Hagerman: Fossils, History and Nature

When planning a trip to Hagerman, you can focus on different things: fossil history, historic traces, fish and wildlife viewing, or hot springs.

The Thousand Springs Visitor Center is the site of the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument and Thousand Springs State Park. It offers maps and information about both areas.

Fossils and Historic Traces

The Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument preserves one of the world’s richest fossil deposits from the Pliocene. Fossil excavation sites there are not open to visitors. At the Oregon Trail Overlook, the ruts of the Oregon Trail are visible. This gives you two different topics to choose from: the fossil history of a Pliocene deposit and visible traces of the Oregon Trail. When planning your trip, these focuses can be clearly distinguished: here, the subject is fossils; there, it is the history of the Oregon Trail.

Cultural History in the Hagerman Valley

The Hagerman Valley Sheep Monument commemorates more than 130 years of sheep raising and breeding in the Hagerman area. The monument area includes an original, restored sheep transport vehicle belonging to the Jones family. The wagon connects the long tradition with a tangible object related to sheep transport. Another historical reference is the Morris-Roberts Mercantile Building. It was originally built in 1898; the Hagerman Valley Historical Society acquired it in 2022. The dates have different roles: 1898 marks the construction, and 2022 the society’s acquisition. The time frames also differ: the Sheep Monument is about a tradition spanning more than 130 years, while the Mercantile Building is about construction and acquisition in specific years.

Fish Viewing, Hot Springs and Wildlife

The Hagerman Fish Hatchery is open to visitors daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in designated areas, with no appointment required, so you can view the fish. If you plan a visit, you can schedule fish viewing during this time window without making an appointment. The natural geothermal area of the Hagerman Valley has three public hot springs and swimming pools. Before your trip, check the respective operators and conditions if you want to make this part of your plans more specific. The hatchery’s visiting hours and designated areas are different planning considerations from the operators and conditions of the hot spring offerings.

The Hagerman Wildlife Management Area is nearby, south of Hagerman, and offers walking trails with unpaved surfaces. Trails around Oster Lakes provide opportunities to view waterfowl, songbirds, and other wildlife. The Riley Creek Pond Viewing Blind is located near the hatchery in the WMA and offers an opportunity for close-up observation of waterfowl. The viewing opportunities differ in focus: at Oster Lakes, the range extends from several groups of birds to other wildlife, while the blind focuses on close-up observation of waterfowl. The unpaved surface is a specific detail you can consider when planning a walk.

For a broader travel overview: Gooding County.