Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is a United States national monument in the south central region of Colorado. It is known for a large abundance of Eocene Epoch fossils, ranging from imprints of twigs and seeds in shale to massive ancient fossilized Sequoia tree stumps which can be more than 40 feet in diameter. Unlike many national parks, Florissant Fossil Beds operates on standard business hours, 8AM to 6PM in the Summer months, 9AM to 5PM in the Fall, Winter, and Springs months.

Understand
The word "Florissant" is French for "flowering" or "flourishing".

Visitor information

 * Park website

By car
Take US Highway 24 west from Colorado Springs for to the small town of Florissant, then turn south on Teller County Road 1 for 2 miles. The road runs through the middle of the park.

By plane

 * Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (COS) is away in Colorado Springs.

Fees and permits
Entrances fees are valid for seven days, allowing unlimited re-entry for the week. Fees as of 2020 are:
 * $10 - Individuals 16 years old or older
 * $35 - Florissant Fossil Beds Annual Pass

Get around
Most of the park is accessible by well maintained trails.

Hiking
There are 15 miles of hiking trails in the park.

Stargaze
The Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument achieved status as a International Dark Sky Park in 2021.

The Hornbek Homestead area and parking lot is open to the public 24 hours a day for stargazing. Visitors from cities often bring telescopes to the Homestead to observe the night sky free of light pollution.

The Florissant Fossil Beds hosts Night Sky Programs at the Visitor Center. Telescopes and laser pointer tours are provided by the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society. The events occur quarterly, weather permitting. The next event is scheduled for August 2nd, 2024. See the Florissant Fossil Beds website for more information, and see the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society calendar to see when the next event is scheduled.

Buy
The visitor center has the usual history books, games, clothes, children's activities, among other things.

Eat
There are 3 picnic areas in the park: one near the visitor center; the Barksdale Picnic Area off of Lower Twin Rock Road; and at the Hornbek Homestead.

Drink
Several vending machines near the visitor center offer a variety of soft drinks.

Sleep
There in only one non-affiliated place to sleep in the park, and no places in the town of Florissant.

Lodging
Plenty of lodges are located in the nearby towns of Cripple Creek, Woodland Park, and others.

Camping
The nearest place to camp would be Mueller State Park or the Pike National Forest, flanking the park to the East and West.

Stay safe
Remember that the national monument is at over 8,000 feet (2,500 m) of elevation. If you are coming from a lower altitude then take some preventative measures against altitude sickness. Take a few days to acclimate to the high altitude.

Of course, as with many locations in the Rocky Mountains, black bears are present in the area. Bear encounters here are not terribly common, and the threat they pose is not extremely high; however, caution is still prudent. Some might bring bear spray to ease their minds.

Go next
Continuing south 18 miles on County Road 1 will lead to the city of Cripple Creek, a popular town rich with gold mining history and gambling casinos.

The Florissant Fossil Quarry, located in the town of Florissant, provides an opportunity to hunt for and collect fossils from the Florissant Formation. Of course, collecting fossils from the national monument is prohibited, but the Fossil Quarry is an independent entity located outside of the monument. They are normally open from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day, closed on Sundays. Their hours are from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, weather permitting. See their website for pricing and more information.

And of course, there is Pikes Peak.

Mueller State Park, a 12-mile drive east of the monument, is a state park with over 44 miles of trails, 134 campsites, four picnic areas, and some fishing and limited hunting opportunities. See the park website for more information.