Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument

Rangers and the Paleo crew excavate an articulated snake.
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.
Map showing location of park.
A black spatter cone rises from a lava landscape. A rugged black concrete trail leads to the base of the cone and slowly wraps around the cone's surface.
Four southern Idaho national parks welcomed a combined total of more than 430,000 recreation visits in 2025
Four southern Idaho national parks welcomed a combined total of more than 430,000 recreation visits in 2025, including a record number of recreation visits to the Minidoka National Historic Site.
A fossil horse stands in the center of a room filled with posters and display cases
Photo by NPS/S. Lacy
Steep, rocky bluffs line a river, awash in warm sunset colors
Photo by NPS Photo
A sidewalk leads to a boxy, wood-paneled building labelled as "visitor center"
Photo by NPS/S. Lacy
A wooden platform with railing, along with two exhibit signs, overlooks the river and fossil beds.
Photo by NPS/S. Lacy
An educational exhibit along a trail overlooks panoramic views of the Hagerman Valley.
Photo by NPS/S. Lacy