Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument • Idaho

A fossil horse stands in the center of a room filled with posters and display cases

Steep, rocky bluffs line a river, awash in warm sunset colors

A sidewalk leads to a boxy, wood-paneled building labelled as "visitor center"

A wooden platform with railing, along with two exhibit signs, overlooks the river and fossil beds.

An educational exhibit along a trail overlooks panoramic views of the Hagerman Valley.

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.

The Thousand Springs Visitor Center is the only place at the monument to see fossils.
NPS/S. Lacy

The Glenns Ferry Formation contains one of the world's richest Pliocene fossil deposits.
NPS Photo

The Thousand Springs Visitor Center, opening in 2022, marks a new partnership between the National Park Service and Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.
NPS/S. Lacy

Enjoy scenic vistas and learn about Hagerman's Pliocene past at the Snake River Overlook.
NPS/S. Lacy

Enjoy scenic vistas and learn about Hagerman's human and paleontological history at the Oregon Trail Overlook.
NPS/S. Lacy

The entrance to a boxy, wood-paneled visitor center, with the NPS and Idaho State Parks logos.

Hours and information for the new visitor center, located one mile north of downtown Hagerman on US Highway 30.

Photo of the Hagerman Fossil Beds entrance sign, with the fossil beds in the distant background.

GPS navigation and highway signage may not be up-to-date. Get detailed directions to the new visitor center.

A fossil horse stands in a room filled with posters and display cases.

Experience fossil exhibits, scenic overlooks, and more.

Photo of rocky, golden bluffs sloping down toward the Snake River, with a small kayaker on the water

Our most-asked questions about visiting Hagerman Fossil Beds.

A mural shows a wetland habitat with horses, mastodons, and dozens of other species

Learn more about life in Pliocene Hagerman— and the paleontologists who study it.

Illustration of a horse colored with red and accented in tones and shades of red, brown, and white.

Before horses appeared in legends, zodiac calendars, or on ranches, their ancestors were already running across the landscapes of Idaho.

Last updated: March 11, 2026

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Mailing Address:

775 East 2830 South
Hagerman, ID 83332

Phone:

208 933-4105

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