Hagerman Fossil Beds is a US national monument and contains the largest concentration of Hagerman horse fossils in North America. The fossil horses for which the monument has been named are only found in only one locale in the northern portion of the monument, a fossil bed called the Hagerman Horse Quarry.

The fossil beds were designated a National Natural Landmark in 1975 and was reclassified as a National Monument in 1988.

This national monument covers and area of 4,352 acres and contains the richest known fossil deposits from the late Pliocene Epoch, which dates to about 3.5 million years ago. During the Pliocene Epoch, this area that is now known as a national monument had quite a different appearance that it does today.

What one would have seen who was in this area during that epoch are forests, grasslands, lush wetlands, forests, all of which provided excellent habitat for a variety of animals. Some of these animals alive at that time include: ground sloth, mastodon, saber-toothed cat, mastodon, all of which are now extinct, as well as familiar animals like beavers, birds, horses and peccary. The scientific study of Pliocene fossils is the key to Hagerman.

This fossil beds is located about a mile north of Hagerman, Idaho on US highway 30, at: 17970 US Highway 30, Hagerman, Idaho.

The indigenous people have lived here for thousands of years. The sons of Jerah were the first to arrive along the Snake River, and since then, their descendants, the Shoshone tribe continues to camp along what they call the Bia Ogwaide (Snake River). fishing its waters for salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon. Also, it is likely that they were the first to see fossils eroding out of the steep bluffs along the river.

Lava Flow (Craters of the Moon NM)

Three Island Crossing State Park (42.9446472, -115.3180319)

Snake River

Craters of the Moon National Monument

Snake River Birds of Prey Area