Ready to take on a new adventure? Consider a visit to Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Colorado. It's a great place to learn more about America's ancient origins.
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is found in its namesake town and is located just outside the larger metropolitan city known as Colorado Springs. The area the monument rests on is home to over 1700 fossil deposits including some species of redwood trees that span 14 feet. Many of the fossil artifacts located in this region are extremely detailed and fragile.
The grounds themselves bear evidence of once being the settling place of such people groups as the Paleo-Indians, the Ute, and the Jacarilla Apache. Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is also a hotbed of activity for many different varieties of wildlife, making it a great place to capture some unusual species on film.
The property itself is nestled within hilly terrain on the edge of the central Rocky Mountain range and is extremely picturesque and tranquil. At the monument you'll have access to a visitor's center, an educational film, exhibits, and a fossil learning lab. Guided tours of the fossil beds are also conducted daily by reservation and for a fee.
For the opportunity to step back in time to learn more about America's rich fossil history, consider a trip to Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. It's an interesting place to spend a day.
Park hiking trails currently have a range of conditions varying from clear and dry to patchy snow, mud and icy spots in the shaded areas. The one-mile Petrified Forest loop is clear. The 1/2 mile Ponderosa Loop is shaded and still has snow and icy spots.
The park is closed Sundays (Visitor Center, main parking lot & nearby trails). The Visitor Center is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 9am to 4:30pm. On Mondays, the Visitor Center may have reduced hours or remain closed.
During the winter and early spring, if you plan to hike the park trails it is recommended to be prepared with proper footwear, traction devices, and trekking poles. Some areas of the trails can be snow-packed and/or icy and slippery.
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.
The journey from Colorado Springs, CO to Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument encompasses 34 miles in total. To reach the monument, follow US-24 W/W Hwy 24 to Twin Rocks Rd in Teller County. Take the exit to Twin Rocks Road and continue along this highway until you spot the monument premises up ahead. The route to this monument travels along highways of two lanes. Each road is kept in good condition, and traffic moves along well. Construction occurs occasionally, so be prepared to experience delays.
Parking is available via a lot at the entrance to Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.
There is no public transportation available to the monument site.
About 12 miles from the monument, you'll find RV accommodations at Mueller State Park. There are 132 campsites here that can house RVs and motorhomes up to 60 feet. This campground is only available through reservations online or by phone from May to the end of September. Starting in October, a limited number of winter campsites are available on a first come, first served basis.
Expect to have access to electrical hookups, laundry facilities, and showers among the facilities here.
There are over 40 miles of trails waiting be explored and an abundance of wildlife in this beautiful park so you'll never run out of things to do.
Lake George is a great place for families to enjoy getting in a little exercise on the water. The lake is a refreshing place to take a dip after a day leisurely perusing the fossils at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. The swimming is unsupervised here, so do exercise caution and only enter the water when the weather conditions are favorable.
Bring along drinking water, snacks, and some sunscreen. Your dog may join you at the beach but must remain on a leash.
Since you are so close to Mueller State Park, take advantage of the numerous wildlife viewing opportunities here. The park spans over 5,000 acres of wilderness and trails. You can spot black bear, coyotes or bobcats. You might also be lucky to see some elk, deer or foxes.
Make sure you bring your camera with you and even if you don't catch some of the spectacular wildlife during your travels, you will still get to explore the amazing acres of aspen and conifer forests.
The property at Lake George Cabins and RV Park is home to many different hot springs. You can soothe your aching muscles after climbing the valleys and hilly terrain of the fossil beds with a relaxing dip in one of the springs. Is there a better way to unwind after a day of fun in the sun?
Both the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument and Mueller State Park are great places to enjoy a picnic lunch. You will find an abundance of picnic areas at both spots. Fancy something a little more rustic? Why not picnic just outside one of the fossil beds?
Bring a packed lunch from home and lots of drinking water. Your dog may join you on your picnic but must remain leashed.
The property at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is full of hiking trails for families to enjoy. There are two self-guided nature trails found directly on the grounds in addition to a network of other trails which cover 14 miles of terrain.
The views are spectacular on each of the hikes, affording families a great view of the surrounding Rocky Mountains as well as hills and wooded regions. There is also a lot of unusual plant and animal life found throughout the premises.
Lake George is an excellent spot to get in some fishing. Grab your rod and your reel and head out in your canoe or power boat or fish directly from the shore.
If the water is particularly warm, why not dive in and take a swim?
When you've caught your fill for the day, fillet your fish back at your campground to grill over an open fire. What could be more delicious than a feed of freshly caught fish in an incredibly beautiful setting?
