12 Top Things to Do In Hagerman Idaho [Hot Springs + Camping Details]

LOOKING FOR THINGS TO DO IN HAGERMAN?

We can help! We both grew up in Idaho and love exploring our home state. We had such a great time exploring all of the fun things to do in Hagerman ID. There is so much more to do there than we originally thought, ranging from the Hagerman hot springs to prehistoric fossil beds to beautiful canyons, state parks, and waterfalls.

A weekend is just enough time to scratch the surface of what Hagerman has to offer. We’ll highlight our favorite things to do here and fill you in on all the need-to-know details.

Things to do in Hagerman Idaho

There are a lot of fun things to do in Hagerman Idaho no matter what outdoor adventure you are looking for. There are a number of Hagerman hot springs as well as waterfalls, fossil beds, bird watching, and camping. It is a great place to visit over a long weekend.

Hagerman Hot Springs

1. Miracle Hot Springs

If you are looking for a more private hot springs experience, Miracle Hot Springs has 15 private pools as well as general admission pools. When we went, we swam in the general admission pool and had a great time swimming with our kids. There are multiple general admission pools that vary in water temperature.

The private pools are smaller and are more of the size of a hot tub. The VIP pools are first come first served but you can now make a reservation online.

General admission pools have a flat rate and the regular and VIP private pools charge by the hour. You can also book a massage at Miracle Hot Springs.

This Hagerman hot springs is nine miles south of the small town of Hagerman. This is one of our favorite things to do in Hagerman ID.

2. Banbury Hot Springs

Banbury Hot Springs is just up the road from Miracle Hot Springs and is managed by the same people. There is a large geothermal swimming pool as well as five individual hot pools. The outdoor swimming pool has a diving board which adds some fun to swimming.

Kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals are available at this Hagerman hot springs.

3. 1000 Springs Resort

1000 Springs Resort is found on the banks of the river in Hagerman with beautiful views. It is home to the only indoor Hagerman Hot Springs pool. There are very family-friendly accommodations here like lifeguards, a two-foot toddler pool as well as a tube slide, and two diving boards.

You can also bring your own snacks into the pool or there is a snack bar available for purchases.

There are some private tubs available.

4. Hagerman Idaho Fishing

The best place to go fishing in Hagerman is the Hagerman Wildlife Management area. There are a bunch of ponds managed by the Hagerman WMA and have stocked trout, bass, and bluegill. The season opens on March 1^st and Fish and Game stocks these ponds with over 5,000 fish.

Most of the ponds have docks to easily access the water making it very family-friendly.

Where can I fish in Hagerman Idaho?

Here is a list of the ponds stocked and managed by the Hagerman Wildlife Management area and are great places for Hagerman Idaho fishing.

• Riley Pond – trout
• Oster Lakes – trout
• Anderson Ponds – four ponds with bass and bluegill (only open from July 1 – Oct 31)
• Bass Ponds  

Riley Creek Pond and Oster Lake #1 have ADA access docks.

5. Whitewater Raft the Hagerman Reach

The Hagerman Reach, part of the Snake River, is an eight-mile stretch of river with a number of Class 2 and Class 3 rapids. These size rapids are high enough to have a good time whitewater rafting but are still good size rapids for families.

Idaho Guide Service has been operating whitewater rafting trips since the 1970s. The trip starts below Lower Salmon Falls Dam and continues for about nine miles. In order to reserve a trip, you need a minimum of four people.

6. Boating and Kayaking in Hagerman

There are two free boat launches at the Upper and Lower Salmon Falls reservoirs. These are good for kayaking and canoeing but are also used for water skiing, fishing, and jet skiing.

If you are looking for areas for non-motorized boats, there are a bunch of lakes and ponds. Some of the top choices are Billingsley Creek, Ritter Island, and the Snake River reservoirs.

7. Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument Visitor Center

When setting out to explore the actual fossil beds, the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument Visitor Center should be your first stop. The Visitor Center is full of hands-on activities for the kids and has a fossil cast of the Hagerman Horse. There is also a short video that explains more about the park. If you’re visiting with kids, this is one of the best things to do in Hagerman.

Within the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, there are no fossil quarries or places where you can actually see the fossils in the ground. There are two different overlooks that give you great views of the monument.

The first is the Snake River Overlook that is about seven miles from the Visitor Center. Here you get great views of the general stratigraphy and the Snake River.

The second stop is the Oregon Trail Overlook, which is about 10 miles from the Visitor Center. From the parking lot, there is about a ¼ mile walk to the overlook. If you’re up for a three-mile hike, you can look at wagon ruts on the Oregon Trail.

8. Hagerman National Fish Hatchery

A quick but fun stop is at the Hagerman National Fish Hatchery in Hageman Idaho and the state fish hatchery that is just up the road. Here you can see growing fish native to Hagerman Idaho as well as different display tanks.

Our favorite tank featured sturgeon, a type of fish that can grow to be more than 20 feet long.

9. Ritter Island

Another fun thing to do in Hagerman Idaho is to explore Ritter Island. The island is usually open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It has one of the last areas of natural springs in Thousand Springs State Park.

There is a two-mile trail around the island, and you can visit Minnie Miller Springs. There is a trail leading to the springs from the old dairy barn. You can also explore the Minnie Miller Farm and tour the dairy barn.

