National Monument · Colorado

Trails in Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

21 named trails · 13 miles · 2 trailheads · 3 with the Park Service's own write-up. The lines, trailheads and points are the Park Service's; the write-ups are the Service's own words; the climbing is read from USGS elevation along each line.

Open on the parks map Every park with trails Park on nps.gov

21 trails, A to Z.

Barksdale Pic Area Trail

8,556 ft–8,556 ft · hiking

Trailhead Shootin' Star Trailhead 8,557 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Barksdale Picnic Area Trail

8,554 ft–8,557 ft · gravel/earth surface · hiking

Trailhead Shootin' Star Trailhead 8,557 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Boulder Creek Trail

1.9 mi one way · about 250 ft of climbing · 8,367 ft–8,606 ft · gravel surface · hiking

Bridges

Along the way Boulder Creek Bridge Boulder Creek Bridge

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Geologic Trail

0.4 mi one way · about 90 ft of climbing · 8,322 ft–8,415 ft · gravel surface · hiking

ViewsExhibitsBridges

Along the way Hornbek Loop Trail Bridge Jawless fish Land Plants Land Vertebrates Geologic Overlook

Hiking the Geologic Trail the Park Service's write-up

30-60 Minutes · no dogs · entrance fee applies

Start Geologic Trail

A grassy hillside with some trees overlooks a larger grassy valley with mountains in the background — View from the overlook on the Geologic Trail

The Geologic Trail is a self-guided 1.2 mile (round trip) trail that that highlights over a billion years of geologic history of the Florissant valley. It passes over the ancient lake bed, crosses County Road 1, then ascends past the remnants of a massive pyroclastic flow, and ends at a scenic overview of the Florissant valley.

Pets Pets are not allowed on any trails at Florissant Fossil Beds. They are allowed, on a leash, in the parking lot, and adjacent picnic area in front of the visitor center.

Accessibility The Geologic Trail is a 1.2 mile (round trip) trail that can be accessed behind the visitor center and off the Petrified Forest Loop. The trail begins on a gravel, 6 foot wide section that is part of the Petrified Forest Loop. After about .1 miles on this section you'll come to the junction of the beginning of the Geologic Trail. From there, the trail ascends about 20 feet on a narrow trail and then descends 20 feet down again using wooden steps. Then the trail crosses a two lane county road and continues on a narrow dirt/rock trail until it comes to a foot bridge that has three steps on either side. Then the trail ascends a narrow rocky path for about 105 feet to the over view.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Hans Loop Trail

1.2 mi one way · about 200 ft of climbing · 8,550 ft–8,771 ft · earth surface · hiking

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Hornbek Trail

8,308 ft–8,314 ft · gravel surface · hiking

Exhibits

Along the way FFB-Gateway to the Gold Belt Tour Hornbek Homestead Pioneers, Prospectors, and Paleontologists

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Hornbek Walkway

8,301 ft–8,305 ft · gravel surface · hiking

Exhibits

Along the way Hornbek Homestead

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Hornbek Wildlife Loop Trail

2.4 mi one way · about 300 ft of climbing · 8,280 ft–8,597 ft · earth surface · hiking

ViewsExhibitsBridges

Along the way Wildlife Loop Trail Bridge Hornbek Homestead Pioneers, Prospectors, and Paleontologists Geologic Overlook

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

main parking sidewalk

0.1 mi one way · 8,381 ft–8,391 ft · concrete surface · hiking

Visitor centers

Along the way Florissant Fossil Beds Visitor Center

Trailhead Visitor Center Area Trailhead 8,393 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Petrified Forest Loop Trail

0.2 mi one way · 30 ft of descent · 8,364 ft–8,393 ft · gravel surface · hiking

ExhibitsVisitor centers

Along the way Birds Early Dinosaurs Earth Cools Florissant Formation Jawless fish Land Plants Land Vertebrates Mammoth relatives near and far Wall Mountain Tuff Florissant Fossil Beds Visitor Center

Trailhead Visitor Center Area Trailhead 8,393 ft Drive there

Hiking the Petrified Forest Loop the Park Service's write-up

30-60 Minutes · no dogs · entrance fee applies

Start Petrified Forest Loop Trail

large, white, petrified tree stump, about 10 feet wide, sticking out in a grassy field — Just one of the many massive petrified tree stumps you can see on the Petrified Forest Loop

The one-mile, self-guided Petrified Forest Loop Trail is the main trail to hike on to see fossils at Florissant Fossil Beds. The fossils you will see on this trail are petrified redwood tree stumps. These are some of the biggest petrified tree stumps in the world (by diameter). The trail is gravel and is mostly level. It can be accessed behind the visitor center. There are interpretive exhibit panels along the way.

