"I only hope I'm dug up in 34 million years" Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument by caffeine_induced78

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument Travel Guide: 4 reviews and 18 photos

stump in the hole - Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

Florissant is part of a network of Fossil beds that are administered by the National Parks service as a National Monument. This particular fossil bed was the bottom of a lakebed 34 million years ago. When Colorado sat closer to the equator and beachfront property was at what is now 5000 feet in elevation. The lake sat in the destructive path of several volcanoes that erupted 34 million years before the present. The ash sediment washed down and filled the bottom of the lake - encasing and preserving the imprints of birds, animals and even insects. The trees became crystallized by the slow infusuon of minerals into the wood. This National monument is 40 miles west of Colorado Springs off of US highway 24. Tucked behind Pikes Peak the valley sits at 8000 feet in elevation - making it a nice summer retreat.

Pros and Cons

Pros:easily accesible and not crowded.
Cons:small and no services in the park
In a nutshell:take a step back in time

Last visit to Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument: Mar 2003
Intro Written Mar 26, 2003
Add to Trip Planner (?)
Report Abuse

Reviews (2)

triplets - Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

the short hike Things to Do (1)

After you park in the parking lot and pay the fee go into the visitors center. They have a nice display of fossils from... more travel advice

pay here! - Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

the fees and the skinny. Favorites (1)

This 6000 acre National Monument attracts around 80,000 visits a year. For 3 dollars you can visit the park for 7 days.... more travel advice

Comments (8)

Reply
- Report abuse
Stephen-KarenConn Jul 8, 2004 at 5:52 PM

I visited Florissant Fossil Beds a couple of years ago and loved it. Good tips.
Reply
- Report abuse
shdw100 Jul 9, 2003 at 12:22 PM

Kewl place here, Bryant (although I think that any place in Colorado is kewl!)
Reply
- Report abuse
mrclay2000 Jun 2, 2003 at 7:03 PM

Your $50 park pass is still valid at Rocky. Just a helpful reminder, Bryant.
Reply
- Report abuse
Espresso_girl Apr 22, 2003 at 7:26 AM

Three stumps in the stone are worth 30 stumps in the wood.
Reply
- Report abuse
herzog63 Apr 15, 2003 at 12:04 AM

This sounds like a fantastic place! I've never heard of it! Thanks for the page!
Reply
- Report abuse
roz.van Mar 29, 2003 at 5:33 AM

major weather contrast to ould eire. Something very spiritual about trees eh...
Reply
- Report abuse
Gili_S Mar 27, 2003 at 8:20 AM

WOW, lots of snow there, is it spring yet?
Reply
- Report abuse
craic Mar 27, 2003 at 3:51 AM

Damn fine petrified stumps, sir!