National Monument
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
- Southwest
About Florissant Fossil Beds
Beneath a grassy mountain valley in central Colorado lies one of the richest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world. Petrified redwood stumps up to 14 feet wide and thousands of detailed fossils of insects and plants reveal the story of a very different, prehistoric Colorado.
From the National Park Service.
- Region
- Southwest
- State
- Colorado
- Designation
- National Monument
- Entrance fee
- $10, per person
- Trail data for this park is still being added.
- Places for this park are still being added.
Know before you go
Fees, hours, weather and getting to Florissant Fossil Beds.
Entrance fees
- $10 Per Person $10 per adult (age 16 or older). Admission is good for 7 days. Children ages 15 or under are admitted free. Fee covers entrance to all areas of the park including visitor center exhibits, film, outdoor exhibit area, hiking trails, picnic areas, Hornbek Homest…
Passes
- $35 Annual Entrance - Park
Hours
Hours
- Mon
- 9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Tue
- 9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Wed
- 9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Thu
- 9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Fri
- 9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Sat
- 9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Sun
- 9:00AM - 4:30PM
The Visitor Center is closed Mondays and Tuesdays during the winter season beginning September 14, 2026. Check the Visitor Center hours section for more information. The Visitor Center parking lot gate is locked daily at 4:30 pm. Be sure to park at the Hornbek Homestead if you think your hike may run late - this lot is open 24 hours a day as a designated Dark Sky viewing area.
Weather and when to go
Winter months - average high 40 degrees F; average low 5 degrees F; Summer months - average high 75 degrees F; average low 40 degrees F;
Getting there
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 on Teller County Road 1 to the Visitor Center. Visitors traveling from town of Cripple Creek: Follow Teller County Road 1 north for 16 miles.
Contact the park
- Address
- 15807 Teller County Road 1, Florissant, CO 80816
- Phone
- (719) 748-3253
- Official site
- nps.gov/flfo
From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.
Trip planner
A day-by-day plan for Florissant Fossil Beds
Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.
The trails and places you save below go into your plan as must-sees.
Plan your park trip Free. No account needed.
Things to do in Florissant Fossil Beds
The park service's own list, with how long each takes.
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Hiking the Petrified Forest Loop
Take a self-guided, one mile hike and see some of the biggest petrified tree stumps in the world.
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Hiking the Ponderosa Loop Trail
Take a stroll on a short, easy trail through a peaceful Ponderosa pine forest and learn about the area's natural history. The highlight of the trail is a modern Ponderosa pine tre…
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Hiking the Geologic Trail
This 1.2 mile trail highlights over a billion years of geologic history of the Florissant valley.
What to pack for Florissant Fossil Beds
Gear & Essentials
Tell us about your trip and we will add what else you will want:
The basics
Worth having in the car whatever the park.
For this trip
Traveling with kids
Bringing a pet
RVing
Backcountry
Winter conditions
On the water
Photography
Accessibility
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