Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

We visited Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument and hiked the Petrified Forest Loop. It’s a short and easy trail, perfect for enjoying the scenery and learning about the park’s fascinating history. The giant petrified redwood stumps along the path are truly impressive, and the interpretive signs give great insight into the area’s prehistoric past. The landscape is peaceful, with open meadows and mountain views. A beautiful spot for a quick walk and a step back in time! Don’t miss the video in the visitor center.

It’s an important area to preserve but definitely a monument. May have limited enjoyment for some. Having been to Redwoods NP seeing petrified redwood stumps in Colorado really gets the mind thinking about how the earth has changed over time. Also detailed is the exploiting of limited natural history and how fragile protecting these areas really is. We enjoyed our visit - there are plenty of hiking opportunities.

Outstanding hiking for little kids! The Junior Ranger program here is great. My 6 y/o and 2 y/o had a great time “hiking” out to Big Stump, looking at the wildflowers and wildlife, checking out the Visitor Center, and filling out their Junior Ranger workbook at the Petrified Stumps Amphitheater. Beautiful experience. Take water and get there early, it gets hot!

We really enjoyed our visit and seeing the petrified trees was amazing. They have gone to great lengths to protect these. Don't expect to find fossils just lying about, but the museum has an excellent collection. The homestead is also worth a visit just a mile down the road. Lots of prairie dogs and ground squirrels!

Interesting place with petrified redwood. A couple of hiking trails from short to long. Trails by the visitor center are easy. Visitor center has souvenir shop, theater and some exhibits to learn about this place.

Friendly staff, informative small museum with a movie, quaint gift shop area, two cold water fountains with fillers (bring your own drinking container), clean bathrooms. A couple hiking trails of different lengths. An old homestead on property as well.

Loved it. Various trails with history along the way. Awesome views

Cool spot to stop and check out fossilized trees and learn some history of the area. There is a short hike you can do as well as some longer ones.

Cool out of the way NPS site. Beautiful scenery. Accessible on well maintained, flattish trails. Nice interpretative content. Nice junior ranger. Enthusiastic volunteers. Good place to check out.

Very interesting place. It's amazing what time and weather can do to the Earth. If I was much younger I would be so excited to be one of the people searching for artifacts. The petrified tree circle is the easiest trail. I would have loved to walk them all, but my body wouldn't let me, especially at the altitude of park, somewhere around 8000 feet. And by the way, there is no tarp it's, like a previous yelper mentioned.

We were not planning to stop here but we were in the area and it was a beautiful day so we swung off hwy 24 and pulled into the visitor center. We walked the one mile loop and found it to be very informative regarding the petrified redwoods. We really enjoyed the history of the early entrepreneurs who tried to exploit and abuse these fossils. Also interesting that one of these redwoods in now at Disneyland! A great short detour!

I visited the Florrisant Fossil Beds last summer and think that this is a great place for easy hiking and seeing petrified redwoods. There is an entrance fee of $10 per person and there are plenty of open parking spaces. It can get very hot and there is not a lot of shade cover so dress and plan accordingly. The park rangers are nice and knowledgeable. One of the park rangers really went into depth when talking about the monument and why this place is so unique and special. It was great to learn some history about this place and how things came to be here. The hiking trail that we did wasn't very long, maybe a little more than a mile. Along the way there are several petrified redwoods that you can see and they are all different looking, which makes the trail more fun. Overall, this is a great place to go if you're looking for an outdoor activity.

So many great hiking spots to choose from and you will not be disappointed. When I've gone on weekdays there's hardly anyone out there. One thing to keep in mind: parking is $10 but you get an entire week pass for just $10. There's a QR code scanner to pay when you park, but good luck getting service. Other than that I'm always hiking here and I love it. Would highly recommend!

Loved the Tar Pit loop. This short 1 mile Trek provided amazing views of the region. The loop has tones of preserved redwoods that have been slowly excavated over time. Lots of science and history.

Gorgeous scenery, beautifully maintained and educational trails. We loved the Boulder Creek trail recommended by the park staff!

Absolutely beautiful area, amazingly clean and well maintained trails, and the rangers were wonderful! So helpful! Bought an annual pass to keep experiencing this wonder of nature!

Honestly, the fact that this place doesn't accept cash is ridiculous. When I asked the rude woman behind the counter that is, she slapped a piece of paper on the counter containing their list of reasons. We walked out instead of giving our money to her rude ass.

