The Friends of the Florissant Fossil Beds

Hikes for Your Health
2015-02-21 10:00 - 13:00 UTC | CO
Sawmill Trail & Hans Loop – 4.1 miles roundtrip, varied terrain. Meet at the Visitor Center. Learn to leave a smaller footprint while enjoying the great outdoors & discuss Leave No Trace with a ranger.

Hikes for Your Health
2015-02-18 10:00 - 13:00 UTC | Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, CO, United States

Hikes for Your Health
2015-02-14 10:00 - 13:00 UTC | Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, CO, United States
Boulder Creek & Hornbek Wildlife Loop – 5 miles roundtrip, varied terrain. Meet at the Visitor Center. View wildlife tracks and make some of your own. Observe scat n’ tracks of local wildlife along the Florissant valley’s floor.

Hikes for Your Health
2015-02-11 10:00 - 13:00 UTC | Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, CO, United States
Boulder Creek & Hornbek Wildlife Loop – 5 miles roundtrip, varied terrain. Meet at the visitor Center. View wildlife tracks and make some of your own. Observe scat n’tracks, of local wildlife along the Florissant valley’s floor.

Hikes for Your Health
2015-02-04 10:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, CO, United States
Shooting Star & Twin Rock Trail, Off Trail – 6 miles roundtrip, varied terrain. Meet at Visitor Center. Winter offers a rare opportunity to feel as if you have the park all to yourself. Take time to hike and reflect in this magical, white landscape.

Hikes for Your Health
2015-01-31 10:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, CO, United States
Hornbek Wildlife Loop
3.8 miles roundtrip, varied terrain. Meet at the Visitor Center. Tour the Hornbek Homestead, then embark on a hike across multiple landscape zones.

Hikes for Your Health
2015-01-28 10:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, CO, United States
Hornbek Wildlife Loop
3.8 Miles roundtrip, varied terrain. Meet at the Visitor Center
Tour the Hornbek Homestead, then embark on a hike across multiple landscape zones.

Hikes for Your Health
2015-01-24 10:00 - 13:00, 2015-01-21 10:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, CO, United States
Boulder Creek Trail – 2.8 Miles roundtrip, varied terrain. Meet at the Visitor Center. Hike through an area traversed by the Ute on their annual pilgrimage to Pikes Peak.

Stories in Stone
2015-01-19 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, CO, United States
10:00AM – 11:30PM Join Ranger Whitney for a family friendly interpretive hike along the Petrified Forest Trail and explore the story of ancient volcanos, towering redwood trees, and three-toed horses. Meet at the Visitor Center. Be prepared for a 1 -2 mile hike. Dress for winter hiking.
1:00PM – 3:00PM Join geologist Dr. Bob Carnein, for a fun, hands-on demonstration to see how paleontologists uncover tiny leaf and insect fossils at Florissant Fossil Beds. Meet in the visitor center any time between 1:00PM and 3:00PM.

Florissant Fossil Beds Entrance Fees Waived
2015-01-19 - 2015-01-20 | Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, CO, United States
Come and enjoy your park! Consider starting your visit in the Monument’s new, state-of-the-art visitor center where you can view the park film “Shadows of the Past”, explore hand’s on exhibits, and visit the recently remodeled bookstore. Children can earn their Junior Ranger Badge or Patch through the free, Junior Ranger program. If hiking is more your style, enjoy one of the many secluded trails at the park. There are 14 miles of trails that wind through the peaceful, montane forests of the Florissant valley. The Monument also has two picnic areas where you can enjoy an outdoor lunch. Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is open daily 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Besides a fee-free day, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument will offer visitors the opportunity to participate in a ranger-guided hike and a paleontology demonstration:
Monday, January 19, “Stories in Stone” Interpretive Hike and Paleontology Demonstration:
10:00AM – 11:30PM Join Ranger Whitney for a family friendly interpretive hike along the Petrified Forest Trail and explore the story of ancient volcanos, towering redwood trees, and three-toed horses. Meet at the Visitor Center. Be prepared for a 1 -2 mile hike. Dress for winter hiking.
1:00PM – 3:00PM Join geologist Dr. Bob Carnein, for a fun, hands-on demonstration to see how paleontologists uncover tiny leaf and insect fossils at Florissant Fossil Beds. Meet in the visitor center any time between 1:00PM and 3:00PM.
To learn more about fee-free days in national parks around the country in 2015, go to http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm.
For additional information visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/flfo or call at (719) 748 – 3253.

