Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

A perfectly preservedwasp fossil is exhibited at the Florissant park.

Visitors admire one of many petrified sequoia stumps at the monument.

Foliage of the extinct Sequoia affinis can been seen at the Visitor Center.

The finest of fossil insects, seeds and leaves of the Eocene epoch are preserved in remarkable detail at the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.

Standing petrified sequoia stumps mark the remains of a 34 million-year-old forest that was buried in a volcanic mudflow.

The visitor center features interpretive exhibits and rangers offer talks on the fossils and natural history of the area in the summer. There are 15 miles of hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoe trails and three picnic areas. Dogs are not allowed in the picnic areas or on the trails.

The monument does not have campgrounds, but Forest Service and Mueller State Park campgrounds are nearby. Food and fuel are available in the town of Florissant. The monument is located two miles south of Florissant and Hwy. 24 on Teller County #1.