Florissant Fossil Beds
Phone: Headquarters (719)748-3253
"When the mountains are overthrown and the seas uplifted, the universe at Florissant flings itself against a gnat and preserves it."-- Dr. Arthur C. Peale, Hayden Expedition Geologist, 1873.
A beautiful mountain valley just west of Pikes Peak holds spectacular remnants of the earth's prehistoric life. Huge petrified redwoods and incredibly detailed fossils of ancient insects and plants reveal a very different Colorado of long ago. Almost 35 million years ago, enormous volcanic eruptions buried the then-lush valley and petrified the redwood trees that grew there. A lake formed in the valley and the fine-grained sediments at its bottom became the final resting-place for thousands of insects and plants. These sediments compacted into layers of shale and preserved the delicate details of these organisms as fossils. The Florissant Fossil Beds are world-renowned, and in 1969 were set aside as a part of our National Park System; Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.
Directions
Plane - Colorado Springs is the closest airport to the Monument.
Car - DIRECTIONS: Visitors traveling north/south on I-25: Exit at US 24 West, travel 35 miles to town of Florissant, then follow signs two miles south to the visitor center on Teller County 1. Visitors traveling east/west on US 24: Exit to the town of Florissant, then follow signs two miles south on Teller County 1 to the visitor center. Visitors traveling from the town of Cripple Creek: Follow Teller County Road 1 north for 16 miles. TRANSPORTATION: To Park: access by US Highway 24 and Teller County Road 1.
Public Transportation - none
More info at http://www.nps.gov/flfo
- Last-minute travel deals for this weekend or next
- Last Minute Deals on Flights for travel Next Weekend on Orbitz
- Last Minute flight deals - this/next weekend!
Last Minute Deals on Flights for travel This Weekend on Orbitz - See weekend fare deals for August travel!
Low Fare Deals For August Weekend Travel on Orbitz!
Parks Site
Exploring Our National Historic Parks and Sites
Published in cooperation with the National Parks and Conservation Association, this comprehensive guide celebrates America's national historical parks and sites--from the Statue of Liberty to Monument Valley--in fascinating and informative text an...
Merchant: Overstock Books
National Parks & Preserves Panoramic Muir Woods National Monument California Jigsaw Puzzle 700pc
National Parks & Preserves Panoramic Series.
Merchant: Stuff Kids Like
American Indians& National Parks
From Yellowstone to the Everglades, many of America's national parks and monuments have been the scene of conflict between native peoples and park officials over issues such as hunting rights, craft sales, cultural interpretation, and sacred sites...
Merchant: Overstock Books




