Entrance Fee
$10.00
/ Entrance - Per Person
Park Hours (Today)
9:00AM - 4:30PM
Florissant Fossil Beds Visitor Center: 9:00AM - 4:30PM
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About the Park
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.
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What to See & 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 history. The highlight of the trail is a modern Ponderosa pine tree growing out of a petrified redwood tree stump.
Hiking the Geologic Trail
This 1.2 mile trail highlights over a billion years of geologic history of the Florissant valley.
Self-Guided Tours
Walking Tour of Petrified Stumps
The walking tour includes the Visitor Center, Outdoor Stump Shelters, Shale Outcrop, and Big Stump. Optionally, a visitor could continue on the Petrified Forest Loop hiking trail before returning to the Visitor Center.
Virtual Wayside Tour
This virtual tour is based on two of our most popular and informative trails where you can learn more about the geologic heritage of the Florissant Valley. The Petrified Forest Loop wanders amongst giant stumps of ancient redwood trees that grew in this valley during the Eocene epoch 34 million years ago, while the Geologic Trail takes you even deeper to explore events of Earth’s history more than a billion years old. Click on the picture at the top of the pages to see the full image
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 pass, if you have one, and/or purchase passes. We also have trail maps and information to plan your visit and Jr. Ranger activity books available. Inside the Visitor Center, you will find a museum with fossil exhibits, a theater to see the park film, and a bookstore. The Visitor Center has restrooms and a water fountain and bottle filling station.
Parking & Access
Getting Here
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.
Official NPS directionsParking Lots
Hornbek Homestead Parking Lot
Access to trails, Night sky viewing, Porta-toilets available
Open in MapsGetting Here & Transit
How to Get Here
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.
Park Amenities
Entrance Fees & Passes
Standard Fees
Entrance - Per Person
$10.00$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.
Annual & Lifetime Passes
Annual Entrance - Park
$35.00Valid 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.
Operating Hours
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.
- Monday9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Tuesday9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Wednesday9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Thursday9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Friday9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Saturday9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Sunday9:00AM - 4:30PM
Live Webcams
Click any camera to open the live feed on the NPS website.
Photos
palaeovespa, ancient wasp
Visitors at Hornbek Homestead
Junior Rangers in Visitors Center
View of the Florissant valley with grassy meadows and mountains in the distance
When to Go
Crowd CalendarPlan your trip around peak seasons to avoid crowds or embrace the energy of the busy months. Our crowd predictions are based on historical NPS Visitor Use Statistics.
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Best Time
Year-round
Trip Length
1 day
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