Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument is a National Monument in Idaho. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 2 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Hagerman Fossil Beds
We matched 2 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Hagerman Fossil Beds. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Waterfalls (2)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Hagerman Fossil Beds the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 56° (ENE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 304° (NW) in June to 238° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 71° in summer but only 24° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8:08 AM | 8:52 AM | 4:47 PM | 5:31 PM | 242° | 9h 23m |
| February | 7:38 AM | 8:18 AM | 5:32 PM | 6:12 PM | 254° | 10h 34m |
| March | 7:53 AM | 8:30 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:46 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:59 AM | 7:37 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:22 PM | 284° | 13h 23m |
| May | 6:18 AM | 6:59 AM | 8:15 PM | 8:56 PM | 297° | 14h 38m |
| June | 6:02 AM | 6:45 AM | 8:38 PM | 9:21 PM | 304° | 15h 19m |
| July | 6:16 AM | 6:57 AM | 8:35 PM | 9:17 PM | 301° | 15h 02m |
| August | 6:47 AM | 7:26 AM | 8:04 PM | 8:43 PM | 290° | 13h 56m |
| September | 7:20 AM | 7:58 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:51 PM | 275° | 12h 31m |
| October | 7:54 AM | 8:32 AM | 6:20 PM | 6:59 PM | 259° | 11h 05m |
| November | 7:33 AM | 8:15 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:18 PM | 245° | 9h 46m |
| December | 8:04 AM | 8:50 AM | 4:21 PM | 5:07 PM | 238° | 9h 03m |
Computed for the park's reference point (42.7907, -114.9443); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Hagerman Fossil Beds, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 18° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 5:21 AM – 6:11 AM | 0.8 | 15° |
| April | 3:24 AM – 5:14 AM | 1.8 | 18° |
| May | 1:26 AM – 4:16 AM | 2.8 | 18° |
| June | 11:37 PM – 3:37 AM | 4.0 | 18° |
| July | 11:25 PM – 2:15 AM | 2.8 | 18° |
| August | 10:32 PM – 12:22 AM | 1.8 | 18° |
| September | 9:28 PM – 10:18 PM | 0.8 | 15° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
2 Estimated Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars.
Weather & best time to visit
Hagerman, Idaho, gets 10 inches of rain per year. On average, there are 213 sunny days per year in Hagerman, Idaho. The July high is around 94 degrees. The January low is 22. Our comfort index, which is based on humidity during the hot months, is a 78 out of 100, where higher is more comfortable. The US average on the comfort index is 44.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 32% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (72%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
The Thousand Springs Visitor Center is located about one mile north of downtown Hagerman on US Highway 30.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
Nearby parks
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