Four southern Idaho national parks and recreation sites drew more than 430,000 visitors in 2025, with the Minidoka National Historic Site near Jerome setting an all-time attendance record, according to figures released by the National Park Service.
Combined, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, City of Rocks National Reserve, and Minidoka National Historic Site recorded 431,522 recreation visits during the year. The milestone came despite a 43-day partial federal government shutdown — the longest in U.S. history — that temporarily complicated park operations.
Minidoka Doubles Visitation in a Single Year
The standout figure in this year’s data belongs to Minidoka, where 43,539 people visited the site that commemorates the World War II-era Japanese American internment camp. That total is nearly double the previous year’s tally — which had itself been a record at the time.
The rapid growth in visitors at Minidoka reflects a broader national trend of renewed interest in historic sites that document difficult chapters of American history. The site does not offer camping, but visitors logged 73,857 recreation hours at the location in 2025.
Wade Vagias, the National Park Service superintendent who has overseen Craters of the Moon since 2015, noted the range of experiences available across the region’s parks. “People visit the southern Idaho parks to travel through an otherworldly volcanic landscape, attempt challenging rock climbing routes, explore an area where prehistoric species once roamed, learn about a regrettable chapter of history,” Vagias said in a statement, adding that the parks offer a wide range of additional experiences.
Craters of the Moon Leads in Total Visits
Craters of the Moon remained the top draw among the four sites, pulling in 260,418 recreation visits. Visitors spent nearly 774,000 hours within the park’s boundaries, and overnight campers logged 17,837 stays during the year. The monument’s volcanic terrain along the Snake River Plain continues to attract travelers from across the country and beyond.
City of Rocks National Reserve, tucked into southern Idaho’s Cassia County, recorded 90,898 visits. The reserve is a popular rock climbing destination and drew 8,137 overnight camping stays managed through the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, along with 42 backcountry overnight stays under National Park Service management. Total visitor hours at City of Rocks reached more than 319,000 for the year.
Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, which shares management of the Thousand Springs Visitor Center with the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, welcomed 36,667 recreation visitors who spent nearly 55,000 hours at the site. The monument, which preserves fossils from prehistoric species that once roamed the Snake River region, does not offer overnight camping.
Shutdown Did Not Deter Visitors
Officials noted that the National Park Service and the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation worked together during the partial government shutdown to keep facilities open and accessible. The two agencies share management responsibilities at both City of Rocks and the Thousand Springs Visitor Center, a partnership that proved important during the extended funding disruption.
Visitation data collected each year helps the National Park Service determine how to allocate staffing, maintenance resources, and visitor services. Annual figures for all parks nationwide, including historical data dating back to 1979 for some sites, are available through the NPS Visitation Statistics Dashboard online.
The strong 2025 numbers at southern Idaho parks reflect continued interest in the region’s unique combination of natural and historical attractions — from the lava fields and cinder cones of Craters of the Moon to the solemn grounds of Minidoka, where more than 13,000 Japanese Americans were held during World War II.
As Twin Falls County and the broader Magic Valley region continue to attract new residents and businesses, outdoor recreation at nearby federal lands remains an important part of the local quality of life and economy. For those looking to honor history closer to home, a recent tribute at Sunset Memorial Park highlighted the community’s commitment to remembering those who served.
What Comes Next
Park officials have not announced specific plans based on the 2025 visitation data, but increased attendance typically triggers reviews of visitor services, trail maintenance needs, and staffing levels. The record numbers at Minidoka in particular may prompt additional investment in interpretive programming and site infrastructure. Visitors planning trips to any of the four southern Idaho sites can find current information through the National Park Service’s official website at nps.gov.