National park · United States
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Give it half a day, not a full one: walk the 1-mile Petrified Forest Loop and the 0.5-mile Ponderosa Loop, see the Big Stump, and arrive at opening (9:00) in summer — the visitor centre shuts at 16:30 year-round and the trails have no gate.Give it half a day, not a full one: walk the 1-mile Petrified Forest Loop and the 0.5-mile Ponderosa Loop, see the Big Stump, and arrive at opening (9:00 AM) in summer — the visitor centre shuts at 4:30 PM year-round and the trails have no gate.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
24 km² (9 sq mi)9 sq mi (24 km²)
approximate
Established
1969
Best months
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
At a glance
- Country
- United States
- Area
- 24 km² (9 sq mi)9 sq mi (24 km²)
- About 6,000 acres of high parkland and fossil-bearing shale (check).
- Established
- 1969
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Colorado Springs
Florissant protects a lake bed that dried up around 34 million years ago and left behind shale full of insects, leaves, seeds and fish, plus petrified sequoia stumps wider than a car. It is small, low-key and cheap, sits at about 2,600 m (8,400 ft) between Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek, and takes half a day. The visitor centre keeps business hours; the Homestead area stays open around the clock for stargazing.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national site · 1969National monument, managed by the National Park Service.
Size and age
24 km² (9 sq mi)9 sq mi (24 km²) · national park since 1969
About 6,000 acres of high parkland and fossil-bearing shale (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Colorado Springs.
Why go
- Petrified sequoia stumps from the Eocene, including the Big Stump at roughly 38 ft around.
- An active excavation pit on the Petrified Forest Loop where shale is still being split for fossils.
- A 2021 International Dark Sky Park designation: the Homestead lot is open all night for telescopes.
- Cheap and quick: one fee covers the trails, the film and the ranger talks.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprCaution
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovCaution
- DecAvoid
- JanCold, snow on trails; visitor centre open but little else
- FebSnow; check road conditions on County Road 1
- MarSnowmelt mud; some snow still falling
- AprMild days, sudden snow showers
- MayDry trails, ranger programs restarting
- JunLong days; afternoon thunderstorms build
- JulWettest month; start early, storms by midday
- AugWettest month; same storm pattern
- SepClear, dry, fewer people after Labor Day
- OctCrisp and quiet; early snow possible
- NovCold; short days
- DecSnow and ice on the loops
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black bearsApr–Oct · Present in the area; encounters are uncommon. Store food properly. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Elk and mule deerMay–Jun, Sep–Oct · Most often seen at dawn and dusk near the boundary. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
| Wildflowers in the high parklandJun–Jul · The name Florissant means 'flowering'. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no |
| Night sky (Milky Way, meteor showers)All year · Dark Sky Park since 2021; best on moonless nights. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Colorado Springs
US-24 west about 30 mi to Florissant, then south on Teller County Road 1 for 2 mi; the road runs through the monument.
45–60 min
Open the page →
From Cripple Creek
County Road 1 north for about 18 mi.
30–40 min
From Denver
I-25 south to Colorado Springs, then US-24 west.
2–2.5 h
From Colorado Springs airport (COS)
Roughly 46 mi by road; no public transport to the monument.
1–1.25 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor centre and Amphitheater | Fossil displays, the orientation film, ranger talks and the petrified stumps by the seating area. | Open during visitor centre hours only. |
| Petrified Forest Loop | The old Lake Florissant bed, the Big Stump and the Scudder excavation pit. | Open dawn to dusk; no gate, no fee collection on the trail. |
| Hornbek Homestead | Five preserved homestead buildings and a picnic area. | Grounds and parking open 24 hours; buildings during visitor centre hours. |
| Ponderosa Loop and backcountry trails | Modern forest, culturally modified trees and the longer routes toward the boundary. | Open dawn to dusk; snow-covered in winter. |
Sketch map
- 1Visitor centre · Headquarters≈38.914, -105.28515807 Teller County Road 1; fossil displays and the orientation film.Map ↗
- 2Amphitheater stumps · Viewpoint≈38.914, -105.286Approximate; ranger talks and a group of petrified stumps.Map ↗
- 3Big Stump (Petrified Forest Loop) · Trail≈38.916, -105.290Approximate position on the 1 mi loop.Map ↗
- 4Scudder excavation pit · Trail≈38.916, -105.291Approximate; 0.1 mi spur off the loop.Map ↗
- 5Hornbek Homestead · Village≈38.906, -105.276Approximate; open parking area used for stargazing.Map ↗
- 6Town of Florissant · Town≈38.945, -105.289Approximate; fuel, food and the private fossil quarry.Map ↗
- 7Cripple Creek · Town≈38.747, -105.178Approximate; 18 mi south on County Road 1.Map ↗
Take the points offline
7 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates are approximate, taken around the visitor centre and the main loops for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entrance, per person (age 16 and over) | US$10 | person | 2026 estimate; under 16 free. Confirm the current rate on the NPS site before you drive out. |
| America the Beautiful annual pass | US$80 | pass | 2026 estimate; covers this monument and other federal fee areas for a year. |
| Ranger programs and night sky events | Free | person | Included with entry; some events need a reservation (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Entrance fee permit or guide
Fossil collecting no permit
Night sky programs no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- US$10
- US$80
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on National Park Service — Fees and passes, Florissant Fossil Beds before you go.