Well worth the drive from Colorado Springs to see this National Monument dedicated to fossils and to get a glimpse of what central Colorado looked like 300 million years ago. Hard to believe that this grassy meadow was once a lush forest with a huge lake. What remains is a rich collection of fossils and petrified redwood trees. Some of the stumps are 14 feet in diameter. The exhibit hall has easy to follow graphical displays. Don't miss the movie which helps you visualize what is out there. Good trails for hiking. Thank God for the scientists and concerned citizens who helped make this site a National Monument and keep it away from land speculators.

This was a very nice national park site. I is not far from Colorado Springs and it is worth the trip. There are several trails, including a short loop just outside of the visitor center that is kid-friendly where you can see the fossilized tree stumps. The visitor center itself is a nice building with clean bathrooms. However, I'd the visitor center is busy don't hesitate to use the vaulted toilets by the parking lots. They are the nicest vaulted toilets I have ever used! Also, don't forget to get the junior Ranger booklet so your kids, or yourself, can earn a neat badge!

This place was awesome! It's a tiny monument -- you can see the entire thing in a day. But the scenery is beautiful, the visitor center/museum it really informative and has tons of fascinating and beautiful fossils, and the very easy hiking loop to the amazing petrified tree stumps is great. The monument is only a short detour off the highway; Highly recommended.

After my young daughter had just received her Jr. Ranger badge and certificate we walked outside and observed a group of rangers. One of them, a woman, was spouting off about a guest she was irritated by and she said "Can you believe this fucking guy?!" So...instead of visiting the arts and crafts yurt, we left. They had a small amount of nice fossils inside but aside from that and the nature trails, there wasn't anything here that makes this an extraordinary place to visit. Save yourself the trip and the F bombs and go somewhere else. There are plenty of other beautiful and interesting places in CO to visit.

We made a minor detour on our way from Colorado Springs to Salida in order to visit this national monument. Although my wife had suffered a severe knee sprain earlier in the day while hiking, she attempted to walk to the small visitor center. A ranger came along and brought her a wheelchair that we used in the center and then along a paved path past a couple of petrified redwood tree stumps. There is a short video that runs in the video center that was informative. We probably would have enjoyed our stay more if we could have taken a walk along one of the trails that run through the monument.

This is a really nice place. When we arrived it was undergoing construction on the parking lot. It has a very nice visitors center and the Park Rangers are very helpful. The park is free. The ranger suggested that we watch the 15 minute movie explaining the park, then read the information in the small museum and then explore the park. We did all three. The movie does a good job of explaining how the pieces became fossilized. The museum has many interactive displays for children and boards that explain various aspects of what the park encompasses. Then we left to take a hike. We chose the trail that went south and ended up hiking a good 2 miles. The main paths are nice sidewalks. The longer paths are gravel but fairly mild in grade. It was a pretty day and an enjoyable walk. I hope to return here and will try to do more of the paths. Good place to have easy (but long) hikes.

Give me a good national monument any day and I am one happy gal. This is a smaller monument which I almost prefer as you can wrap your arms around all the information. The visitor center has a lot of great information about the fossils as well as a pretty interesting yet shorter video. I might have missed it but the best fossils they talked about in the video I wasn't able to find even a replica of in the center. Probably missed it honestly. We took the petrified redwood walk that is about a mile on mostly flat ground and then branched off to the 1/2 mile Geological trail. From the Geological trail you can sit on a bench and look out over the valley which offers really lovely views of the area. The ranch house was all locked up so we didn't spend much time there but it was interesting to see the original homestead.

OMG! What a wonderful place for a hike. Definitely the best fossilized Forrest I have seen. Worth the visit

May 18~I'm a national park junkie. This was my #105 Park. We loved the park. Love the petrified trees. Different from the ones I've seen in the past and the only place I've ever seen a live tree growing within a petrified tree. Enjoyed talking with Bill inside and getting recommendations of hikes. We then went to the Adeline house to have a look around. Here we met Ranger Rick. What a treasure he is to this park. He loves his job and it shows. We enjoyed talking to him and he had answers for all our questions. Fun time exploring the park. Great place for families!

Hidden gem. If you are near Colorado Springs/Pikes Peak/Garden of the Gods then it is definitely worth a visit. Spectacular visitor center, petrified stumps, fossils, and even an old homestead. Highly recommended.

