North Menan Butte

A National Natural Landmark

Welcome to North Menan Butte. The trail to the volcano summit offers wonderful opportunities to learn & explore the unique geology and natural history of this area. Menan Buttes are two of the world’s largest tuff cones—volcanoes formed when basaltic magma boils up through ground water.  North Menan Butte is designated as a National Natural Landmark and a Research Natural Area by Congress.  These designations help preserve the Butte so people can enjoy and study this unique geologic area in its healthy, natural condition.

The Menan Buttes are extinct volcanoes formed by violent eruptions 10,000 years ago. These are unusual formations because they erupted through the cold waters of the Snake River which flowed where the Buttes stand today. When molten magma met the cold river water it cooled so quickly crystals were unable to form, and the lava solidified into glass called tachylite. The heat of the magma flashed the river water to steam, shattering the glass into tiny fragments that welded together as the hot ash settled to the ground. The Menan Buttes are unique because these are the only volcanic eruptions that have occurred in freshwater in the United States, which is why North Menan Butte is designated a National Natural Landmark.

North Menan Butte is an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) and is designated as a National Natural Landmark and a Research Natural Area. These designations help preserve the Butte so people can enjoy and study this unique geologic area in its healthy, natural condition.                  

Please Remember:

• North Menan Butte is open to non-motorized recreation activities only .  Help protect important vegetation and prevent erosion by minimizing impact to the area. Motorized vehicles have traveled up the Butte in the past, creating scars which can be seen from this parking area. These scars will take a long time to rehabilitate naturally.
• Leave what you find so that others may share your sense of discovery.
• Be courteous and do not disturb wildlife.
• Trash?  Pack it in.  Pack it out.
• Before setting off on your journey, please consider the following safety concerns:
  -Take plenty of water.  This environment is hot and dry at certain times of the year.
  -Watch your footing. Slippery and rocky surfaces are common in this area.
  -Watch out for rattlesnakes.

Locations: From Idaho Falls, travel north on Highway 20.  Turn left on Menan-Lorenzo Highway just before Highway 20 crosses the South Fork of the Snake River.  Drive west on Menan-Lorenzo Highway for 5.9 miles, and then turn north on 3600 East.  After 2.2 miles you will cross over the Snake River and the road becomes Twin Butte Road. Continue north on Twin Butte road to trailhead. (BLM is currently constructing a new trailhead on the west side of the butte.)   

Fees/Facilities: None

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