Entry No. 51 — the Colorado Springs file — filed under: outdoor
Petrified Forest Loop at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Most people blow past Florissant on the way to a bigger peak, which is exactly why this works. Thirty-five million years ago a volcano buried a redwood forest in ash; the wood drank in mineral-rich water and slowly turned to stone. What's left are giant petrified stumps — the famous "Big Stump" is wide enough to park a car on — sitting in an open meadow at 8,400 feet, fossilized mid-life. It is one of the strangest things in Colorado and almost nobody talks about it. The loop is short, flat, and self-guided, so the weirdness-to-effort ratio is absurd: a fifteen-minute stroll past trees that have been dead, and standing, for the entire age of the Rockies.
The story
Thirty-four million years ago, a massive volcanic complex 18 miles southwest erupted, sending a roaring mudflow of ash, rock, and water—a lahar—sweeping through a high-country valley. Buried under 15 feet of slurry, a lush sub-tropical forest of giant redwoods suffocated where they stood. Over centuries, groundwater saturated with silica from the volcanic ash seeped into the dead wood cells, replacing organic tissue with solid quartz and mineral stone. The trees didn't decay; they turned to rock, frozen mid-life.
Long before the National Park Service protected this land, it was private tourist-trap territory where excavators dug up ancient stumps and sold off fossilized wood by the pound. In July 1956, Walt Disney stopped at the private 'Pike Petrified Forest' attraction here, bought a five-ton, 34-million-year-old petrified tree stump for $1,650 as a gag gift for his wife Lillian, and shipped it to California. That very stump still sits in Disneyland’s Frontierland today. It took a fierce 1969 court battle by local activists to halt real estate developers from bulldozing the rest of the ancient lakebed into suburban housing lots.
What survived that courtroom fight is what you walk past today along the Petrified Forest Loop: a flat 1.1-mile gravel path through an 8,400-foot alpine meadow dotted with massive petrified redwood bases. The headliner is 'Big Stump'—a 14-foot-wide stone sequoia base bearing distinct saw marks left behind by 19th-century souvenir miners who tried, and failed, to slice the giant stone trunk into portable pieces.
What it's like
Arrive in the morning before high-altitude summer thunderstorms roll across the meadow, or bring extra layers in late autumn when snow dusting the petrified stumps makes the valley look even weirder. You'll register at the visitor center—paying the small per-person fee—then step out back directly onto the trail. The hike is quiet, flat, and remarkably low-effort, winding over fine gravel past interpretive markers ('Walk Through Time') and towering stone stumps under the open sky. Note that the outdoor trails strictly close to hikers at 4:30 p.m., dogs are banned from all park trails, and the 8,400-foot elevation means you'll want to carry water even on a short walk.
The move: Make the going the date. Pack coffee, point the car up US-24 past Woodland Park, and turn the hour of pine and granite into the conversation. Then walk the petrified forest loop slow — it's barely a mile — and take turns reading the numbered posts to each other while standing over a redwood that's been stone since before the Rockies finished rising. Loop back through the meadow, then keep the day going in nearby Cripple Creek. It's the rare date where "we just went for a little walk" quietly means "we stood next to 35-million-year-old trees."
📍 Before you go A short, easy self-guided loop of roughly 1 to 1.5 miles (NPS lists about 1.1 mi; AllTrails ~1.3-1.4 mi) with only ~70-110 ft of elevation gain — flat enough for almost anyone, and stroller/wheelchair-friendly on the paved sections near the visitor center. The trail starts behind the visitor center and winds through open meadow past fossilized redwood stumps, including the giant "Big Stump." Getting there: US-24 West from Colorado Springs through Woodland Park to Florissant, then south on Teller County Road 1 to the monument (about 45-50 min). Best season is late spring through fall, when meadows green up and wildflowers bloom; the monument sits at 8,400 ft, so come prepared — summer afternoon thunderstorms roll in fast (go in the morning), and winter brings snow, ice, and possible road conditions on the approach. Hydrate and watch for altitude. A per-person entrance fee is required (kids under 16 free; America the Beautiful / Interagency passes are honored) — check current rates before you go. Pets are not allowed on the trails.
- 📍 Florissant (northwest of Cripple Creek)
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Petrified Forest Loop trailhead, behind the visitor center / outdoor exhibit area at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. From Colorado Springs, take US-24 West through Woodland Park and Divide, continue to the town of Florissant, then turn south onto Teller County Road 1 (signed for the monument) and follow it about 2 miles to the entrance and visitor center parking. Roughly a 45-50 minute drive.
Hours: Day-use, free. Best season: Late spring through fall (May-October); open year-round, but winter brings snow and ice at 8,400 ft. Confirm trail & road conditions before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Florissant Fossil Beds Night Sky Program — Since you are already at the monument, stick around after sunset for deep-sky stargazing inside a certified International Dark Sky Park.
- Cripple Creek Wild Donkey Herd — Drive 20 minutes south to Cripple Creek to trade 34-million-year-old stone trees for the direct living descendants of 1890s gold rush pack burros roaming the streets.
- Horsethief Falls Trail — Head south down Highway 67 for a short forest hike through an abandoned 1890s railroad tunnel on the way to a tucked-away waterfall.
- Paradise Cove / Guffey Gorge Swimming Hole — Take the backroads south toward Guffey for a half-mile trek into a granite canyon with a cliff-jumping swimming hole.
Good to know
How long is the Petrified Forest Loop hike and how difficult is it?
It is an easy 1.1-mile loop with roughly 70 to 110 feet of elevation gain. The walk takes about 30 to 45 minutes at a casual pace.
Is the trail accessible for wheelchairs or strollers?
The outdoor exhibit areas and adjacent Ponderosa Loop closest to the visitor center are paved and fully accessible. The Petrified Forest Loop transitions to flat, hard-packed dirt and gravel suitable for all-terrain strollers.
Are dogs allowed on the Petrified Forest Loop?
No. Pets are strictly prohibited on all hiking trails inside Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument to protect fragile fossil deposits and local wildlife.
What are the hours and entry fees for the trail?
An adult per-person entrance fee applies for visitors 16 and older (kids under 16 are free; America the Beautiful interagency passes are accepted). The Petrified Forest Loop and surrounding park trails close to public access at 4:30 p.m. daily.
Is the petrified tree at Disneyland really from this location?
Yes. Walt Disney bought a 5-ton petrified redwood stump from the private Pike Petrified Forest site in Florissant in 1956, before the land became a national monument, and shipped it to Frontierland.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: nps.gov · dayhikesneardenver.com · alltrails.com · davelandblog.blogspot.com
last checked: 2026-06-10