Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
The Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (FLFO) is world-renown for fantastic shale fossil deposits (insects and plants), petrified Redwood trees, 6,000 acres with 15 miles of pristine hiking trails, a great Visitor Center with fossil displays.
However, “Half the Park is after Dark” due to the spectacular dark skies to view the beauty of the universe.
More specifically, FLFO was certified as an International Dark Sky (IDS) Park in June 2021 by the International Dark Sky Association. This rigorous certification recognizes the park’s exceptional dark-sky qualities and joins over 100 other IDS-certified parks around the world (there are only 84 IDS parks in the U.S.). It also reflects the local Florissant community appreciation and support for dark sky certification
The Fossil Beds provides seasonal and quarterly astronomy-based interpretive programming opportunities and public Night Sky astronomy and solar activities. Located a convenient hour-drive west of Colorado Springs, FLFO has extremely dark night skies due to high elevation (8,369 ft), and light pollution protection from the Pikes Peak front range mountains. FLFO captures it all “From Stumps to Stars”!
The Florissant Fossil Beds is partnered with the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society (CSASTRO), which supported FLFO through the stringent IDS certification process. CSASTRO is one of the largest astronomy clubs in the nation (300+ members) and provides telescopes and astronomers for monthly FLFO Night Sky events. Thousands of people attend our FLFO Astronomy & Night Sky Programs every year. Bring your own binoculars, lawn chairs, and blankets for fantastic stellar viewing. Planned 2025 FLFO Night Sky seasonal events are the following (weather permitting; may be rescheduled for the following night)
The following is our summer schedule for the FLFO Night Sky Seasonal Events:
*Saturday, June 21 “SUNday in the Park” (solar astronomy @ Visitor Center, 9am-12 noon)
*Saturday, June 21 (9:00-11:00pm viewing)
*Friday, July 25 (9:00-11:00pm viewing); weather back-up is Saturday night July 26, 2025
*Friday, August 22 (9:00-11:00pm viewing); weather back-up is Saturday night August 23, 2025
*Saturday, October 18 (8:00-10:00pm viewing)
About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. FLFO is a key paleontological part of the NPS system. More at www.nps.gov.
About the International Dark-Sky Association: IDA’s mission is to preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark skies through environmentally responsible outdoor lighting. More at www.darksky.org. About Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument: 6,000 acres of meadows, forests, prairies, historic/current fossil digs. Petrified Sequoia tree stumps, world-renown paleontology of insect fossils. Park & trails open 7 days/week. Bookstore & Visitor Center 9:00am-4:30pm Wed.-Sun. More at https://www.nps.gov/flfo (719) 748 – 3253 About Colorado Springs Astronomical Society (CSASTRO): Premier astronomy organization in Colorado with 300+ professional and amateur astronomer members. Conducts community astronomy events, collaboration with FLFO, and Instrumental in FLFO IDS certification. Hosts annual preeminent Rocky Mountain Star Stare (RMSS) every summer at Starry Meadows, Gardner CO. More at https://csastro.org/
Thank you,
Katherine Jervik
Facility Services Assistant
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Work Cell #: (719)301-8112
