Petrified Forest Loop Trail

Petrified Forest Loop Trail

When a settler from Missouri came to the site of present-day Florissant, he was so taken with its beauty that he named it after his hometown. Florrisant is French for “flowering,” and this town is indeed home to vibrant rolling meadows, forests, and a variety of wildlife. While you might see a coyote, mountain lion, golden eagle, or mountain bluebird here today, the scene was a tad different 35 million years ago. Instead of coyotes and cougars, Heptodons and Coryphodons, early ancestors of the modern horse, might have been spotted in this area. Instead of aspens and ponderosas, cattails would have grown out of the huge lake that formerly occupied this space, and monster redwood trees also grew in the swampy climate. This short and easy hike boasts amazing remains of the aforesaid ancient redwood trees, and the visitor center hosts a variety of fossilized insects, leaves, and fish. The park also offers a number of guided tours, seminars, and even junior ranger programs.

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