This one is a bit of a puzzle for me. Granted there are some nice nature walks and there was a nice collection of fossils to view. No question this place deserves its national monument classification as this preserves an important area for further scientific study but as far as visiting this place I was disappointed enough to not recommend people to visit other than locals. The reason is because there are other places that offer far more than this one does. First the scenery is not that spectacular. You don't get any good views of the mountains from there. Second, it's far removed from any major towns. So getting here is a bit of a challenge for someone not from the area. Third, if you want to see petrified tree stumps then go to petrified forest in Arizona. Fourth, if you want to see fossils and possibly dig for them then consider John Day fossil beds in Oregon.

Though we're locals, we hadn't been to the Fossil Beds so we visited today to celebrate the last day of the NPS Centennial festivities. It was beautiful, with lovely hiking trails and many hands-on educational activities that my both my 8 & 13-yr olds really enjoyed. On the day we were there, the visitors center had several wonderful dioramas and learning stations as well as an exhibition of beautiful paintings by a local artisan. The educational yurt was a lot of fun as well, with many activities for the children including fossil panning, microscope stations, animal pelts and a chance for the budding paleontologists to catalogs their findings. Then we took a short drive up the road to the Hornbek Homestead for a wonderful tour of this historic site. We had an awesome visit and look forward to exploring the Fossil Beds again in the near future.

Such a national treasure right in our own backyards ! A great place to learn. I highly recommend a visit to to fossil quarry as well, wher you can find your own fossils of a variety of ancient life.

The Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is well worth the stop If you're in the area. The park is a short drive from Colorado Springs and is a historical gem. The park was easy to find and there is ample parking. Upon going to the visitor center to pay the entrance fee I was immediately greeted by a very friendly park ranger who was thrilled to tell me about the history of the park and show me some samples of fossils that came from the park. It's illegal to collect or disturb fossils, rocks, or other natural substances from the park and visitors are encouraged to touch and interact with the samples at the visitor center. There is about 15 miles of trails meandering through an ancient lakebed and visitors can pick their desired combination of trails to make their hike as easy/hard as they'd like. Most of the trails are a very easy stroll making the location very family friendly! A nearby volcano eruption hit the lake bed and left miles of fossilized plants, insects and animals and some of the largest specimens of petrified redwoods. Visitors can walk right up to uncovered redwood remnants throughout the lake bed or they can stay closer to the visitor center where there are pavilions covering and preserving some of the larger redwoods. The park has great views of Pikes Peak, Mount Pisgah, Crystal Peak and other notable mountains. There is signage throughout to tell you about the historical significance to the Ute tribes that are in the area, the history of the park and the rock formations and the ongoing preservation efforts. The visitor center was clean and welcoming. The mini gift shop was a nice touch too.

For us two old fossils Florissant presented a bit of a walking challenge. The Center kindly lent us a wide tracked wheel chair to navigate the unpaved lightly graveled surface but we turned back early and fully enjoyed the film and exhibits. There is plenty to see using the sidewalks alone. Kids buzzed around filling in their Junior Ranger books. Consider bringing your picnic lunch and doing hiking to make a day of it at Florissant if you are a family. People who are not as mobile (and over 21) might consider continuing on to Cripple Creek for a scenic ride on the narrow gauge railroad and a little casino action.

Without question, viewing petrified redwood stumps and a cabinet full of small fossils was fascinating-- and within a hundred yards of the parking lot. The rangers are well informed and happy to share information. The majority of the park consists of hiking trails, and we took a 4-5 mile hike along the wildlife trail, spotting a chipmunk or two. The terrain of this particular trail wasn't very challenging, and the walk was pleasant-- although about a half-mile of it was on the shoulder of the local road.

As the website says "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." I am not sure how no one has yelped about Florrisant Fossil Bed National Monument before. The fossils, rocks, hills, and valleys that make up Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument reveal to us an ancient story of redwood forests, volcanic eruptions, and a climate much different than today. In addition to a rich ancient history, the Florissant valley also contains the stories of prehistoric hunting and gathering Paleo-Indians, the Ute and Jicarilla Apache peoples, the travels of a pioneer nation, and of early scientists making their way through discovery into a different time. Admission is cheap, there are wonderful strolls & hikes, you get to see something completely different then you have ever seen before, and you get to learn more about the way the earth and Colorado have been shaped.

