Entry No. 51 — the Colorado Springs file — filed under: outdoor
Petrified Forest Loop at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Most people blow past Florissant on the way to a bigger peak, which is exactly why this works. Thirty-five million years ago a volcano buried a redwood forest in ash; the wood drank in mineral-rich water and slowly turned to stone. What's left are giant petrified stumps — the famous "Big Stump" is wide enough to park a car on — sitting in an open meadow at 8,400 feet, fossilized mid-life. It is one of the strangest things in Colorado and almost nobody talks about it. The loop is short, flat, and self-guided, so the weirdness-to-effort ratio is absurd: a fifteen-minute stroll past trees that have been dead, and standing, for the entire age of the Rockies.
The move: Make the going the date. Pack coffee, point the car up US-24 past Woodland Park, and turn the hour of pine and granite into the conversation. Then walk the petrified forest loop slow — it's barely a mile — and take turns reading the numbered posts to each other while standing over a redwood that's been stone since before the Rockies finished rising. Loop back through the meadow, then keep the day going in nearby Cripple Creek. It's the rare date where "we just went for a little walk" quietly means "we stood next to 35-million-year-old trees."
📍 Before you go A short, easy self-guided loop of roughly 1 to 1.5 miles (NPS lists about 1.1 mi; AllTrails ~1.3-1.4 mi) with only ~70-110 ft of elevation gain — flat enough for almost anyone, and stroller/wheelchair-friendly on the paved sections near the visitor center. The trail starts behind the visitor center and winds through open meadow past fossilized redwood stumps, including the giant "Big Stump." Getting there: US-24 West from Colorado Springs through Woodland Park to Florissant, then south on Teller County Road 1 to the monument (about 45-50 min). Best season is late spring through fall, when meadows green up and wildflowers bloom; the monument sits at 8,400 ft, so come prepared — summer afternoon thunderstorms roll in fast (go in the morning), and winter brings snow, ice, and possible road conditions on the approach. Hydrate and watch for altitude. A per-person entrance fee is required (kids under 16 free; America the Beautiful / Interagency passes are honored) — check current rates before you go. Pets are not allowed on the trails.
- 📍 Florissant (northwest of Cripple Creek)
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Petrified Forest Loop trailhead, behind the visitor center / outdoor exhibit area at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. From Colorado Springs, take US-24 West through Woodland Park and Divide, continue to the town of Florissant, then turn south onto Teller County Road 1 (signed for the monument) and follow it about 2 miles to the entrance and visitor center parking. Roughly a 45-50 minute drive.
Hours: Day-use, free. Best season: Late spring through fall (May-October); open year-round, but winter brings snow and ice at 8,400 ft. Confirm trail & road conditions before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4
last checked: 2026-06-10