Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument

It may be difficult to believe that the horse species actually originated in North America millions of years ago and horses do not naturally exist on this continent in modern times. Modern horses were first imported during the European colonial conquests and they now roam wild in many regions of the west, yet there is a very long time gap between when the prehistoric horses first called this place home. All this horse information and much more is explained in great detail at the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, which is actually where the first prehistoric horse fossils were unearthed!

​The Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument is one of the richest natural history resources in the entire west and this destination is a great learning experience for visitors of all ages. The old digs along the Snake River will certainly conjure up images of the golden age of paleontology and the old historic Oregon Trail actually runs through this property. Pronghorn Antelope can be seen grazing in the sagebrush hills in the morning and the Snake River trout fishing is also best this time of day. There are information placards in the fossil bed fields, while a vast amount of facts concerning the ancient horses can be found in the visitor center, which is located in downtown Hagerman, Idaho. Over 200 other prehistoric species were unearthed at the Hagerman Fossil Beds, so be sure to set plenty of time aside to experience it all!