Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

11/06/2026

Across the National Park System, memorials, monuments and historic landscapes preserve the stories of those who served and sacrificed. From the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and World War II Memorial to the Korean War Veterans Memorial, Pearl Harbor National Memorial and the newly dedicated Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial, these places invite us to reflect on the people behind the history.

Beyond the memorials, historic battlefields, military forts and other sites across the country help tell the stories of generations who served. On Veterans Day, take time to visit a place of remembrance, discover a story you didn't know, and honor those who served.

Explore places that commemorate America's military history: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/veterans-day.htm

Image: Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial Raptors in Flight. NPS/Brodsky

11/06/2026

11/05/2026

The histories, cultures, and living traditions of Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islander communities are an important part of the stories told across our national parks.

Throughout the year, and during November’s Native American Heritage Month, explore the stories, places, and cultural heritage preserved and shared in national parks and communities across the country: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/native-american-heritage-month.htm

NPS Photo

11/04/2026

It’s leaf-peeping season. The trees have made an effort, so the least we can do is go outside and stare at them.

Leaf peeping is the ancient human tradition of traveling long distances to look at leaves, take photographs, and stand in the middle of roads while saying, “Oh, wow, look at that one.”

Nobody knows exactly when this became a major event, but the trees seem okay with the arrangement. So get out there and see what all the rustle is about.

NPS photos

11/04/2026

As Veterans Day approaches, take a moment to honor those who have served our country. One way to celebrate their service is by helping them discover the places and stories that make our nation's public lands special.

U.S. military veterans and Gold Star Families are eligible for a free America the Beautiful Military Lifetime Pass, providing free access to federal recreation lands where entrance or standard amenity fees are charged.

From the quiet beauty of a mountain trail to the stories preserved at historic sites, our public lands offer opportunities to explore, reflect, learn, and connect with the places that help tell America's story.

Learn how to get your pass and start planning your next adventure: https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/veterans-and-gold-star-families-free-access.htm

Image: Korean War Veterans Memorial at National Mall & Memorial Parks /NPS

11/02/2026

Hello darkness, my old friend. Now you start at 5:00 pm.

With daylight saving time behind us, the sun is clocking out a littler earlier. Just as before, if you’re heading to a national park, make sure and check park hours, trail conditions, weather forecasts, and sunset times.

Fun fact: admiring fall foliage is much more enjoyable when you’re not trying to navigate a trail in the dark while wondering which tree looks familiar.

NPS photo

11/02/2026

11/02/2026

🦋 Imagine flying thousands of miles to make it home for a family reunion. Monarch butterflies do it every year.

Every fall, two journeys come together. As millions of monarch butterflies travel south on one of nature's greatest migrations, families gather to honor loved ones during Day of the Dead or Día de los Mu***os.

For many communities, the arrival of the monarchs is more than a sign of the changing season. These butterflies are seen as messengers, symbolizing the return of loved ones in spirit and serving as a beautiful reminder of the enduring connections between generations.

Traveling thousands of miles across North America, they depend on healthy habitats, including in parks, to rest, feed, and continue their journey.

What animal makes you feel connected to your family or community?

Several parks across the country host cultural Day of the Dead programming, including San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, among others.

NPS Photo taken at Amistad National Recreation Area

11/02/2026

Día de los Mu***os, or Day of the Dead, is a centuries-old tradition that honors the lives of loved ones who have passed. Its roots stretch back to Indigenous cultures of Mesoamerica, where ancestors were remembered through ritual, art, and celebration. When the Spanish arrived in what is now Texas, these native customs merged with Catholic traditions like All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day; creating the vibrant holiday we know today.

At San Antonio Missions, you can see this cultural fusion come to life. From colorful altars adorned with marigolds and candles to music, food, and stories, the park reflects how Spanish and Indigenous traditions shaped communities along the San Antonio River.

Come explore mission descendant ofrendas/ Day of the Dead altars while they are still inside the Mission San Jose granary for a few more days!

NPS Photo/ Andrew Shirey

10/31/2026

This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Pumpkins* scream in the dead of night!

Happy Halloween!

*No pumpkins have been observed screaming in national parks. You may be hearing a coyote, bobcat, fox, owl, or that marmot looking for Alan…or was it Steve?

