BLM Idaho Falls Field Office — Hells Half Acre Lava Field Dispersed Camp

Hells Half Acre is a 222,000-year-old basaltic lava flow covering roughly 160,000 acres along US-26 southwest of Idaho Falls. The BLM land flanking the lava field allows dispersed camping on flat, crushed-lava pull-offs along the highway corridor and adjacent two-tracks. It’s bleak, stark, and weirdly beautiful — moonscape camping with big Snake River Plain skies. Wind can be relentless. Fires are generally prohibited given the volcanic terrain and limited vegetation, so bring a stove.

Access is straightforward off US-26 — most pull-offs are suitable for any high-clearance rig and even careful stock trucks. No water, no toilets, no shade. Cell signal is spotty at best. This sits directly adjacent to the trail’s eastern terminus, making it a logical start-or-finish camp. Check current fire restrictions with the BLM Idaho Falls Field Office before arrival.

Lava field camping on the Snake River Plain.