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Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

Florissant, CO

"When the mountains are overthrown and the seas uplifted, the universe at Florissant flings itself against a gnat and preserves it."-- Dr. Arthur C. Peale, Hayden Expedition Geologist, 1873.

A beautiful mountain valley just west of Pikes Peak holds spectacular remnants of the earth's prehistoric life. Huge petrified redwoods and incredibly detailed fossils of ancient insects and plants reveal a very different Colorado of long ago. Almost 35 million years ago, enormous volcanic eruptions buried the then-lush valley and petrified the redwood trees that grew there. A lake formed in the valley and the fine-grained sediments at its bottom became the final resting-place for thousands of insects and plants. These sediments compacted into layers of shale and preserved the delicate details of these organisms as fossils. The Florissant Fossil Beds are world-renowned, and in 1969 were set aside as a part of our National Park System; Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.

CONTACTS

Email - FLFO_Information@nps.gov

Fax- 719-748-3164

Write to
P.O. Box 185
15807 Teller County 1
Florissant, CO 80816-0185

Phone
Headquarters - (719)748-3253

TRAVEL BASICS

Operating Hours, Seasons
OPERATING HOURS, SEASONS: Daily, summer: 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; daily, winter: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving, December 25, January 1.

Getting There
PLANE - Colorado Springs is the closest airport to the Monument.

CAR - DIRECTIONS: 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 to the visitor center on Teller County 1. Visitors traveling east/west on US 24: Exit to the town of Florissant, then follow signs two miles south on Teller County 1 to the visitor center. Visitors traveling from the town of Cripple Creek: Follow Teller County Road 1 north for 16 miles. TRANSPORTATION: To Park: access by US Highway 24 and Teller County Road 1. FEES, COST, RATES: April - November; $2.00/person, $4.00/family, and $10 for an anual pass. Receipt is valid for seven days. No fee for children aged 16 years or younger; Golden Eagle, Golden Age, and Golden Access Passes are honored.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - none

Weather & Climate
CLIMATE, RECOMMENDED CLOTHING: Summers are generally of short duration with pleasant warm days and cool nights. Freezing temperatures can sometimes occur during summer months. Sub-zero lows are common in the winter; dress in warm layers to keep dry and to prevent hypothermia. The altitude is 8,500 above sea level so pace yourself in any season, drink a lot of water, and use sunscreen.

Accessibility
Accessibility: The visitor center and associated petrified stump displays are fully wheelchair accessible. The self-guided trails and the Hornbek Homestead are accessible to ADAS Challenge Level I.

Getting Around
Trails Petrified sequoia stumps can be seen on the Walk Through Time (1/2 mile) and Petrified Forest (1 mile) trails. There are over 14 miles of easy to moderate trails through ponderosa pine forest and mountain meadows.

FEES/PERMITS

Entrance Fee
FAMILY
$4 for 7 Days

INDIVIDUAL/ADULT
$3.00 for 7 Days
$15. 00 for Annual
There is no fee for children aged 16 years or younger.

FACILITIES

Visitor Centers
MAIN VISITOR CENTER
Phone - (719)748-3253
Location - Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is 35 miles west of Colorado Springs, 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 to the visitor center on Teller County 1. Visitors traveling east/west on US 24: Exit to the town of Florissant, then follow signs two miles south on Teller County 1 to the visitor center. Visitors traveling from the town of Cripple Creek: Follow Teller County Road 1 north for 16 miles. TRANSPORTATION: To Park: access by US Highway 24 and Teller County Road 1.
Closures - Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day
Special Programs - Programs/Activities: There are regularly scheduled interpretive talks and walks by rangers during the summer season. In addition, rangers lead a series of free mini-seminars on various weekends during the summer. Education groups can be scheduled any time of the year, check our education page for available programs, and call the monument for advanced reservations. Junior Ranger Activities: During the summer months there are Junior Ranger actvities every weekend; or request a copy of our Junior Ranger self-guided activities from the front desk.
Exhibits - The visitor center serves as an interpretive and information center. Fossil and other exhibits are on display and books and brochures are available. The 1878 Hornbek Homestead is preserved as an example of early homesteading in the Florissant Valley. The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Available Facilities - The Rocky Mountain Nature Association, a non-profit National Park Service Cooperating Association, manages a bookstore/sales outlet in the park visitor center. Items purchased from the Association support the interpretive and educational programs of the Fossil Beds. There is a wide selection of natural and local history books, children's nature books, as well as maps, nature videos, audio cassettes and games. Membership in the RMNA offers the benefit of discounts at the bookstore, as well as those at Rocky Mountain National Park and other sites.

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