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Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument |
Description:
"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.
Designations:
National Monument (August 20, 1969)
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.
Activites:
Educational Programs | Hiking | Horseback Riding | Wildlife Viewing | Bird Watching | Nature Walks | Stargazing | Cross Country Skiing | Snowshoeing | And more.
Facilities:
Visitor_Centers | Picnic Areas | Comfort Stations | Museum Exhibits | Tours & Guided Activities | And more.
Nature: Fossils | And more.
Directions to Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
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
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