3 Mile Loop 8400-8600 Elevation

The gentle hills of the Fossil Beds are some of the prettiest in this region and Boulder Creek is perhaps the most enjoyable in the park. This long grassy meadow has great views of the valley before ending at one of the coolest rock formations in the area.

A volcanic eruption 35 million years ago buried this region with a fine ash that that created the fossils we see today. The exquisite plant and insect fossils are the finest anywhere, but it's the big tree stumps that are the main attraction. Short trails near the visitor center lead to several fossilized redwood stumps that are up to ten feet across.

To get to the Boulder Creek Trail, head west out the back door of the visitor center. Zig Zag north then west past several fossil stumps on the Walk Through Time Trail, and then Boulder Creek splits right after about 200 yards. The start of this trail is a little confusing but most junctions are well labeled.

The first half mile is shared with the Sawmill Trail, running through the thin trees at the edge of the forest. Turn right at the Boulder Creek sign and follow the trail into a grassy meadow and then turn left at the Hornbek sign. For the next mile the trail follows a marshy creek along this lush meadow at the edge of the forest. The view downstream is of Pikes Peak over the Florissant Valley with rocky hills framing the lower end of the meadow.

The meadow comes to an end at a big rock pile called the Caves. It doesn't look like much from a distance but the gaps between the car-sized rocks are like a maze with a creek running through the middle. The biggest rock is perched across two others, making a cave underneath. Thought it's not huge, it's one of the coolest formations in the park.

The trail continues on southward, winding through the thin forest until it meets with the Sawmill trail again. This whole stretch is a pleasant stroll through the trees with pine tree smells and occasional views of the valley to the north.

To get to the Florissant Fossil Beds, turn south at the town of Florissant on Highway 24. After two miles, the visitor center will be on the right. The visitor center has a nice picnic area and book store, but few other services. Bikes and pets are not allowed on any of the Fossil Bed trails.