Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
National Monument · CO
2 noticesfrom the National Park Service
Information · Florissant Fossil Beds has moved to cashless fee collection
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.
Information · Winter Hours Begin September 14
Winter Operating Hours in effect September 14, 2026: the visitor center is open five days a week, Wednesday through Sunday, closed on Monday and Tuesday.
More information
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.
- NPS site
- nps.gov/flfo
- Location
- Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (38.913, -105.280)
Track your visit to Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
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Passport stamp locations
- Florissant Fossil Beds Visitor Center
Hours
Hourstoday: 9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Sat Oct 39:00AM - 4:30PM
- Sun Oct 49:00AM - 4:30PM
- Mon Oct 59:00AM - 4:30PM
- Tue Oct 69:00AM - 4:30PM
- Wed Oct 79:00AM - 4:30PM
- Thu Oct 89:00AM - 4:30PM
- Fri Oct 99:00AM - 4:30PM
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.
Hours are retrieved from the National Park Service and can change without notice — check the official site before you go.
Visitor centers
1
- Florissant Fossil Beds Visitor Centertoday: 9:00AM - 4:30PMDirections
Self-guided tours
2
Virtual Wayside Tour10–45 minutes · 15 stops
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
Walking Tour of Petrified Stumps30–45 minutes · 4 stops
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.
Entrance fees
2
- 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 Entrance - Park — $35.00
Valid 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.