Image: Boo! Carved jack-o’-lantern with ranger hat at Hartwell Tavern at Minute Man National Historical Park

10/08/2026

We are looking forward to celebrating National Fossil Day this year with our community! Check out our table at the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center in Colorado Springs this Saturday, October 10, 10 am - 2 pm.

Save the Date!

You've been waiting for this day for a whole year and it's finally come - Fossil Day! Join us and our partner organizations on Saturday, October 10th for the 12th annual Fossil Day Celebration at the Garden of the Gods! How many exclamation points can we fit in one post before we seem excited 😁?!?!?!

There will be:
🦅live animal presentations🦅,
🦴fossil collecting and identification🦴
AND SO MUCH MORE

The event runs from 10 am until 2 pm and, just like entrance into your favorite city park, it is ✨completely free✨. Will we see you there?

10/07/2026

⚠️ Park Closure Notice – Monday
Due to the federal holiday, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument will be closed on Monday, October 12.
The Visitor Center (already closed on Mondays for winter operations), its parking area, and restroom facilities will be inaccessible. However, visitors will still be able to access the park and trails at the Hornbek Homestead and the Barksdale Picnic Area parking lots.
Thank you for your patience and for planning ahead.

09/29/2026

We are looking forward to our final Night Sky event of 2026, this Saturday, October 3, from 7:30 to 9:30 pm! Here are some helpful answers to frequently asked questions about this event:

🌠 What are the Visitor Center hours on the day of a Night Sky event? On the day of the Night Sky event, our Visitor Center will be open from 9 am to 7:30 pm. Feel free to come check out the museum exhibits, bookstore, and trails before the event!

🌠 Is the event on rain or shine? No, the event will be canceled if there are storms forecasted. We will make this decision by noon on the day of the event, and the announcement will be made on our social media pages if we do need to cancel.

🌠 Do I need to reserve beforehand? No, but we advise getting here early. In the past, our Night Sky events have been so popular that the parking lot fills up, and in that case, we will have to turn cars away. Also, please be mindful that arriving after 7:30 pm with headlights on ruins Night Sky vision!

🌠 Is the event family friendly? Yes, 100%! We will even have the elusive Night Sky Explorer book and badge available to be completed.

🌠 What do I bring? Bring a red light if you have it (there will be plenty of red light illuminating the space, so please DON'T use a normal flashlight, which disrupts night sky vision), lawn or camping chairs, plenty of layers and/or blankets to keep warm, and your National Park pass or a way to pay the entrance fee.

🌠 Do I need to bring my own telescope? No, CSASTRO will provide telescopes and set them up for the public to view interesting space objects. If you have your own telescope you’d like to set up, you are welcome to. And our Hornbek Homestead parking lot is always open for independent Night Sky viewing!

Please call the Visitor Center if you have additional questions, and our Rangers will be happy to assist!

Photo Credit: Dale Poll
Alt text: The Hornbek Homestead at night with the Milky Way and dark starry sky above

09/09/2026

Summer has wrapped up at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, and our winter operating hours are about to begin. Starting on Monday, September 14, 2026, our Visitor Center will be open Wednesday–Sunday, 9 AM–4:30 PM and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays for the season.

If you do plan to visit us on a Monday or Tuesday, you can still enjoy the Monument. The main parking lot at the Visitor Center remains open for trail access, with the Visitor Center foyer open for restrooms and water, from 9 AM–4:30 PM. In addition, our Hornbek Homestead parking lot and Barksdale Picnic Area are operating on their usual schedules.

Whether you’re stopping by for a brisk hike, to marvel at our giant redwood fossils, or to spend some quiet time on the landscape, there’s still plenty to enjoy throughout the fall and winter season. Dress in layers, stay hydrated, and enjoy our forests and open spaces!

Photo: NPS/C. Peterson
Alt text: elk herd in field with wildflowers, trees, and clouds

08/20/2026

See you at the Yurt for Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument's Jr. Ranger Day 2026! Join us on Saturday the 22nd from 10 am to 1 pm for special activities and programs for kids of all ages. Don't miss the Ask the Paleontologist at 11 am and a ranger-led program, Stories in Stone with a volcano demonstration at 12:30 pm!

