Skip to content
The Green Adventures
Find my parkMapGreat Smoky MountainsZionYellowstoneSee all: ParksCaliforniaAlaskaUtahSee all: By stateNational monumentsSeashores and lakeshoresAll 412 Park Service sitesSee all: All sitesWhich park should I visit?Pass calculatorCampground finderSee all: Trip toolsAnnual pass 2026International visitorsFree days 2026See all: Fees and passes

National Monument · Idaho

Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument

National Monument in Idaho. No entrance fee. 1 hikes listed.

By The Green Adventures · Updated · How we check

TypeNational Monument
StateIdaho
Entrance feeNo entrance fee
CampgroundsNone
Nearest national parkGrand Teton (218 mi)
Closest airportTWF (32 mi)
A fossil horse stands in the center of a room filled with posters and display cases
The Thousand Springs Visitor Center is the only place at the monument to see fossils. Photo: NPS/S. Lacy

Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument is a national monument run by the National Park Service in Idaho.

In the park service’s words

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.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

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 West.
  • 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.
  • 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 at the Snake River and Oregon Trail Overlooks for scenic viewpoints and educational exhibits.

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: No entrance fee.

Hours: Daily, Sunrise to Sunset. 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.

Getting there

The Thousand Springs Visitor Center is located about one mile north of downtown Hagerman on US Highway 30.

Airport City Drive to the park Straight-line miles Type
Joslin Field Magic Valley Regional Airport (TWF) Twin Falls, ID No road route 32 Regional
Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN) Hailey, ID No road route 59 Regional
Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field (BOI) Boise, ID No road route 84 Large hub

Drive times run from the airport to Zion Canyon Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.

Miles are straight-line distances.

Visitor centers

  • Thousand Springs Visitor Center: Daily, 9:00AM - 5:00PM. Visitor center hours vary seasonally. The park road and overlooks are open year-round from sunrise to sunset.

Weather

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 100, where higher is more comfortable. The US average on the comfort index is 44.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Know before you go

Drones are banned at almost every park site, and you may not take rocks, plants or artifacts. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet where they are allowed. Bring no firewood from home.

Nearby

The nearest national park is Grand Teton, about 218 miles away in a straight line.

Sources

Last checked 1 November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee at Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument?

No entrance fee.

Where is Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument?

In Idaho. The closest airport with scheduled flights is Joslin Field Magic Valley Regional Airport, about 32 miles away.

More sites nearby

African Burial Ground Memorial National monumentsAfrican Burial Ground National Monument National Monument in New York. No entrance fee. The visitor center sits in the middle of mixed grass prairie. National monumentsAgate Fossil Beds National Monument National Monument in Nebraska. No entrance fee. 2 hikes listed. Turtle Petroglyph at Antelope Creek Village Site National monumentsAlibates Flint Quarries National Monument National Monument in Texas. No entrance fee. A lone raft floats the Aniakchak Wild River as it flows through the "Gates" National monumentsAniakchak National Monument & Preserve National Monument & Preserve in Alaska. No entrance fee. 1 hikes listed. Reconstructed stone kiva amidst stone ruins National monumentsAztec Ruins National Monument National Monument in New Mexico. No entrance fee. the village of Tyuonyi National monumentsBandelier National Monument National Monument in New Mexico. $25 per vehicle. 14 hikes listed.