A Guide to Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Florissant, Colorado, boasts some of the largest petrified tree stumps in the world. It’s very much reminiscent of Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park, but I’d argue that it’s the more impressive of the two parks.

These stumps are huge, y’all. 

If you’re out there somewhere all, “What the heck is a petrified tree, and what are they even so afraid of?” I’ve got it all covered for you in this detailed guide to Florissant Fossil Beds.

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Where is Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument?

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is in a grassy mountain valley in Florissant, Colorado. This unincorporated town in central Colorado lies in Teller County. You’ll find it west of Colorado Springs.

What is Florissant Fossil Beds known for?

Florissant Fossil Beds is known for its diverse fossil deposits and variety of petrified stumps and fossilized insects and plants from prehistoric eras.

The monument is a great representation of the diversity and richness of fossil evidence in the state of Colorado.

Interested in more Florissant Fossil Beds facts? There are so many fossils in Colorado because of something called the Denver Formation. About 70 million years ago, the Rocky Mountains started to rise, forming what would become the Front Range. 

Waterways flowing off of this range created the Denver Formation, a silty, sandy stretch of land that just so happened to be super hospitable to fossilization. 

Much of the state of Colorado also used to be underwater. If you could take a time machine to about 92 million years ago, you’d be surrounded by sandy beaches, rushing rivers, and lakes that ebbed and flowed based on the glacial activity of the day.

It wasn’t all a beach party, though.

Volcanic activity off the shores contributed to an environment that probably wasn’t ideal for life back then but was pretty close to perfect for the petrification of trees. This is similar to what was going on at the John Day Fossil Beds in Oregon.

Fun fact: When I talk about “petrified” in terms of trees, all I mean is fossilized wood. Petrification is when trees and plants turn to stone thanks to a mineralization process. You could say Medusa was pretty good at petrification.

How old are the Florissant Fossil Beds?

The Florissant Fossil Beds are at least 34 million years old if evidence of plant life there is to be believed. The late Eocene Epoch dominates the fossil history at Florissant. 

During this time, marshy, wet valley plants dominated the landscape down below and the large redwoods that you can see petrified today dominated the skies.

How Long to Spend at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

You should spend at least a few hours at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.

Two hours will give you time to explore the visitors center for a brief overview and one of the short, easy hikes around the park. With more time, you can take a deeper dive with one of the longer hikes or spend more time with the fossil experts on hand.

Florissant Fossil Beds: Things to Do

There’s plenty to do if you have a full day at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. If you only have a few hours, don’t miss the visitor center and its outdoor exhibits and the Big Stump.

With more time, you can immerse yourself in the park and learn more about current paleontology projects.

Start at the visitor center.

The Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument visitor center is modest in size but full of helpful information about what you’ll see outside. 

Fun fact: If you’d like, they’ll run a movie for you to kick off your adventure.

While you’re in there, don’t miss the insect displays of fossils they’ve found in the park over the years.

If you have any questions about fossils at the park and available hiking trails or are still confused about petrified trees, the rangers there are super helpful. There was an additional table with paleontology experts just outside the visitor center on our trip.

Explore the outdoor exhibits.

There are quite a few goodies just outside of the visitor center where you can start your admiration for those giant petrified tree stumps.

You’ll meet The Trio, a threesome of stumps that all came from the same tree, along with frustrating exhibits about what folks used to do in the park.

Spoiler alert: They used to chop up the stumps for fun. We’re lucky there’s anything left for us to visit.

See the Big Stump.

An easy 1.1-mile loop along the Colorado Petrified Forest Loop is the best introductory hike at Florissant Fossil Beds.

The payoff is pretty great. You’ll get to see the Big Stump, one of the largest fossils in the park at 12 feet in diameter. 

He’s not the only game in town, though. The loop will take you to several more petrified stumps that seem just as impressive. You’ll know when you’re at something special if it’s fenced off for their safety.

Hit the trails.

There are over 14 miles of interconnected trails at the fossil park for you to choose from. You should start with the Petrified Forest Loop to see the most popular petrified stumps in the park, but there are more treks available if you have more time.

All trails below are shown with roundtrip mileage:

• Ponderosa Loop (0.4 miles): This wheelchair-accessible path passes the expected fossilized tree stumps with additional signage about more modern inhabitants of the park, like the ponderosa pines and spruce trees.
• Geologic Trail (1.2 miles): I love a nice trail with interpretive signage. Learn about wooly mammoths and ancient lake beds along this hike. You have about 100 feet of elevation on this one in a short distance, so bring the water.

• Hornbek Trail (3.9 miles): This trail takes you to the Hornbek Homestead, a structure that’s been here since 1878. This is a moderate trail thanks to 322 feet of elevation gain, but you’ll pass through plenty of flat bits near the meadows. 

Note: If you’re all for homesteads but not interested in hiking, you can still see the historical site with less effort. Drive a mile north of the national monument to access the Hornbek Homestead with zero hiking involved. Did you run out of time? Check out the virtual tour of the site from the NPS.

