Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
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.
Visitors traveling north/south on I-25: Exit at US 24 West, travel 35 miles to town of Florissant, then follow signs two miles south on Teller County Road 1 to the Visitor Center. Visitors traveling from town of Cripple Creek: Follow Teller County Road 1 north for 16 miles.
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
- Junior Ranger Program
- Snowshoeing
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Colonization and Settlement
- Animals
- Elk
- Fossils and Paleontology
- Petrified Wood
- Geology
- Night Sky
- Astronomy
- Trails
Big Stump
Walk the Petrified Trail Loop to see fossil redwood stumps
Ancient Wasp Fossil
Captured 34 million years ago, this ancient wasp and other insects are on display at Florissant Fossil Beds NM.
Hornbek Homestead Visitors
Visitors explore the Hornbek Homestead, built in 1878.
Junior Rangers
Youth of all ages participate in the Junior Rangers program at the Monument.
Self Guided Trails
View from the top of the self-guided Geologic Trail