hagerman fossil beds national monument

SaraD656

Bring your towel and swimsuit as this is near Miracle Hot Springs, Banbury's, and 1000 Springs which are all great hot springs pools. Bring your binoculars as this is a great area for bird viewing along the highway. Keep an eye out for deer. Bring your hiking shoes and bottled water as there are trails to take. Great spot for viewing and pictures on the Snake River where they have a nice overlook built. So much history here. Cool to see the remnants of the old Oregon Trail. Lovely dirve along the 1000 Springs Scenic Byway. Nearby Hagerman has a museum and visitor center you can stop and see. Probably just make a day of it. Or overnight at Miracle or in Hagerman.

ballhawg

The visitor center is packed full of interesting items and fossils, including the famous Hagerman horse. It is worth a visit if you are in the area---the key here is "if you are in the area". Always important---they do have clean bathroom facilities.

RetiredToIdaho

Watched a video and enjoyed reading about the area. Had never heard about the Hagerman Horse. The ranger is extremely helpful.

AF_Hiker

Stopped by on my way to Boise. The only fossils you will see are at the small visitor's center. There is a scenic drive, but not very impressive, and again no fossils. The visitor's center is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I don't know why they chose those two days of the week to be closed.

419KenL

We stopped here on our way across country and it was our first stop at a National Park on our journey. The Visitors Center was interesting and the staff all made a big effort to answer our questions and help my son with his Junior Ranger Badge. We ended up spending a relaxing few hours here and out on the site and even went to a state fish hatchery that is quite close. It was nice to see the Snake River and we ended up driving over to Minidoka which was on our way as we traveled east. All in all it was worth it for us to come to this site and reminded me that sometimes a relaxing, smaller venue can be more fun than a large one.

cathym505

As previously mentioned, this visitor center is quite small. The ranger we met was very friendly and knowledgable, even though she's only been in the area a short time. The highlight is the life size replica of the Hagerman horse. Come on Smithsonian, the least you could do is give one of the originals back! Start at the visitor center first before you start on the driving tour so you know what to expect and won't be disappointed.

Roderick19

The small visitors center at Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument also serves as the visitors center for this section of the Oregon National Historic Trail and the visitors center for Minidoka Interment National Monument. The rangers in service at the Hagerman center are very knowledgeable about all three monuments and are extremely helpful in locating other interesting sites in the Hagerman-Jerome-Twin Falls area. The visitors center features a bookstore and children's activity room. As noted in other reviews, the fossil beds and Oregon Trail overlook are located about 8 miles south of the visitors center on scenic US 30. The overlooks at the fossil beds present magnificent views of the countryside and the Snake River Canyon. The self-guided driving tour of the fossil beds and Oregon Trail overlook requires about 1.5 hours. Bring food and drink.

drsyn2

The Visitors Center is very nice. They have several fun activities for children. They also have some authentic fossils on display. Unfortunately, the original fossils found in the nearby fossil beds were taken to the Smithsonian and the fossil beds are now just an overlook. The staff was very nice and helpful.

texasproud

I had the pleasure to meet one of the most helpful ranger's I have ever encountered in a visitor's center (in Hagerman). As far as the site, just across the river, it leaves something to be desired. There is only a scenic lookout and no trails, frankly this was kind of a disappointment. The Oregon trail winds through the area and you can see the ruts from the original trail (and trails are available for this portion). The visit is nice, but trail system in the Fossil area should be improved.

RJSP

I had wondered for many years what this place was all about. On a recent trip I took the time to drive to the visitor center and was glad to finally see it. The space is very small, but they've packed a lot of information and interesting fossils into it, plus there is information on the WWII internment center that is somewhat close by. Maybe more than the visitor center, the drive along the river in the Snake River Canyon was wonderful and definitely worth the extra time.

asialover24

Saw a sign and thought "let's go do that, sounds interesting" and it was. Very educational. After stopping at the visitor center in town drive a few miles, cross the snake river, and then drive some more to see where the fossils came from. Also you will see the Oregon trail from one of the overlooks. You can walk a trail if you want, but not necessary. Look for the 1000 springs coming out of the bank of the river.

KenY944

Our GPS took us around the block twice, and we thought we were going to the site. It turns you can't go to the site without a tour. The site is 35 miles away. They had lots of fossils and a very knowledgeable ranger there named Carol. We also visited the Minidoka internment section, and ended up going there the next day. Well worth the trip.

Chukes17

The people at the visitor center are super nice and the area has decent scenery; however, if you have other things on your agenda, I do not think that this is worth your time. There really isn't much to see or do here so do not go out of your way just to come see this. I was pretty disappointed and did not feel like I got the experience of seeing fossil beds like I had hoped.

123carolyn123

Visit the site of important fossil finds and also the route of the Oregon Trail. Exhibits do a nice job of telling you about both. Visitor center in Hagerman has interesting exhibits, films, and books.

wdbrownusa

The visitors center is extremely modest, especially compared to those at Fossil Butte in Wyoming and John Day in Oregon. The people were great, though.