Ranger Guided

Scheduling a Field Trip During Fall/Winter 2026

Ranger-led field trips and local school visits may be possible. Through October, we can only accommodate ranger-led field trips on Thursdays and Fridays. Please reach out via email to inquire. After November 1, we will have availability Wednesday through Fridays for on-site guided visits, as well as Monday - Friday for off-site visits or (virtual) distance learning programs.

 

Taking your class on a field trip to Florissant Fossil Beds can greatly enhance the teaching of earth science as well as other subjects. National parks are Amerca's largest classrooms. You can also find Lesson Plans for Florissant Fossil Beds.

Scheduling a Field Trip

To schedule a field trip, please email us or call the park at [phone]. Please visit the Academic Fee Waiver page for information on the criteria for school groups to obtain a waiver for park entrance fees.

Field Trip Activities

The following is a list of possible activities on your field trip. The activities that your class will participate in depends upon your needs, the staffing levels at the Monument, the number of students you have, and the time you have for your field trip.

• Orientation Activity: Either a game or ranger talk to introduce students to the basic geologic story of the area. (30 minutes)
• Petrified Forest Hike: This is a 1.5 hour, 1 mile hike past petrified tree stumps, an historic excavation
• Hornbek Homestead: Tour an 1878 historic homestead.
• Visitor Center: See fossil displays and geologic exhibits.

Field Trip Orientation Letter

Please go over this information before coming to the Monument. The letter will make sure you have all the supplementary information needed before, during, and after your visit to the Monument.

Thank you for your interest in visiting Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument! Depending on staffing availability, your visit will likely be self-guided. Please read through the following information to ensure your visit is safe and enjoyable for students and chaperones.

A self-guided field trip can be scheduled by emailing the park or by calling [phone]. An Educational Fee Waiver will need to be completed before your field trip date. Florissant Fossil Beds has a comfortable Visitor Center with interactive exhibits, park film, and indoor restroom facilities. Near to the Visitor Center and bus parking areas, there are outdoor restrooms and picnic areas with accessible tables. A total of 14 miles of hiking trails will be available to all visitors, but our three interpretive trails are best suited for school groups: the 1-mile Petrified Forest Loop, the ½ mile ADA accessible Ponderosa Loop, and the 1-mile Geologic Overlook.

Teachers are encouraged to show students the park film before visiting.

Self-guided lesson materials are available to borrow during your visit. A backpack with an itinerary, lessons, hands-on tools, and activities will be available at the front desk when your group checks in. Lessons are written to accommodate 3-4 groups of approximately 30 students per group during a standard 3-hour visit. The itinerary includes time for restroom breaks and lunch. The lessons take place in the Visitor Center Museum, at the main outdoor amphitheater, and on the 1-mile Petrified Forest Loop. Accommodations can easily be made for accessibility needs or time constraints.

The Monument has an elevation of 8500ft. Mountain weather can be highly variable at all times of year. Please come prepared for any weather conditions! Encourage students and chaperones to wear layers, closed-toed shoes, sunscreen, and to bring plenty of water. Refillable water bottles are encouraged. The Monument does have a water bottle filling station and water fountains but does not sell food or beverages.

All National Park sites practice a Leave No Trace philosophy. Please remind students and chaperones to “pack it in, pack it out!” Especially in the picnic areas. This philosophy includes not disturbing wildlife, picking flowers, or collecting rocks, fossils, or artifacts. Please visit the Leave No Trace Seven Principles website for more information. The Monument is 35 miles West of Colorado Springs. Traffic delays on Highway 24 are common. Please plan on delays when scheduling your trip.