Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

"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.

P.O. Box 185
15807 Teller County 1
Florissant, CO 80816-0185
(719)748-3253 - Headquarters

By Plane
Colorado Springs is the closest airport to the Monument.

By 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.

By Plane
none

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.

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.

Here are some of the activities that are offered at Mount Rainier National Park.

• Educational Programs
• Hiking
• Horseback Riding
• Wildlife Viewing
• Bird Watching
• Nature Walks
• Stargazing
• Cross Country Skiing
• Snowshoeing

Recommended Activities
RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES/PARK USE:
Attending a ranger led talk and tour during summer season;
observing petrified stumps and using the self-guiding brochures on
the Walk Through Time and Petrified Forest Trails; wildlife, bird,
and wildflower watching; sight-seeing at the historic homestead; hiking;
cross country skiing, and snow-shoeing in the winter.