The Lunar Crater Volcanic Field is situated on federal lands in the Pancake Range, 28 miles east of the junction of U.S. 6 and State Route 375 the "Extraterrestrial Highway". In April 1996 Nevada State Highway 375 was officially named the Extraterrestrial Highway for the many UFO sightings along this lonely stretch of road. The highway is close to the mysterious Area 51. In the 1980's and 1990's there have been many sightings of unidentified objects near the base. Even today visitors and locals alike often see strange lights in the night-sky while driving down the highway. Please note: Most of the E.T. Highway is open range. This means that there is a good chance that you will see some cows crossing the highway, or standing in the road. At night the cows are very hard to see, and there have been several serious accidents with vehicles hitting cows. Please adjust your speed at night.
As early as two million years ago volcanic activity began forming the craters and a number of vents. The first of three distinct periods of volcanic activity began in the region. The last ended only a few thousand years ago. The first period was marked by a series of small eruptions. Vents in the ground opened, and internal pressure ejected ash and rock debris, creating cinder cones-small volcanoes. Later molten rock was disgorged through the vents, flowing out across the landscape as lava cooled to become basalt. Sometime during this activity several violent explosions created two large, round depressions that are today known as Easy Chair Crater and Lunar Crater. Lunar Crater, the most outstanding geological feature, is almost 4,000 feet in diameter, 430 feet deep and over 400 acres in size.
To verify that you have reached this virtual cache, please send me the name of person on the memorial plaque that is found at this site. Do not post it in your log.
As an added bonus, you can hike down into the crater. The moderately strenuous hike takes between 30 and 60 minutes each way. No true trail exists, although there are few good places to make your descent if you look carefully.