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Lava Upper Trail

4.9 ★★★★★ 36 Google reviews · Running trail in Blackfoot, Idaho · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Lava Upper Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Lava Upper Trail — running trail in Blackfoot, ID, photo 1
Lava Upper Trail — running trail in Blackfoot, ID, photo 2
Lava Upper Trail — running trail in Blackfoot, ID, photo 3
Lava Upper Trail — running trail in Blackfoot, ID, photo 4
Lava Upper Trail — running trail in Blackfoot, ID, photo 5
MixedOpen 24hStroller / ADATrailhead parking

What runners say about Lava Upper Trail

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (36 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

If your passing by you should definitely stop here for a short walk around the trail

★★★★★ — Israel , Oct 2022

Great place to stop with a short trail. Lots of parking. Accessible for all.

★★★★★ — Laura , Oct 2022

Beautiful short trail that makes this rest stop stand out as spectacular!

★★★★★ — Ohdiss , Aug 2018

I loved the pathway and the benches. If you want to see lava formation and have only 30 minutes because your passing by...this is the perfect trail for you. A wheel chair could easily traverse the terain. You could eat lunch in the gazebo.

★★★★★ — M , May 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 36 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

♿ Stroller / ADA accessible 7 mentions

“Paved trail making easier (hopefully) for wheelchairs and strollers.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 3 mentions

“Paved trail making easier (hopefully) for wheelchairs and strollers.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking

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🪨 Crushed gravel / limestone

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Plan your run at Lava Upper Trail

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websiteblm.gov
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Lava Upper Trail

I-15 Southbound, Blackfoot, ID 83221

Get directions

Running trails near Blackfoot

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Hell's Half Acre (south trails)

4.7 ★★★★★ 256 reviews

Blackfoot, ID

LoopMixedScenic

under a mile away

Lava Lower Trails

4.7 ★★★★★ 3 reviews

Blackfoot, ID

Crushed gravel

under a mile away

Rose Ponds Park

4.2 ★★★★☆ 68 reviews

Blackfoot, ID

Dog-friendly

4.9 miles away

Blackfoot Parks Department

4.4 ★★★★☆ 37 reviews

Blackfoot, ID

Dog-friendly

8.0 miles away

Jensen Grove Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 1,003 reviews

Blackfoot, ID

8.5 miles away

Gem Lake Bike Park

3.6 ★★★★☆ 8 reviews

Idaho Falls, ID

Crushed gravel

13.6 miles away

All running trails in Blackfoot, ID →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.