Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 4, 2025
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is a national park located in Teller County, Colorado.
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Summary
This park is famous for its well-preserved fossil beds from the Eocene epoch, approximately 34 million years ago. Visitors can see an amazing variety of ancient plant and animal fossils, including giant redwood trees, insects, and even some mammals.
One of the biggest reasons to visit Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is to learn about the fascinating history of the earth's flora and fauna. The park's interpretive center provides insight into the geologic processes and conditions that created the fossil beds, as well as the animals that once roamed this area.
Visitors can also enjoy scenic drives, hiking and biking trails, and fishing. Some popular trails include the Ponderosa Loop Trail, the Petrified Forest Trail, and the Monument Trail.
Interesting facts about the area include the fact that it was once a lake that was filled with volcanic ash from nearby eruptions, which helped to preserve the fossils. Additionally, the park is home to a variety of wildlife, including elk, deer, and black bears.
The best time of year to visit Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is during the summer months, when the weather is mild and the park offers a variety of activities. However, visitors should be aware that the park is closed during the winter months due to snow and ice.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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