About Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
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.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
Winter months - average high 40 degrees F; average low 5 degrees F; Summer months - average high 75 degrees F; average low 40 degrees F;
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: Colorado. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Entrance Fees
$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 Homestead, self-guided tours, and ranger programs. Pay ahead of your visit at https://www.recreation.gov/sitepass/2683.
Operating Hours
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.
Activities
Current Alerts
Winter Operating Hours in effect September 14, 2026: the visitor center is open five days a week, Wednesday through Sunday, closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Entrance fees and pass purchases must be made with a credit/debit card or payment app on a mobile device. Electronic payment reduces transaction times, saves money, and improves accountability.
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.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Entrance Passes
Valid for one year. Covers entrance fees for card-holder and up to 3 other adults in your party. Children ages 15 or under are admitted free. Accepted only at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Hiking the Petrified Forest Loop
Take a self-guided, one mile hike and see some of the biggest petrified tree stumps in the world.
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…
Hiking the Geologic Trail
This 1.2 mile trail highlights over a billion years of geologic history of the Florissant valley.
Visitor Centers
Florissant Fossil Beds Visitor Center
The Visitor Center is where you should start your visit to Florissant Fossil Beds. Please meet our Rangers in the Visitor Center to show your…
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
Nearby Cities for Trip Planning
These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.
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