Park rules
- No fossil collecting
- Removing rock, fossils or plants from the monument is prohibited; this is the main rule rangers enforce.
- Stay on trails
- Off-trail walking damages the shale exposures and the grassland.
- Visitor centre hours
- The building keeps business hours, typically 9:00–16:30; the trails and Homestead lot do not.The building keeps business hours, typically 9:00 AM–4:30 PM; the trails and Homestead lot do not.
- Dogs
- Not allowed on the trails; they may be walked in the parking areas only (check).check
- Drones
- Launching drones is not permitted in the monument (check).check
Where to stay
In the park
Christ Haven Lodge
The only lodging inside the monument boundary; a retreat-style property, book ahead.
Near the park
Woodland Park
The closest full range of motels and rentals, about 20 min east.
Near the park
Cripple Creek
Historic mining town with hotels and casinos, about 18 mi south on County Road 1.
Near the park
Mueller State Park
Camping and cabins about 12 mi east; the nearest tent and RV option.
Safety
Altitude medium
Afternoon thunderstorms medium
Snow and ice on trails medium
Black bears low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The Ponderosa Loop is wheelchair accessible at 0.5 mi.
- The visitor centre, film, restrooms and picnic area near the centre are step-free.
- The Petrified Forest Loop is mostly level but has uneven dirt and some roots; the spur to the excavation pit is short and rough.
Visiting lightly
- Do not pocket shale or fossil fragments; the exposed beds are the reason the monument exists.
- Carry out everything, including picnic leftovers, so bears and ravens are not drawn to the trails.
- Use red-light torches at night sky events to protect other people's night vision and the dark-sky status.
- Buy fuel and food in Woodland Park or Cripple Creek rather than expecting services in the town of Florissant.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument?
A per-person entrance fee applies, about US$10 for adults with under-16s free (2026 estimate). The America the Beautiful annual pass at about US$80 covers this monument and other federal fee areas for a year. Pay at the visitor centre desk — there is no fee station on the road.
What are the best hikes in Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument?
The Petrified Forest Loop, 1 mi and easy, passes the Big Stump and a spur to the active excavation pit. The Ponderosa Loop is 0.5 mi and wheelchair accessible. Longer backcountry routes use the rest of the park's roughly 15 mi of trail; all are gentle compared with Front Range hikes because the terrain is open parkland.
When is the best time to visit Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument?
May, June, September and October: dry trails, clear skies and fewer people. July and August are the wettest months with afternoon thunderstorms, and December to February brings snow and ice on the loops. The visitor centre keeps business hours year-round, typically 9:00–16:30.
Can I collect fossils there?
No. Collecting is prohibited inside the monument. The private Florissant Fossil Quarry in the town of Florissant lets visitors split shale and keep finds; it opens seasonally, roughly Memorial Day to Labor Day, closed Sundays (check).
Do I need a reservation?
No for normal visits — pay at the desk and walk the trails. Some ranger programs and the quarterly night sky events may need a sign-up; check the park calendar before a long drive.
Is it worth it with children?
Yes for a half day. The loops are short, the Junior Ranger booklet suits ages 6–11, and the visitor centre has real fossils at eye level. Combine it with Cripple Creek or Mueller State Park rather than making it the whole day.
Can I see the night sky?
The Hornbek Homestead area and its parking lot stay open 24 hours for stargazing, and the monument is an International Dark Sky Park. Telescopes and laser-guided tours run quarterly with the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society, weather permitting.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
- officialNational Park Service — Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
- officialNational Park Service — Fees and passes, Florissant Fossil Beds
- officialNational Park Service — Night sky programs, Florissant Fossil Beds
- secondaryWikivoyage: Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, revision 5314683 (CC BY-SA 4.0)