Colorado is a wonder. However, like most Coloradoans, we tend to take our magnificent state for granted. A mere 30 minutes from our home lands us smack in the middle of the Rocky Mountains and some of the greatest scenery in the country. Majestic Mountains to the West, the Barren Plains to the East, the gutted state of Wyoming to the North, and JesusLand to the South.
Colorado Springs, while beautiful throughout the 20 mile stretch of the town, yields screams of horror each time we drive through the town. Evangelicals have established a homebase in "The Springs" (as it is known in Colorado....No One...NO ONE says Colorado Springs in its entirety when describing the town). Focus on the Family has a secure foothold over the entire city, and one dares not speak words against the Bible or Christianity in general without facing permanent banishment. Yeah - we were sent away into Gulag years ago. I think the police have our license plates on file under the heading "HEATHENS". While both of our families reside in the Springs, we only can stand it in small spurts here and there, which was good for this short trip, as it serves as the Gateway to a little known national monument. We immediately hit I-24 for the short trek into Florissant, CO.
Florissant is a brief but beautiful 30 mile drive from downtown Springs, weaving its way along pristine meadows, and a grand view of Pikes Peak (which still, after all these years, never fails to make me say "Wow" out loud on a particularly beautiful day.) Tucked off a small side road, is the entrance to the Monument.
Florissant, however, is really a nature walk. I defy you to find a nicer way to amble across a mountain meadow while logging a stamp, but do not go in with high expectations. The Visitor Center is a relic, and interestingly enough on our visit, was packed to the gills with people. The informative film is the reason to go to this site. Without it, it would be impossible to decipher the landscape and gradual variations in the land and have a clue what you were looking at.
A now extinct volcano (as with many other natural sites in the West) covered a prehistoric lake, trapping the fossils underneath. The children in the center expressed great disappointment when it was discovered that the fossils were not the dinosaurs or big mammals they were hoping for, but a collection of insects, leaves and flowers. A primeval forest laid across this meadow many years ago before the volcano erupted, and petrified stumps of ancient trees dot the landscape as you take the easy one mile hike around the "Annals of Time" trail.
But, Florissant is difficult to grasp for the casual traveler, as the drive and walk are the highlights of the site. (Oh Yeah......Cripple Creek, the gambling town, is about 15-20 minutes away, which is worth a stopover for the chance to lose your paycheck while looking at silver mines). If you have time.....come to our gorgeous state, and gaze at our Big Horn Sheep, jagged mountain peaks, and perfect weather, and please leave some of your money at Cripple Creek to help stimulate our economy.
FINAL RATING
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument - 4/10 for content & 8/10 for location
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