About Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
During the Pliocene, this place looked quite different. Lush wetlands, forests, and grasslands provided excellent habitat for a variety of animals. From fascinating, now-extinct creatures like the saber-toothed cat, mastodon, and ground sloth, to more familiar animals like horses, beavers, and birds, the scientific study of Pliocene fossils is the key to Hagerman.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
Hagerman, Idaho, gets 10 inches of rain per year. On average, there are 213 sunny days per year in Hagerman, Idaho. The July high is around 94 degrees. The January low is 22. Our comfort index, which is based on humidity during the hot months, is a 78 out of…
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: Idaho. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Operating Hours
The road leading to the Monument is a public road and is open 24 hours a day. Access to the Monument Overlooks closes at dusk. The Visitor Center has separate hours. Please be aware that the overlooks and trails are not maintained during winter.
Activities
Getting There
The Thousand Springs Visitor Center is located about one mile north of downtown Hagerman on US Highway 30.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Celebrate the Fire Horse
Stop by the Thousand Springs Visitor Center for scheduled Year of the Horse events and lectures.
Birding in the Hagerman Valley
The Hagerman Valley is one of the most popular birding destinations in southern Idaho.
Enjoy a Picnic
Pack up a meal to enjoy with friends or family at a covered picnic shelter along the park road.
Hike the Emigrant Trail
The Emigrant Trail roughly parallels visible remnants of the Oregon Trail, capturing some of the experience of mid-1800s emigrants moving…
Become a Hagerman Fossil Beds Junior Ranger
Visitors of all ages and abilities can become a Hagerman Fossil Beds Junior Ranger.
See Fossils on Display
See fossils on display and learn about Hagerman's contributions to the science of paleontology.
More Things to Do
Additional activities and experiences from the National Park Service.
Take a Scenic Drive
Take in stunning views of the Snake River, the fossil beds, and the Hagerman Valley along five miles of park road. Stop…
Visitor Centers
Thousand Springs Visitor Center
The new Thousand Springs Visitor Center, operated jointly with Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, is located about one mile north of Hagerman on Highway…
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
