Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Florissant, CO
Giant petrified redwood stumps and fine fossil insects in a mountain meadow west of Pikes Peak. Short trails from the visitor center on Teller County 1.
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is a fossil site in the mountains of Colorado, about 27 kilometers (17 miles) north of Cripple Creek. The site was discovered in 1873 by Dr. A. C. Peale during the USGS Hayden Expedition. It contains the deposits of an ancient lake that was buried by dust and ash from several volcanic eruptions. The fossils date from the Eocene and are about 34 million years old. Most of them still lie underground.
What you can see is mainly the petrified redwood stumps; one giant specimen on the Petrified Forest Loop measures about 11.6 meters (38 feet) around. The visitor center displays a small selection of the roughly 50,000 fossils excavated so far, including the only fossil tsetse flies. The area has about 24 kilometers (15 miles) of trails through meadows and hills: Ponderosa Loop (0.8 km), Petrified Forest Loop (1.6 km) and Hornbeck Wildlife Loop (6.4 km). The Hornbeck homestead dates from 1878 and was settled by Adeline Hornbeck and her four children.
Practical notes: overnight stays are not permitted in the monument. The nearest lodging is in Lake George (4 miles west) and Woodland Park (15 miles east), both on U.S. Highway 24. The site works as a day trip from Cripple Creek, Colorado Springs or Cañon City.
- Nearest town
- Florissant, CO
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 38.9140, -105.2860
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. Cold, short days in December–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Grouse Mountain CampgroundMotorhome stopover6 mi from Florissant Fossil Beds National MonumentMotorhomesElectricity
- Spruce Grove campgroundCampsite18 mi from Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
- Banks CampgroundCampsite20 mi from Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
- Sand Gulch CampgroundCampsite21 mi from Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
- Garden of the Gods RV ResortMotorhome stopover22 mi from Florissant Fossil Beds National MonumentMotorhomes
- Foot of the Rockies RV ResortMotorhome stopover24 mi from Florissant Fossil Beds National MonumentMotorhomes
All campsites in Colorado · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument?
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is in Florissant, CO, at GPS 38.9140, -105.2860. It is about 13 mi from Cripple Creek.
Can you camp near Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Travel Port Campground, about 5 mi away; within 25 mi there are 66 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument?
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Pikes Peak, Cripple Creek and the Royal Gorge.
What is there to see near Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument?
Places worth a stop nearby: Pikes Peak Summit (14 mi), Garden of the Gods (23 mi), Royal Gorge Bridge (31 mi) and Mount Blue Sky (50 mi).
When is the best time to visit Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)