Pets Pets are not allowed on this, and/or any of the trails at Florissant Fossil Beds. They are allowed in the parking lot and in the picnic area near the parking lot on a leash.

Accessibility Service animals are allowed on this trail on a leash. The trail is one mile in length and relatively flat. It has a few sections that go up in elevation about 20 - 30 feet at about 30% grade and a few downhill sections going down 20 - 30 feet at about 30% grade. There are some water bars on the trail. The trail has a gravel base. The trail is about 4 - 6 feet wide.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

Ponderosa Loop Trail

0.3 mi one way · about 20 ft of climbing · 8,400 ft–8,430 ft · gravel surface · hiking

ExhibitsVisitor centers

Along the way Life in the Forest Life Zones No Smoking, Sawmill and Hans Loop, VC and Parking Lot Present Touches Past relatives near and far Resource Protection Area Revegetation Area/ Wall Mountain Tuff The Role of Fire Florissant Fossil Beds Visitor Center

Hiking the Ponderosa Loop Trail the Park Service's write-up

10-30 Minutes · no dogs · entrance fee applies

Start Ponderosa Loop Trail

a modern, pine tree about 30 feet tall is growing out of an exposed petrified tree stump — One of the highlights of the trail is a modern tree growing out of a petrified redwood stump

The Ponderosa Loop Trail is a 1/2 mile long, accessible, trail located behind the visitor center at Florissant Fossil Beds. This is a short, easy, and peaceful walk through a mostly Ponderosa pine forest. It features numerous exhibits along the trail that interpret the natural history of the area. One of the main features on the trail is a modern Ponderosa pine tree growing out of a petrified redwood tree stump.

Pets Pets are not allowed on any of the trails at Florissant Fossil Beds. They are allowed, on a leash, in the parking lot and/or picnic area next to the parking lot in front of the visitor center.

Accessibility The 1/2 mile Ponderosa Loop Trail has been graded for accessibility and is composed of compacted finely crushed rock. The trail width is about 6 feet. The trail can be accessed by going through the visitor center and finding the trail head just beyond the outdoor exhibit area which is behind the visitor center. The parking lot, front patio, visitor center, and outdoor exhibit area leading to the trail head are all accessible. Service animals are allowed on this trail.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Sawmill Trail

2.0 mi one way · about 200 ft of climbing · 8,415 ft–8,692 ft · gravel, native surface · hiking

ExhibitsBridges

Along the way Boulder Creek Bridge Life in the Forest Life Zones No Smoking, Sawmill and Hans Loop, VC and Parking Lot Present Touches Past Resource Protection Area

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Sawmill-Boulder Trail

0.3 mi one way · about 80 ft of climbing · 8,469 ft–8,548 ft · hiking

Bridges

Along the way Boulder Creek Bridge

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Shale Outcrop

8,396 ft–8,405 ft · earth/gravel surface · hiking

Exhibits

Along the way Life Zones Revegetation Area/ Wall Mountain Tuff Visitors Arrive

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Shootin' Star Trail

1.2 mi one way · about 150 ft of climbing · 8,499 ft–8,639 ft · earth surface · hiking

Trailhead Shootin' Star Trailhead 8,557 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Sidewalk to Trios Trail

8,398 ft–8,400 ft · concrete surface · hiking

ExhibitsVisitor centers

Along the way Present Touches Past relatives near and far Florissant Fossil Beds Visitor Center

Trailhead Visitor Center Area Trailhead 8,393 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Twin Rocks Trail

2.4 mi one way · about 100 ft of climbing · 350 ft of descent · 8,445 ft–8,736 ft · earth surface · hiking

Bridges

Along the way Twin Rock Trail Bridge

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

VC Bypass Walkway

8,394 ft–8,398 ft · gravel surface · hiking

ExhibitsVisitor centers

Along the way relatives near and far Florissant Fossil Beds Visitor Center

Trailhead Visitor Center Area Trailhead 8,393 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Visitor Center Area Trail

0.1 mi one way · 8,399 ft–8,403 ft · concrete surface · hiking

ExhibitsVisitor centers

Along the way Life in the Forest relatives near and far Florissant Fossil Beds Visitor Center

Trailhead Visitor Center Area Trailhead 8,393 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Visitor Center back sidewalk

8,393 ft–8,396 ft · concrete surface · hiking

ExhibitsVisitor centers

Along the way relatives near and far Florissant Fossil Beds Visitor Center

Trailhead Visitor Center Area Trailhead 8,393 ft Drive there

On the parks map

Visitor Center front sidewalk

8,390 ft–8,394 ft · concrete surface · hiking

Visitor centers

Along the way Florissant Fossil Beds Visitor Center

Trailhead Visitor Center Area Trailhead 8,393 ft Drive there

On the parks map

About these trails

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-14 and simplified for the map. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do", unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.