Jupiter Rising
2015-01-17 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, CO, United States
The King of the Planets is back! Jupiter is rising in the east, returning to the early evening sky. And it’s not alone: the small but dynamic Comet Lovejoy is close by and changing day by day. Follow in the historic footsteps of Galileo, Halley, and Messier, as we discover Jupiter’s moons and the comet’s tail, explore the nightly movements of these objects, and compare them to some of the “comet impostors” that never move. Meet at the Visitor Center.

Hikes for Your Health
2015-01-09 10:00 - 13:00 UTC | Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, CO, United States
Shooting Star – 3.2 miles roundtrip. Varied terrain. Meet at the visitor Center. Explore the Monument’s ancient rocks and work up a sweat!

Elk Hike at Fossil Beds
2014-10-05 16:45 - 19:15 UTC, 2014-10-03 16:45 - 19:15 (America/Chicago), 2014-09-28 17:00 - 19:30 UTC, 2014-09-27 17:00 - 19:30 UTC, 2014-09-26 17:00 - 19:30 (America/Chicago) | Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, CO, United States
Take part in a Rocky Mountain tradition: listening for the bugling of the bull Elk (Wapiti) on an autumn evening. Join a ranger at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument to learn about listen to the wild Wapiti.
These programs will include a brief presentation about these magnificent animals, followed by an off trail hike of up to 2 miles during which we will look and listen for the elk in the wild. Normal entrance fees to Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument will apply ($3 per adult, 16 and older). Annual passes to the Fossil Beds are available for $15 (good for the cardholder and 3 other adults).
Large numbers of people tend to make the elk wary and elusive, so the number of participants will be limited. Advance registration is required. In the past these programs have filled up quickly, so call early for reservations. Tables and grills are available near the visitor center for picnics before the program.
For reservations call (719) 748 – 3253 ext. 202

Elk Hike at Fossil Beds
2014-09-20 17:00 - 19:30 (America/Chicago) | Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, CO, United States
Take part in a Rocky Mountain tradition: listening for the bugling of the bull Elk (Wapiti) on an autumn evening. Join a ranger at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument to learn about listen to the wild Wapiti.
These programs will include a brief presentation about these magnificent animals, followed by an off trail hike of up to 2 miles during which we will look and listen for the elk in the wild. Normal entrance fees to Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument will apply ($3 per adult, 16 and older). Annual passes to the Fossil Beds are available for $15 (good for the cardholder and 3 other adults).
Large numbers of people tend to make the elk wary and elusive, so the number of participants will be limited. Advance registration is required. In the past these programs have filled up quickly, so call early for reservations. Tables and grills are available near the visitor center for picnics before the program.
For reservations call (719) 748 – 3253 ext. 202
Photos: Wayne Johnston

Wildflower Walk
2014-08-31 09:00 - 11:00 UTC, 2014-08-24 09:00 - 11:00 UTC, 2014-08-17 09:00 - 11:00 UTC, 2014-08-10 09:00 - 11:00 UTC, 2014-08-03 09:00 - 11:00 UTC, 2014-07-27 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago), 2014-07-20 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, CO, United States
Join Ranger Shawn and learn about the colorful world of wildflowers. Meet at the visitor center at 9:00 AM. Bring water, snacks, and layered clothing.

Yoga Hike with Ranger Denise Ackart
2014-07-30 09:00 - 10:30, 2014-07-26 09:00 - 10:30 (America/Chicago) | Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, CO, United States
Join Ranger Denise Ackart for 1.5 hour long yoga hikes at Florissant Fossil Beds NM every Wednesday and saturday morning through August at 9:00 AM. Meet at the visitor center. Bring water, comfortable clothes, and shoes with flexible soles.

Yoga Hikes with Ranger Denise Ackart
2014-07-23 09:00 - 10:30 (America/Chicago) | Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, CO, United States

Astronomy Program
2014-07-19 20:30 - 22:30 (America/Chicago) | Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, CO, United States
Join Ranger Leo Sack and see the night sky the way it used to look before city lights crowded out the stars. Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument offers an ideal balance between convenient location – an easy drive from Colorado Springs – and a sky dark enough to reveal the countless stars that once lit the night for our ancestors.