There is also another fun trail you can explore, even if the island is closed. The River Trail takes you up close to some of the waterfalls. If you do go on this trail, be careful because there is lots of poison ivy. You can find the River Trail by turning left before the Ritter Island gate.

If you are visiting this area as a day trip, this is a must-see.

10. Box Canyon

Another beautiful stop in Hagerman ID is Box Canyon. As you are parking, you’ll think to yourself, why on earth are we here. The views of dry ground will leave you questioning this stop but give it a chance! It is about a mile into the canyon but the views once you are there are beautiful!

The best part of this walk was that it is stroller friendly which made it so much easier for Rowen and Raven. Once you reach the canyon, you can look down the 200-foot canyon and see water bubbling up from an aquifer. There isn’t railing around the canyon so be careful with the little ones.

From the observation deck, follow the trail for about another quarter mile for additional views of the canyon. This will also lead you down into the canyon.

There are some steep and rocky parts but will take you down just by the springs. You can’t take a stroller on this section of the trail. It is one of the wonderful things to do in Hagerman Idaho.

11. Niagara Springs

This was probably one of our favorite spots in the Thousand Springs complex. The drive from Hagerman to Niagara Springs is gorgeous. There are sweeping views of the Snake River canyon and a beautiful golf course.

Once arriving in the park, drive to the end of the park for the best views of the waterfalls. If it is open, you can also explore a private-owned trout hatchery. There is also a steelhead hatchery just up the road that raises 1.8 million steelhead a year.

12. Malad Gorge State Park

On our way out of town, we stopped at Malad Gorge State Park. The craziest part about this state park is that a freeway passes right over it, and most people have no idea what they are missing out on as they drive by going 80 miles per hour.

Our favorite part of the park was the Devil’s Washbowl Overlook. There is a great display that tells you about the area’s geological history and the gorge. There is a bridge that takes you across for wonderful views of the waterfall and canyon.

After you cross the bridge, walk down the paved path for a bit so you can see the Devil’s Washbowl as a whole. Exploring this area is one of the easiest things to do in Hagerman because it is just off the freeway.

There is an interpretive loop that has five marked stops you can take if you’d like to explore more of the park. The loop was closed for the season when we went so, we will have to find another time to stop by to further explore Malad Gorge in Hagerman Idaho.

Another really pretty nearby waterfall is Shoshone Falls.

Restaurants in Hagerman, Idaho

While the downtown area is small, there are a few yummy Hagerman Idaho restaurant options.

• Snake River Grill
• Papa Kelsey’s Pizza & Subs
• Bullzz-Eye BBQ
• Los Potrillos Mexican
• Fire Pie Pizza

Hagerman Idaho Lodging

There is a wide variety of accommodations available in Hagerman, located in Southern Idaho. Whether you’re looking for a hotel, bring your RV or looking for a night under the stars, there are some great places to stay in Hagerman.

Hagerman Idaho Hotels

Hagerman Valley Inn: The Hagerman Valley Inn has a beautiful common area as well as outside seating. Each room has a balcony with outdoor seating, a private bathroom, free WiFi, and a TV. The rooms are very clean and cozy.

The hotel is pet-friendly. The Snake River Grill is on-site and the Hagerman hot springs are about 8 miles away.

Billingsley Creek: Along with standard hotel rooms, they have a number of cabins for rent. These cabins are cute getaways for couples looking for a romantic weekend. We stayed here once before we had kids and had a great time. Some of the cabins have kitchenettes and are quite spacious.

The property has large mature trees and lots of grassy areas. There is also a nice outdoor fireplace and a grill. Fishing and hiking are available nearby.

Hagerman Idaho Camping

If you are tent camping or bringing an RV to Hagerman, there are a few campgrounds close to the downtown area and fun things to do.

Hagerman Idaho RV Parks

Hagerman RV Village: This RV Park is near Thousands Springs State Park. There are 57 campsites with hookups. Tent camping is not allowed.

Thousand Springs Resort: We camped at Thousand Springs Resort. We took our trailer over but still opted for a dry campsite. The campsites are on a grassy spot right on the river, across from Ritter Island and beautiful waterfalls. It was such a picturesque location. There are 18 RV sides with hookups and 40 tent campsites.

Banbury RV Campground: This campground accommodates both RV and tent campers. There are three tent spaces with a fire pit and picnic table. There are 11 RV spaces with full hookups.

Miracle RV Campground: There are 10 RV spaces, 3 tent spaces, and 2 group tent sites at Miracle RV Campground. The group sites fit 3-5 tents and the individual tent spaces have a 12’x16’ tent pad. All of the RV spaces have full hookups.

Where is Hagerman Idaho?

Hagerman is in the state of Idaho near Jerome and Twin Falls. It is just west of I-84.  

Directions to Hagerman Idaho

How far is Hagerman from Boise?

The drive from Boise to Hagerman is about 1 hour and 34 minutes. It is 98.2 miles away.

You will take I-84 E to exit 141. From there, you will take US-30E for about 9 miles into downtown Hagerman.

How far is Twin Falls from Hagerman Idaho?

The drive from Twin Falls to Hagerman is about 43 minutes. It is a 36-mile drive.

You will take I-84W to Exit 155. From there you will continue onto E 2950 S to US-30 W. Turn right onto US-30W which will take you to downtown Hagerman. 

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