Wilderness Landscape & Natural Heritage
Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument is renowned for its rich fossil deposits that date back to the Pliocene epoch, approximately 3.5 million years ago. Located along the banks of the Snake River, the monument covers over 4,000 acres of sedimentary rock layers that preserve one of the most significant assemblages of fossil plants and animals in North America. The monument is especially famous for the Hagerman horse, one of the earliest known ancestors of the modern horse, Equus. Visitors to the monument can explore the vast terrain that features rolling hills, river views, and occasional sightings of diverse local wildlife. Although there are no formal trails due to the need to protect sensitive fossil beds, guided tours provide educational insights into paleontological discoveries, local geology, and the ongoing conservation efforts to preserve this invaluable record of Earth's history.
