• Massive petrified redwood stumps

    Florissant Fossil Beds

    National Monument Colorado

  • Temporary Visitor Center / Trail Closures

    The park is operating with a temporary visitor as it builds a new one. The park is OPEN with normal hours. Please bring your own water. Pit toilets are available for bathrooms. The Sawmill and Hans loop will have period closures. All other trails open.

Reptiles

 
A Garter Snake at the Barksdale Picnic Area.

NPS Photo by Sheena Grabski<br />

Western Terrestrial Garter Snake

Reptiles are relatively rare in the park. However, the most common area for them is the Barksdale Picnic Area on the eastern side of the park. Western Terrestrial Garter Snakes are common in the summer near the water there.
Most snakes in the Rocky Mountain Region are nonpoisonous, except for the Western Rattlesnake, which is mainly found below 8,000 feet. Snakes typically hibernate from about November to March.

Did You Know?

fossil of wasp

Up to 1,500 different kinds of fossil insects have been found in the Florissant Fossil Beds making it one of the most diverse insect fossil sites in the world.