With 31 redwood state and national parks, California is the land of redwoods, which is why the likes of Yosemite National Park, the number one rated national park for hiking, and Sequoia National Park are so popular.
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The state boasts three redwood species: coast redwood, giant sequoia, and dawn redwood, each with its own characteristics. Calaveras Big Trees, where you can discover the remains of the largest known sequoia trees, is one of the most accessible redwood parks in California.
Beyond California's redwood destinations, there are other less popular places, like Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Colorado, which is home to its own ancient redwoods.
Although they are petrified redwoods, which means they no longer exist, they are an impressive fossil record that gives a brilliant insight into the past. Skip California for this Colorado National Park Site with ancient redwoods.
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Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument House The Remains Of Giant Petrified Redwoods
The petrified redwood tree stumps are 10-12 feet wide and up to 10 feet tall
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Colorado might be most recognized for Rocky Mountain National Park, one of the most popular national parks in the USA, welcoming over four million tourists every year, but the state is home to other national park sites that are equally stunning.
Florissant Fossil Beds, established as a national monument in 1969, is known for hosting one of the world's richest fossil deposits. This Colorado national park site has ancient redwood trees, which may sound surprising as California is the most famous state for these giants.
While it's hard to believe that Rocky Mountain State once housed giant redwoods similar to California's and Oregon's, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument's petrified tree stumps are proof that it did.
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These petrified trees, which measure 10-12 feet wide and 10 feet tall, making them the world's biggest petrified tree trumps, date back to the late Eocene epoch (34 million years ago).
You also find the monument's famous Redwood Trio, three tree trunks that originated from one root system and the world's only petrified trio of redwood trunks.
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Entrance Fee
$10 for a standard pass; $35 for an annual pass
Opening hours
9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Size
5,998 acres
The year the park was established
1969
The petrified tree stumps aren't the only highlight in the park. Almost 1,800 fossil species have been gathered at the monument, including 1500 fossil insects.
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How To See The Petrified Redwoods In Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
The Outdoor Exhibit Area and the self-guided trails offer a chance to see these massive petrified redwood stumps
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At the Outdoor Exhibit Area, you can learn about the geologic history of how the place came to be, the types of fossils at the monument, and why the fossils are important.
Another way to see the remains of the ancient redwood trees is by hiking the Petrified Forest Loop and Ponderosa Loop Trails, which only take about half an hour to complete.
The nearly one-and-a-half-mile trail is an easy one but includes some steep sections, which travelers with wheelchairs may need assistance navigating. This is a perfect opportunity to learn about the area's geology, see the fossilized stumps of ancient redwood trees, and enjoy fascinating views of the surrounding peaks.
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Hike the Boulder Creek Trail, an underrated spot to see winter scenic views, which doesn't host many fossils but is worth exploring. It passes through a variety of landscapes, including unique Florissant formations, streams, meadows, and more.
Hiking trail
Length
Duration
Elevation again
Difficulty level
Route type
AllTrails rating
Petrified Forest Loop and Ponderosa Loop Trails
1.43 miles
31 minutes
33 m
Easy
Loop
4.5
Boulder Creek Trail
2.92 miles
One hour and 10 minutes
100 m
Easy
Loop
4.6
Pets are not allowed on the Petrified Forest Loop and Ponderosa Loop Trails.
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What Else Is There To Do At Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument?
The park also offers Northern Lights and dark sky viewing opportunities
The Big Stump at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Colorado, USA
Designated as an International Dark Sky Park, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument offers some of the best stargazing opportunities in the U.S. So, apart from seeing the remains of ancient redwood trees, you can always enjoy marveling at the beautiful night sky after dark.
Its lack of pollution also makes it one of the places to see the Northern Lights in the US. The park hosts Night Sky programs in the Visitor Center parking lot.
When the Night Sky programs are running, the park's facilities, including the Visitor Center and Petrified Forest Loop, and Ponderosa Loop Trails, which normally close at 5:00 pm.
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It's the closest national park unit to Colorado Springs (and the drive is very scenic)
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Only 34.4 miles away, Florissant Fossils Bed Monument is the nearest national park site to Colorado Springs, one of the underrated Colorado college towns worth skipping Boulder for.
The drive from Colorado's second-largest city to the monument is incredibly scenic. The county seat of El Paso County, Colorado Springs, has many of the most beautiful tourist attractions in the Rocky Mountain State, from the Garden of Gods to the 14,000-foot Rocky Mountains' Pikes Peak.
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While the Florissant Fossil Beds Monument's ancient redwoods aren't alive, they demonstrate how Florissant's climate conditions have evolved from a warm, subtropical to more temperate climate.
California's redwoods attract more crowds, but with one of the world's rich fossil deposits and unique attractions, like the Redwood Trio, this Colorado national park site is worth skipping the Golden State for.