Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

Walk the Petrified Trail Loop to see fossil redwood stumps
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.
Map showing location of park.
Florissant Fossil Beds Implements Stage 2 Fire Restrictions
Florissant Fossil Beds will move to Stage 2 fire restrictions at 12:01 AM on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. The restrictions are in alignment with multiple state and federal partners to reduce the risk of fire in the region.
Milky Way over the Hornbek Homestead
2026 Summer Night Sky Events
The National Park Service and the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society are excited to offer a series of night sky events at Florissant Fossil Beds this year. An International Dark Sky Park since 2021, Florissant Fossil Beds provides an excellent setting for viewing night sky wonders including the Milky Way, galaxies, planets, comets, satellites, and much more!
Fossil redwood stump
Photo by NPS Photo
palaeovespa, ancient wasp
Photo by NPS Photo
Visitors at Hornbek Homestead
Photo by NPS Photo
Junior Rangers in Visitors Center
Photo by NPS Photo
View of the Florissant valley with grassy meadows and mountains in the distance
Photo by NPS