{"id":"nps-flfo","slug":"florissant-fossil-beds-national-monument","name":"Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument","designation":"National Monument","category":"national-monument","categoryLabel":"National Monument","agency":{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov"},"managedBy":[{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov","unitCode":"FLFO","designation":"National Monument","sourceId":"nps-flfo"}],"states":["CO"],"stateNames":["Colorado"],"location":{"lat":38.91260586,"lon":-105.2803396},"bbox":[-105.321,38.8841,-105.2458,38.941],"acres":{"value":6368,"kind":"gis-estimate","source":"Computed from the simplified boundary","note":"Approximate. The managing agency publishes official acreage."},"firstProtected":null,"established":null,"administrations":[],"designationHistory":[],"summary":"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.","summarySource":"National Park Service","guide":{},"trConnection":null,"trConnections":[],"trTypes":[],"links":{"official":"https://www.nps.gov/flfo/index.htm","social":{},"recreationGov":null,"alltrails":null,"alltrailsExplore":"https://www.alltrails.com/explore?b_tl_lat=38.941&b_tl_lng=-105.321&b_br_lat=38.8841&b_br_lng=-105.2458","recreationGovSearch":"https://www.recreation.gov/search?q=Florissant%20Fossil%20Beds%20National%20Monument","directions":"http://www.nps.gov/flfo/planyourvisit/directions.htm"},"images":[{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7F8744-1DD8-B71B-0BB99F85D26FBB5C.jpg","title":"Big Stump","alt":"Fossil redwood stump","caption":"Walk the Petrified Trail Loop to see fossil redwood stumps","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C7F88E4-1DD8-B71B-0B26E619DB1C533F.png","title":"Ancient Wasp Fossil","alt":"palaeovespa, ancient wasp","caption":"Captured 34 million years ago, this ancient wasp and other insects are on display at Florissant Fossil Beds NM.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C80D8B6-1DD8-B71B-0B08C5F28E49A6A1.jpg","title":"Hornbek Homestead Visitors","alt":"Visitors at Hornbek Homestead","caption":"Visitors explore the Hornbek Homestead, built in 1878.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C80DB34-1DD8-B71B-0B28B71EF34F8758.jpg","title":"Junior Rangers","alt":"Junior Rangers in Visitors Center","caption":"Youth of all ages participate in the Junior Rangers program at the Monument.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/9AAA363E-BFEC-B238-94998A10627C89D9.jpg","title":"Self Guided Trails","alt":"View of the Florissant valley with grassy meadows and mountains in the distance","caption":"View from the top of the self-guided Geologic Trail","credit":"NPS","source":"NPS"}],"activities":["Astronomy","Stargazing","Food","Picnicking","Guided Tours","Self-Guided Tours - Walking","Hiking","Backcountry Hiking","Front-Country Hiking","Horse Trekking","Horseback Riding","Junior Ranger Program","Snowshoeing","Park Film","Museum Exhibits","Shopping","Bookstore and Park Store"],"topics":["Colonization and Settlement","Animals","Elk","Fossils and Paleontology","Petrified Wood","Geology","Night Sky","Astronomy","Trails"],"fees":[{"title":"Entrance - Per Person","cost":"10.00","description":"$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.\n\nPay ahead of your visit at https://www.recreation.gov/sitepass/2683."}],"passes":[{"title":"Annual Entrance - Park","cost":"35.00","description":"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."}],"hours":[{"name":"Hours","description":"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.","standardHours":{"wednesday":"9:00AM - 4:30PM","monday":"9:00AM - 4:30PM","thursday":"9:00AM - 4:30PM","sunday":"9:00AM - 4:30PM","tuesday":"9:00AM - 4:30PM","friday":"9:00AM - 4:30PM","saturday":"9:00AM - 4:30PM"},"exceptions":[{"name":"Veterans Day","start":"2026-11-11","end":"2026-11-11","hours":{}},{"name":"Thanksgiving Day","start":"2026-11-26","end":"2026-11-26","hours":{}},{"name":"Christmas Day","start":"2026-12-25","end":"2026-12-25","hours":{}},{"name":"New Year's Day","start":"2027-01-01","end":"2027-01-01","hours":{}},{"name":"Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.","start":"2027-01-18","end":"2027-01-18","hours":{}},{"name":"Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.","start":"2027-01-18","end":"2027-01-18","hours":{}}]}],"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 on Teller County Road 1 to the Visitor Center. Visitors traveling from town of Cripple Creek: Follow Teller County Road 1 north for 16 miles.","weatherInfo":"Winter months - average high 40 degrees F; average low 5 degrees F; Summer months - average high 75 degrees F; average low 40 degrees F;","contacts":{"phone":"7197483253","email":"flfo_information@nps.gov"},"visitorCenters":[{"name":"Florissant Fossil Beds Visitor Center","description":"The Visitor Center is where you should start your visit to Florissant Fossil Beds. Please meet our Rangers in the Visitor Center to show your pass, if you have one, and/or purchase passes. We also have trail maps and information to plan your visit and Jr. Ranger activity books available. Inside the Visitor Center, you will find a museum with fossil exhibits, a theater to see the park film, and a bookstore. The Visitor Center has restrooms and a water fountain and bottle filling station.","url":"","lat":38.9134931341,"lon":-105.285455055}],"campgrounds":[],"thingsToDo":[],"nearby":[{"slug":"pike-national-forest","km":33},{"slug":"san-isabel-national-forest","km":77},{"slug":"two-ponds-national-wildlife-refuge","km":104},{"slug":"camp-hale-continental-divide-national-monument","km":104},{"slug":"rocky-mountain-arsenal-national-wildlife-refuge","km":109},{"slug":"rocky-flats-national-wildlife-refuge","km":109}],"hasBoundary":true,"boundarySource":{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division","url":"https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2224545"},"sources":[{"name":"NPS Data API","url":"https://developer.nps.gov/api/v1/parks?parkCode=flfo"},{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division boundaries","url":"https://services1.arcgis.com/fBc8EJBxQRMcHlei/arcgis/rest/services/NPS_Land_Resources_Division_Boundary_and_Tract_Data_Service/FeatureServer/2"}],"editorialStatus":"draft","synced":"2026-11-09T02:12:45.612Z","alerts":[{"source":"NPS","kind":"Information","title":"Winter Hours Begin September 14","text":"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.","url":"https://www.nps.gov/flfo/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm","updated":"2026-09-08 00:00:00.0","id":"nps-3CFB4B9C-7B48-4338-A4D6-14645739AFA7"},{"source":"NPS","kind":"Information","title":"Florissant Fossil Beds has moved to cashless fee collection","text":"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.","url":null,"updated":"2023-12-28 15:57:29.0","id":"nps-4D3EA105-62C1-46F7-9948-B74E1C63CD63"}],"url":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/sites/florissant-fossil-beds-national-monument/","boundaryUrl":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/boundaries/florissant-fossil-beds-national-monument.geojson"}