The Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument is a great stop while traveling along I-84 in southern Idaho. We were able to see the main sites within a couple hours. One of the best things about it is that it’s free! Check out the map below to see the route we took.
1. Thousand Springs Visitors Center
Since we were coming from the west (Boise), our first stop was the Thousand Springs Visitors Center. This was a great place to fill up our water bottles and use the bathroom. The building was brand new and very nice. This is the only place at Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument to actually see fossils. Due to the fragile nature of the fossil beds, visitors are not able to access them. The main fossil you’ll want to see is the Hagerman horse, which is an ancestor of modern day horses.
2. Thousand Springs Scenic Byway
The Thousand Springs Scenic Byway is 9 miles from the visitors center on Bell Rapids Road. There are two overlooks to stop at.
Snake River Overlook
The first overlook we stopped at was the Snake River Overlook. This wheel-chair accessible overlook has a great view of the Snake River. There is also a pit toilet here. If you’re lucky, you’ll even see small lizards running around near the platform. This overlook is about a 13 minute drive from the Thousand Springs Visitors Center. Don’t miss the interpretative signs across the street from the overlook.
Oregon Trail Overlook
The next overlook is the Oregon Trail Overlook, which is another 5 minutes down the road from the Snake River Overlook. This overlook has a pit toilet and a couple of covered picnic tables. From the parking lot, there is a short 1.2 mile round trip gravel trail with interpretive signs that leads to ruts left by wagons on their way to Oregon. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to see the ruts ourselves. They may be overgrown with plants. As we walked the trail, hundreds of grasshoppers flew into us. If you don’t like bugs, take note. From the trail, you also get a great view of the Snake River and farms in the distance. As you leave the parking lot and head back to Route 30, don’t miss the chance to take a picture of the sign noting the location of the original route of the Oregon Trail.
Other Things To Do at Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument:
1. Hike the Emigrant Trail
The Emigrant Trail is a 6.6 mile round trip out-and-back trail that runs parallel to the original Oregon Trail. You can start the trail at either the Oregon Trail Overlook or at the Snake River Overlook. If you want to only hike it one-way, it’s recommended to start at the Oregon Trail Overlook since it would be downhill from there and leave your car at the Snake River Overlook. We skipped this hike since the weather was really hot and we were short on time. There is no shade on this trail and we were satisfied with what we were able to see from the overlooks.
2. Have a Picnic
There are covered picnic tables available to use at the Oregon Trail Overlook.
3. Visit the nearby Thousand Springs State Park
If you’re still hungry for more after visiting Hagerman Fossil Beds, consider visiting Thousand Springs State Park. There are many opportunities there to go hiking, boating, sightseeing, camping, and even to visit hot springs. There is a small fee to enter the park.
Quick Tips:
1. Take note of the temperature. We visited in July and the temperature was over 100 degrees. We made sure to drink lots of water. There is no water available at the overlooks.
2. Check the visitors center’s hours before visiting. They vary by season.
3. Watch out for rattlesnakes and stay on marked trails.
4. Don’t skip the visitors center if you want to see fossils since this is the only place to see them.
Where to Stay Near Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
Camping
There are plenty of campgrounds near Hagerman Fossil Beds.
Miracle and Banbury Hot Springs – Two separate campgrounds that offer RV and tent camping, along with glamping domes, both located about 15-20 minutes from the Thousand Springs Visitors Center
Hagerman RV Village – RV park that also offers cabins, located a short drive down the road from the Thousand Springs Visitors Center
Hotels
There are a few hotels near Hagerman Fossil Beds. If you’d like more options, consider going to Twin Falls, a city about 40 minutes east.
Billingsley Creek Lodging – Rustic cabins and rooms located along Billingsley Creek, located just a short drive down the road from the Thousand Springs Visitors Center.
Hagerman Valley Inn – a small hotel offering standard and themed rooms and suites, located less than 2 miles from the Thousand Springs Visitors Center
Planning a road trip? Check out this ultimate list of what items we brought on a year-long road trip and what we wished we had skipped!
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