• Sawmill Trail (2.6 miles): Pass through sweet-smelling forests and potential elk spotting on this moderate trail. If you want to add about 1.3 miles to this one, tack on the Hans Loop for views of Pikes Peak.
• Boulder Creek Trail (3 miles):  This loop trail takes you through ponderosa pine forests, meadows, and views of large granite borders with about 265 feet of elevation gain.
• Shootin’ Star Trail (2.6 miles): Cross streams and look for signs of bygone years — and farming activity in particular — on this moderate trail. Expect just over 150 of elevation gain on this one.
• Twin Rock Trail (5 miles): You can link up with this one from the Shootin’ Star or Hornbek trails. As I said, these trails are interconnected. While this is the longest trail in the park, it’s still moderate with just 280 feet of elevation change.

Visit the learning lab.

If you’re at the Florissant Fossil Beds in the peak summer months, they’ll likely have a yurt set up for additional hands-on learning.

The learning lab is a great stop to make if you’re traveling with curious youngsters (or adults, really) who want to know more about digging efforts at the park.

Sit in on a ranger talk.

The nearby amphitheater is also an option for additional activities if you time your visit right. That’s where they host ranger talks about things going on at the Florissant Fossil Beds.

Check out the park’s events calendar for planned activities at the Florissant Fossil Beds. Their Night Sky Programs are particularly popular, as Florissant is pretty lucky when it comes to dark skies ideal for star activity.

Can you dig for fossils at Florissant Fossil Beds?

You can’t dig for fossils at Florissant Fossil Beds. That work is left to the professionals.

To preserve the integrity of what you’ll see there, some of the petrified stumps have been returned to their natural state over the years. That means the National Park Service has stopped digging up stumps in some of the more delicate areas of the park. 

If you really have a hankering for digging, you can visit the Florissant Fossil Quarry a little over two miles north of the monument.

It’s a popular stop for families traveling to Florissant with kids or anyone who wants to get more immersive with some fossil hunting. 

Whether you’re there for a short trip or a half-day adventure, every explorer gets a set of instructions, fossil hunting tools, and fossil-rich shale to split and examine for fossils.

How to Get to Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

If you’re not already in the area, you’ll likely want to get to Colorado Springs first. Colorado Springs Airport is an option if you’re looking for direct flights. Colorado Springs to Florissant Fossil Bends is less than an hour’s drive.

You’re more likely to find good deals out of Denver International Airport if you’re seeking budget airfare. It’s about two hours from Denver to the Florissant national monument.

We visited the fossil beds after a day trip to Pikes Peak from Fairplay, Colorado. 

No matter where you’re starting from, you’ll need a car to get to the park. You can rent a car from the airport using an aggregator like Hotwire or Priceline.

Once you’re parked in the lot near the visitors center, Florissant Fossil Beds is best explored on your feet.

What to Bring to Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument 

If you have an America the Beautiful pass, show it inside at the visitors center before you get started with your day. While this one isn’t a national park, it’s still covered by national park passes.

Otherwise, you’ll pay a very reasonable Florissant Fossil Beds cost of $10 to explore the monument.

As far as other things to bring along to make for a successful visit, sunscreen and water are always a good idea if you’re hitting the trails. We didn’t get too aggressive on our visit, but it did get warm once that afternoon sun hit. There wasn’t much shade on many of the trails.

Note: We spent about a month in the mountains of Fairplay, Colorado, and could count the number of completely dry days on one hand. Be prepared for inclement weather, especially if you’re visiting the Florissant Fossil Beds in the afternoon when thunderstorms are more common.

More to Do Near Florissant Fossil Beds

If you have more time in the area, many attractions await beyond Florissant:

• Visit Colorado Springs. Highlights like the Garden of the Gods, The Broadmoor Seven Falls, and Red Rock Canyon await just 45 minutes away from Florissant.
• Take a trip up to Pikes Peak. See America’s Mountain, the inspiration for “America the Beautiful.” Just make sure you’re with someone who knows how to shift gears appropriately. You’ll need to stop for a brake check on the way down.

• Test your fear of heights at Royal Gorge Bridge. Walk the subtly swinging bridge hanging over the Arkansas River in Cañon City. This theme park of bridges is just an hour’s drive from Florissant.
• See the inspiration for South Park. We spent a full month in Fairplay, Colorado, and it still didn’t feel like enough. The hiking in and around the small mountain town is tremendous. Get there in under an hour from Florissant.
• Hike in Pike National Forest. You’re surrounded by the Pike-San Isabel National Forests in Florissant. Find a quiet corner on the region’s best trails. If you haven’t had your fix of old trees yet, don’t miss the 3.5-mile Limber Grove Trail.

Florissant Hotels & Where to Stay

Colorado Springs offers more options for accommodations within an easy drive of the park, but if you want to stay closer to the fossil action, there are a few places in Florissant proper for your overnights.

They’ll look more like cabins and vacation rentals than traditional hotels, but doesn’t that sound great?

Use the map below to get started:

Florissant Fossil Beds Colorado FAQs

Is Florissant Fossil Beds worth visiting?

Florissant Fossil Beds is worth visiting, even if you only have a passing interest in fossils. Seeing the enormous petrified tree stumps here is a treat.

The park also offers quite a few hiking opportunities for you to engage in while you’re here and imagine what it may have been like for creatures during the Eocene Epoch.

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