Be advised that the NPS has issued alerts for this park.
Thousand Springs Visitor Center Closed May 15th
The Thousand Springs Visitor Center will be closed Thursday, May 15th for staff training. The trails and overlooks on the Monument will remain open. Remember, it is illegal to collect fossils.
If You Can't Reach Us By Phone, Please Email Us
Please call 208-933-4105 to talk to a park ranger. However, if the phone lines are down, contact a ranger through email at hafo_information@nps.gov
Use Caution with GPS Navigation
The new visitor center is located at 17970 US Hwy 30, about one mile north of downtown Hagerman and the old visitor center. Highway signs and GPS navigation may not yet be up-to-date.
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...
The southern route of the Oregon Trail passes through Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument . This southern Idaho route was typically hot, dry, and dusty and exhausted travelers. Stopping at the Snake River made for a welcome respite.
Hagerman Fossil Beds- Oregon Trail Overlook. 201 words<br /><br />The paved pullout area here has some interpretive signage and a small restroom at one end. From the parking area, a wooden path leads to an overlook on the edge of the bluff above the river. Here the river makes a sharp bend away from us, faced by steep bluffs on this side and flat farmland on the other. Signs at the lookout discuss the ancient lakes in this area and the fossils found as the sides of the bluff have eroded.<br /><br />Across the road from the parking area are more signs with a view down into a long canyon parallel to the river where the wagons would have traveled. A gravel trail leads from here down to the canyon floor. The signs explain the hiking trail leading off to the left which leads up the canyon to the right and discuss the Native American tribes from this area.<br /><br />Farther up the road is the Oregon Trail Overlook where a gravel path leads to the head of the trail that comes up the canyon. Here there are expansive views of the barren and rugged landscape with glimpses of the river far to the left.
The southern part of Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument contains steep terrain and loose sandy and silty soils. Traveling through this area was difficult for emigrants on the Oregon Trail. Heavy wagons dug into the ground, leaving behind deep ruts that are still visible today.
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 30. Visitors will find maps and information for both Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument and the six units of Thousand Springs State Park. This is the only place at the monument to see Pliocene fossils on display. The visitor center also offers restrooms, drinking water, passport stamps, junior ranger programs, ranger talks, and a small giftshop.
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.
