Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is a beautiful area of fossils for you to explore. There are more than 1500 different kinds of insect fossils. There are plant fossils as well. Florissant is French and means flowering or blooming.
There are no bodies of water here so there is no swimming, fishing, or boating. But don't worry. There are plenty of other things you can do.
The whole family will enjoy it here. There are hiking trails and there is horseback riding so you can enjoy the great outdoors. This park is a great learning tool for any future botanists or insect lovers in the family. The exhibits here are great for homeschooled students.
You will see gorgeous live trees, along with petrified redwood trees. Wildlife here includes elk, squirrels, porcupines, mountain lions, and bears.
The visitor center has exhibits, fossil displays, and a bookstore. There is a quick orientation film to introduce you to the area.
If you visit in the winter, you can go cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, but you will have to bring your own equipment. None is available in the park. Sometimes in the winter, there are ranger-guided snowshoe hikes.
You cannot camp in this park. It is open only from 9am to 5pm daily. It is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is not far from Colorado Springs, only about 16 miles from Cripple Creek. Take I-25 and get off at US 24 and go west to the town of Florrisant. Then follow the signs on Teller County Road to the visitor center.
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