We are lucky to live only 10 minutes from there and we as a family have to be so careful to not take this beautiful National Monument for granted. Their are beautiful Hiking Trails all around from as easy as 1 mile loop to more challenging trails and the Ranger Station is very informative as are the people working there. Our boys loved the Junior Ranger Program and have learned so much about Nature and History there.

Talk about a serious case of "Better late than never!" Dang. After eighteen years of living in Colorado I finally took a Saturday to explore Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (FFBNM). Good grief. This is an exceptional historic treasure and I encourage folks of all ages to go check it out. If you go in July, the weather is pleasant, the wildflowers are abundant, and the crowds are reasonable. For the enthusiastic hiker, FFBNM sports 14 miles of hiking trails! However, if you prefer to stroll at your leisure as you take time to imagine what the area looked like 34 million years ago when Colorado actually had Sequoia Redwood trees, dinosaurs, an active volcano in Guffey, and a heck of a lot more water, venture down one of the shorter trails (anywhere from 1/2 mile (wheelchair accessible) to 5.6 miles RT). The Visitor Center is quite effective in its effort to help guests understand how Florissant and the surrounding area have transformed over time through the use of interactive, relevant exhibits, a film every 20 minutes, artifacts, and ranger-led talks in the amphitheater. The rangers who oversee FFBNM and its Visitor Center were very present and interested in educating the public the entire time we were there (3 hours). And, despite having sworn in 51 other Junior Rangers earlier that same day, the rangers greeted my two 10-year old daughters with a genuine enthusiasm and encouragement when they requested their own Junior Ranger packets. We truly appreciated the professionalism. Too, Ranger Jeffrey Schloemann went the extra mile by helping us print out and complete the activity forms required of my girls to get their National Park Service Girl Scout Ranger badge! Check out the FFBNM's website for more information about their night sky programs and nearby Hornbek Homestead. I understand you can even have a great time in the winter months too. When there is enough snow, the Monument's "gentle meadows, hills, and trails can be a great place to snowshoe or cross-country ski." Count me in! Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is, quite simply, a superb and precious Colorado attraction. Website: https://www.nps.gov/flfo/planyourvisit/things2do.htm

Wonderful place to hike. Staff is always friendly and there to answer questions. Yoga hike on Monday's during the summer and fall is amazing. Highly recommend for locals and for company when they come to visit!

I love this park! I feel like it has something for everyone. Great hikes, regular ranger programs, and now a nice new visitor center! The staff is very friendly and the park is very interesting, especially the fossil lab. It is one of my all time favorite national parks! #findyourpark

We visit a lot of national monuments, parks, and museums each year. This one was pretty disappointing. While we enjoyed looking at the sparse exhibits and visiting the adjacent Homestead location, the overall experience was severely lacking. It just didn't live up to our expectations especially when compared to the other attractions we have visited. The fee is nominal, or I would have been much more disappointed to spend money on this when we could visit other free attractions. I think if we lived nearby it would make an excellent hiking spot, however.

We enjoyed our time here very much. The rangers were eager to share their knowledge with us and our kids (aged 8 & 10) were proud to become Jr. Rangers. Since it's not close to a town I would recommend combining a visit here with other places, such as the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center.

Lots of hiking trails and much beautiful scenery, including several petrified Redwood stumps but I was disappointed in not seeing very many insect fossils. The Visitors' Center was very informative and the ONLY place I saw a few plant/insect fossils.

Super value for hours of fun. Ranger Jeff was great. Super enthusiastic. The visitors center was put together very well. Easy hiking loops around the area give you views of petrified redwood trees. A volunteer archeologist gave a great hands on lecture at one if the dig sites. Great family outing.

We drove to the place next door where you can farm fossils, but it had rained the day before and that place was closed. The monument was just down the road so we went. The park consists of hiking trails and a short film and was free, so I cant complain. We walked out and looked at the giant redwoods, but it started to rain again so we left.

Make sure you watch the movie at the visitor center first ...... and then check out their excellent displays and walk the-self-guided-tour ... very informative and educational

We were here in July 2010. Pretty cool. Poorly scripted and produced video in the main building. Very good live docent presentation in the amphitheatre out back. Nice walking trails. I've never seen so many rangers at one location in my life. Displays scattered all over. The place must have a big budget. A better, more cohesive and comprehensive set of displays would be good, to allow for a better understanding of the site.

Great place for a history lesson! Nice trails, well marked. Very friendly staff who can answer questions. They're getting a new building soon, which will really make things nice and modern...and green! Can't wait to come back!