Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument · Colorado

Ponderosa Loop Trail

0.3 mi of trail, end to end · about 20 ft of climbing · 8,400 ft–8,430 ft · gravel surface · trail class Developed · hiking

ExhibitsVisitor centers

8,420 ft 8,414 ft · 0.2 mi high 8,430 ft

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 · season The Monument is open year round and the Ponderosa Loop Trail is also open year round. It generally can be hiked year round, however, in the winter there may be snow and ice.

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

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.