Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument · Colorado

Geologic Trail

0.4 mi of trail, end to end · Hiking the Geologic Trail: 1.2 mi round trip in the Service's write-up · about 90 ft of climbing · 8,322 ft–8,415 ft · gravel surface · hiking

ViewsExhibitsBridges

8,366 ft 8,415 ft · 0.4 mi high 8,415 ft

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

Hiking the Geologic Trail 1.2 mi round trip · 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

All 21 trails in Florissant Fossil Beds National MonumentFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

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 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, 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.