Step Back in Time... Four to Three Million Years Ago!

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 entrance to a boxy, wood-paneled visitor center, with the NPS and Idaho State Parks logos.
Thousand Springs Visitor Center

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.
Getting Here

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.
Things to Do

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
Frequently Asked Questions

Our most-asked questions about visiting Hagerman Fossil Beds.

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

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.
2026 - The Year of the Horse

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

Dig a Little Deeper

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

775 East 2830 South
Hagerman, ID 83332

Phone:

208 933-4105

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