Alt Text: yurt surrounded by trees with "Junior Ranger Central" banner

08/14/2026

Unfortunately, tomorrow's Night Sky event has been canceled due to the forecasted rain. There is no rain date for this event.

We plan to host one more Colorado Springs Astronomical Society Night Sky event at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument on Saturday, October 3rd.

As always, our Hornbek Homestead parking lot is open for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to facilitate dark sky viewing as an International Dark Sky Park.

Alt text: Milky way above the Hornbek Homestead.

08/13/2026

We are looking forward to our next Night Sky program, which is planned for this Saturday, August 15th, 8:30 to 10:30pm! Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument and the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society (CSASTRO) are excited to collaborate for a wonderful night of dark sky viewing, weather dependent.

🌦️ How do we know if the event is cancelled? This decision is made by noon on the day of the event and announced on our social media – if there are thunderstorms or cloud cover forecasted or poor visibility due to the wildfire smoke, we will have to cancel the event.

🕒 What are the Visitor Center hours on the day of a Night Sky event? The Visitor Center will be open from 9 am to 9 pm and our VC parking lot will be open from 9 am to 11 pm.

📝 Do I need to reserve beforehand? No, but we advise getting here early. The parking lot fills up quickly and cars will be turned away once it is full. We strongly encourage carpooling if possible.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Is the event family friendly? Yes, 100%! We will even have the exclusive Night Sky Explorer book and badge available to be completed.

🎒What do I bring? Bring a red light if you have it (park staff will be providing red cellophane to cover flashlights and phone lights), lawn or camping chairs, plenty of layers and/or blankets to keep warm, and your National Park pass or a way to pay the entrance fee.

🔭 Do I need to bring my own telescope? CSASTRO will provide telescopes and set them up for the public to view interesting space objects. If you have your own telescope you’d like to set up, you are welcome to. And our Hornbek Homestead parking lot is always open for independent Night Sky viewing!

Image credit: VIP M. Harter
Alt text: photo of night sky with Milky Way

08/10/2026

Save the date! We will be kicking off National Park week with Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument's Jr. Ranger Day on Saturday, August 22. From 10 am to 1 pm, join us for Jr. Ranger activities at our Fossil Learning Lab (the yurt).

Alt text: Flyer for 2026 Jr. Ranger Day event

07/18/2026

We have another fun-filled week planned at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. On Saturday, we continue to celebrate America 250 with participation in Flo-Geo Heritage Day, a community celebration honoring our local heritage and history. Discover the stories preserved in this landscape and experience a rare glimpse into frontier life. Tour the historic 1878 Hornbek Homestead, open from 10 AM to 3:30 PM, and join us for additional geology and paleontology-themed programming at the Visitor Center area.

If you have any questions, please call the front desk, and continue to monitor our social media for updates to our weekly program offerings.

Alt text: NPS flyer with weekly program schedule

07/07/2026

Join us on Friday, July 10th from 9-11pm for our Night Sky program! Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument and the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society (CSASTRO) are excited to collaborate for a wonderful night of dark sky viewing, weather and wildfire haze dependent.

🌦️ How do we know if the event is canceled? This decision is made by noon on the day of the event and will be announced on our social media – if there are thunderstorms or cloud cover forecasted, or poor visibility due to the wildfire smoke, we will have to cancel the event.

🕒 What are the Visitor Center hours on the day of a Night Sky event? The Visitor Center will be open from 9 am to 9 pm and our VC parking lot will be open from 9 am to 11 pm.

📝 Do I need to reserve beforehand? No, but we advise getting here early. The parking lot fills up quickly and cars will be turned away once it is full. We strongly encourage carpooling if possible.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Is the event family friendly? Yes, 100%! We will even have the exclusive Night Sky Explorer book and badge available to be completed.

🎒What do I bring? Bring a red light if you have it (park staff will be providing red cellophane to cover flashlights and phone lights), lawn or camping chairs, plenty of layers and/or blankets to keep warm, and your National Park pass or a way to pay the entrance fee.

🔭 Do I need to bring my own telescope? CSASTRO will provide telescopes and set them up for the public to view interesting space objects. If you have your own telescope you’d like to set up, you are welcome to. And our Hornbek Homestead parking lot is always open for independent Night Sky viewing!

Image Credit: Mark Harter
Alt text: Image of the Milky Way and stars above the Hornbek Homestead