Faulty Mountains
• St. Anthony Sand Dunes

Maps

• Area Map
• Trail Map

Brochure

• Download the pdf (1240 kb.)

Area Recreation Sites

• Big Southern Butte
• Birch Creek Campground
• Cress Creek Nature Trail
• Hell's Half Acre
• Henry's Fork- Snake River
• Henry's Lake
• Kelly Island Campground
• North Menan Butte
• South Fork of Snake River
• St. Anthony Sand Dunes
• Stinking Springs
• Wolf Flat