Least Visited NPS Units: Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

Fossil-based national monuments tend to be a slight disappointment since specimens cannot in general be seen in situ, only on display in the visitor center or museum. Florissant Fossil Beds is something of an exception, however, in that several huge petrified sequoia stumps may be viewed, along a varied selection of trails that also explore woods, meadows and low hills, plus a historic homestead. The national monument is situated towards the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains, just off US 24 between Colorado Springs and Buena Vista.

2014 Visitation: 63,297
Florissant Fossil Beds - full description