Activities Planned at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in September
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is open year round. During September, the Monument is open 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. (with extended hours 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM during Labor Day Weekend)
Daily Interpretive Program Schedule
During the month of September there will be limited interpretive programs offered daily depending upon staffing levels. These programs may include talks, walks, fossil demonstrations, and tours of an 1878 homestead. Please call ahead for more details at (719) 748-3253.
Weekly Programs:
Yoga Hikes, Mondays, 9:00 AM - 10:30 PM. Join a certified yoga instructor and a Park Ranger for a 1 hour and 15 minutes, 1 mile yoga hike. This will be a hike interspersed with standing yoga poses. This program is geared for beginner to intermediate yoga enthusiasts. Meet at the visitor center.
Fossil Demonstration Excavation Site, Wednesdays, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Meet geologist, Dr. Bob Carnein at the demonstration excavation site and see the fossil beds in situ and learn about how excavations are conducted. This site is located off the Petrified Forest Loop approximately 1 mile round trip from the visitor center.
Special Events:
Aspen Leaf Hikes, Saturday September 15 and Saturday 22, 2018
Join a ranger for a fall tradition, marveling at the changing colors of the aspen tree. This ranger-guided hike will be an intimate exploration of smaller aspen groves within the Monument. Local highways in the area will allow you to see larger, sweeping vistas of color. On this hike you will get to explore these small pockets of golden wonder and learn up close about the aspen tree’s natural history. For example, did you know aspens can reproduce from sucker roots underground?
These hikes will begin at the Visitor Center. They run from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Please dress appropriately for a 1 - 2 mile hike, which would include good hiking shoes, layered clothing, and protection from the sun. Bring water and snacks.
There are no fees for this program beyond the normal entrance fee for the park which is $7.00 per adult (15 and younger are free). Interagency Passes are accepted and also sold in the park. Saturday, September 22 is National Public Lands Day and is fee free.
Saturday, Sept. 22, Fee Free Day/ Public Lands Day, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Enjoy your public lands on National Public Lands Day free! The Monument has 15 miles of hiking trails, a museum and film, and self-guided trails. Kids can earn a Junior Ranger Badge by completing a Junior Ranger gamebook available at the visitor center desk.
Night Sky Program
Friday, Sept. 28, Night Sky Program, 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM. Join park staff and members of the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society to gaze at the dark skies above Florissant Fossil Beds in search of planets, galaxies, nebulas, and more. Meet at the visitor center.
Elk Hikes (September and October)
Saturday September 29 and Sunday 30, 4:45 PM - 7:15 PM. Join a ranger for a RESERVATION ONLY evening hike, to listen to the magical sounds of elk bugling. These 1-2 mile, off-trail hikes and can be in rugged terrain at times. Children must be at least 10 years old to attend. For reservations, please call (719) 748 - 3253 ext. 202.
October dates for elk hikes include: 10/5 - 10/7 and 10/13 - 10/14.
There are no additional fees for any park programs beyond the daily entrance fee of $7.00 per adult (15 and younger are free). Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument offers 15 miles of beautiful, yet lesser known, hiking trails to explore, a free Junior Ranger Program, three short self-guided trails, a park video and museum exhibits, and bookstore. For additional information, please call (719) 748-3253 or visit our website: www.nps.gov/flfo or on Facebook or Twitter at /FlorissantNPS
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 417 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
