Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
National Park Service Offers Variety of Summer “Staycation” Opportunities
Contact: HAFO_Public_Affairs@nps.gov
Photo caption: The Snake River Overlook offers scenic views of the river and fossil beds in the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument. Courtesy, National Park Service
HAGERMAN, Idaho – The National Park Service (NPS) is offering a wide variety of “staycation” opportunities at the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument this summer for individuals and families in southern Idaho who are looking for fun and educational programs and events close to home!
The Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, located between Boise and Twin Falls, preserves one of the world’s richest sites for Pliocene-aged fossils, from three to four million years old. The fossils found there represent hundreds of species of plants and animals; some are unlike any species living today, while others are the ancestors of species still found in the Hagerman Valley. The site is most famous for containing the world’s largest assemblage of the “Hagerman Horse,” which the Idaho Legislature designated as the state fossil in 1988.
The NPS will host activities from June through September at the Thousand Springs Visitor Center, located at 17970 U.S. Highway 30 in Hagerman, including:
*Pollinator Month event in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge on June 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to highlight how native plants benefit bees, butterflies, and other insects that play a vital role in food systems and ecosystems in southern Idaho. Participants will also learn how to grow native plants in their own yards!
*Fossil exploration events in cooperation with the Idaho Museum of Natural History on June 11, July 9, August 6, and September 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. that provide a chance to meet the bone-crushing canids, mastodons, giant otters and other creatures that once roamed the wetlands, forests, and grasslands of southern Idaho.
*Special guest lectures on June 26 and 27, July 17, August 21, and September 18 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and repeating from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. featuring renowned speakers on topics related to horses and historic Chinese mining communities in celebration of the “Year of the Fire Horse” in the Chinese zodiac.
*Special “Year of the Fire Horse” art and storytelling events on June 26 and 27, featuring Artists-in-Residence Dale and Rebecca Hom. Events include demonstrations and performances – see park calendar (link below) for times.
*Special “Year of the Fire Horse” exhibits, available when the Visitor Center is open. These include ceramics, stoneware, glassware, coins, and other artifacts from the late 1800s Mon-Tung Chinese gold mining site in the Snake River Canyon, courtesy of the Bureau of Land Management. Examples of other artifacts commonly found at 19th– and 20th– century Chinese American mining sites are also on display, courtesy of the Asian American Comparative Collection, University of Idaho, Moscow.
Additional information about these activities is available at https://www.nps.gov/hafo/planyourvisit/calendar.htm
“The Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument is still something of a well-kept secret destination in southern Idaho,” said Russ Cash, acting park superintendent. “We’re excited to offer opportunities to learn about and visit this special place and we invite and encourage those looking for chances to explore places in their own backyards this summer to take advantage of them.”
Visitors are also encouraged to explore the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument by taking a scenic drive to see stunning views of the fossil beds, Snake River, and the Hagerman Valley; hiking the Emigrant Trail which roughly parallels visible remnants of the Oregon Trail; and birdwatching of raptors, songbirds, pelicans, cormorants, and nesting waterfowl. Additional outdoor recreation opportunities are also available at the nearby Thousand Springs State Park, including camping at the new Billingsley Creek Campground, which opened in 2025, located adjacent to the Thousand Springs Visitor Center. Additional information about visiting the parks is available at https://www.nps.gov/hafo/index.htm
About the National Park Service. Established in 1916, the National Park Service preserves America’s most treasured natural and cultural places for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of current and future generations. Learn more at nps.gov.
