Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

About Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

Colorado’s Florissant Valley, about two hours south of Denver, is home to the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, known for its exceptional fossil deposits, particularly its preservation of late Eocene plant and animal life. These fossils, including insects, plants, and even fish, are remarkably preserved in volcanic ash that covered the valley millions of years ago.

As far as prehistoric insects go, these most delicate creatures were the quickest to decompose and as a result, they can be the most difficult to find as remains today. Yet at this site is one of the most diverse insect fossil sites in the world, with an impressive trove of specimens from the late Eocene Epoch, roughly 35 million years ago. It is amazing to think that hundreds of these fragile creatures survived for millennia sandwiched between thin layers of shale, including beetles, caddisflies, dragonflies, lacewings and mayflies. Among these many arthropods was the first fossilized butterfly ever discovered in North America. The site is also known for its many petrified tree trunks, including the only known trio of interconnected petrified redwood trees in the world. The petrified redwood stumps here are up to 14 feet wide.

Both the town of Florissant and the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument features a cool, temperate mountain climate. Average snowfall in the area is 60 inches (150 cm) a season, with average rainfall at 14.97 inches (380 mm). Highest temperature ever in the area was 92°F (33°C), set in the month of July. The coldest reading ever was −34°F (−37°C) set on one cold February day.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, CO (From National Park Service )