Celebrate National Public Lands Day by visiting the Pikes Peak region’s closest national park area – Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument on Saturday, September 27, 2014. In honor of National Public Lands Day, fees will be waived at Florissant Fossil Beds as well as the 400 plus other national park units across the United States.
Late September can be one of the most beautiful times of year to hike at the Monument. There are over 14 miles of trails in the Monument. From short, self-guide loops, to longer hikes, there is plenty of opportunity to find the hike that is just right for you and your family.
Calling all teens! The first 75 teens (13-19yrs) that come to the park this day and complete a hiking challenge (The Hornbek Wildlife Loop, 4 miles round trip) receive a free t-shirt. The teen hiking challenge is part of the Trails4Teens program at Florissant Fossil Beds. This program encourages teens to explore the Monument’s trails through hiking, playing, serving, and working. http://www.nps.gov/flfo/parknews/trails4teens.htm
Public Lands Day will include the following programs:
10:00 AM Interpretive Talk: Join a Ranger in the amphitheater behind the visitor center for a 25 minute talk about the area’s natural and human history.
10:00AM – Teen Hiking Challenge: Sign up in the visitor center to hike the 4 mile Hornbek
4:00 PM Wildlife loop. 2 – 3 hours. Complete the challenge and earn a t-shirt.
11:00 AM Ranger/Student Worker Guided Trail Hike: Learn about the Monument’s trails on a 1 hour guided hike. The guides will be Sarah and Emma our two teen trail workers and a park ranger.
1:00 PM Awards Ceremony: Come to the amphitheater behind the visitor center and learn celebrate the success of the teens that worked and hiked at the Monument this summer. Cake, fruit, and refreshements will be served by the Friends of the Florissant Fossil Beds. 1 hour.

1:00 PM-3:00PM Fossil Learning Lab: Join a Park Ranger in the Yurt (tent) in the picnic area of the visitor center and see how fossils are discovered in the fragile lake shales of the Florissant valley.
3:00 PM Hornbek Homestead: Take a tour of the historic Hornbek Homestead. The homestead is located 1 mile north of the visitor center. The homestead will be open from 3:00PM – 4:00PM
For more information please call the Monument at (719) 748 – 3253 ext 202 or email at flfo_information@nps.gov.
The Monument is located at 15807 Teller County Road#1 in Florissant, CO. The park is approximately 35 miles (1 hour) west of Colorado Springs off of Highway 24.
Follow us on Twitter at @FlorissantNPS and on Facebook/FlorissantNPS or visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/flfo

Photo: Wayne Johnston