Parks / Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
National Monument · CO
Beneath a grassy mountain valley in central Colorado lies one of the richest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world. Petrified redwood stumps up to 14 feet wide and thousands of detailed fossils of insects and plants reveal the story of a very different, prehistoric Colorado.
Official NPS page →Current Alerts (1)
Florissant Fossil Beds has moved to cashless fee collection
Entrance fees and pass purchases must be made with a credit/debit card or payment app on a mobile device. Electronic payment reduces transaction times, saves money, and improves accountability.
Entrance Fees
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument charges an entrance fee for each individual age 16 and up. Children ages 15 or under are admitted free. Fee covers entrance to all areas of the Monument including visitor center exhibits, film, outdoor exhibit area, hiking trails, picnic areas, Hornbek Homestead, self-guided tours, and ranger programs.
Things to Do
Hiking the Geologic Trail
This 1.2 mile trail highlights over a billion years of geologic history of the Florissant valley.
Hiking the Petrified Forest Loop
Take a self-guided, one mile hike and see some of the biggest petrified tree stumps in the world.
Hiking the Ponderosa Loop Trail
Take a stroll on a short, easy trail through a peaceful Ponderosa pine forest and learn about the area's natural history. The highlight of the trail is a modern Ponderosa pine tree growing out of a petrified redwood tree stump.
Visitor Centers
- Florissant Fossil Beds Visitor Center
Webcams
Source: National Park Service.