Past Meets Present: Discovering Florissant Fossil Beds
While you’re soaking up the serenity of our Ridge Vacation Properties cabins, don’t miss the chance to explore one of Colorado’s most fascinating and ancient landscapes—Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. Just a short drive from your cabin, this park offers a rare mix of high-country hiking, natural history, and jaw-dropping fossils—all in one peaceful, pine-lined setting.
The Landscape: Ancient, Wild, and Wonderfully Walkable
Step into a prehistoric world where towering redwoods once stood and ancient insects remain perfectly preserved in stone. Set in a high mountain valley at 8,400 feet, Florissant Fossil Beds is known for its massive petrified tree stumps, fossil-rich shale beds, and gently winding trails that take you through millions of years of natural history.
Whether you’re hiking through open meadows or shaded forest, the scenery here is quiet, photogenic, and filled with educational surprises around every bend.
The Trails: Easy Explorations with Big Payoffs
You don’t have to be a geologist—or a hardcore hiker—to love this place. Trails range from easy half-mile loops to moderate 3-mile forest walks, making it perfect for families, solo wanderers, and casual adventurers alike.
Fan-favorite trails include:
- Ponderosa Loop Trail – 1 mile, flat and scenic, with great views of fossil stumps and wildflowers.
- Petrified Forest Loop – .75 miles through the monument’s most iconic fossil features.
- Hornbek Wildlife Loop – 3 miles of open meadows, likely wildlife sightings, and quiet views.
- Geologic Trail – Learn about volcanic eruptions, lakebeds, and fossil layers as you walk.
The Experience: Part Science, Part Serenity
The visitor center offers hands-on exhibits and educational programs for all ages. Don’t miss the 13-foot-wide petrified redwood stump right outside the doors—it’s a photo op and a fossil all in one.
Kids can become Junior Rangers, and everyone will leave with a little more awe for just how much time this landscape has seen.
Planning Your Visit
- Distance from cabins: ~10 minutes by car
- Open daily: 9 AM – 5 PM
- Entry fee: $10 per person (valid for 7 days)
A visit to Florissant Fossil Beds is the perfect mix of light adventure and quiet reflection. Pack some snacks, lace up your walking shoes, and head out for a day that’s 34 million years in the making.
Be sure to check their hours, costs, and events before heading over at www.nps.gov/flfo
