South Central Colorado Sights

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1. Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

Once a temperate subtropical climate, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument was perfectly preserved by volcanic ash and mud flow 34 million years ago. This little-known site is a haven for paleontologists. The visitor center offers a daily guided walk and ranger talks in the amphitheater in summer, or you can follow the more than 14 miles of well-marked hiking trails and lose yourself in the remnants of petrified redwoods from the Eocene epoch. Once a month, you can lose yourself in the star-filled skies with the park's Night Sky Programs. Certified as an International Dark Sky Park and featuring volunteer astronomers from the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society who bring additional telescopes and insights, it's worth planning a late-afternoon visit/hike to then hang out for an evening of galaxy-viewing. See the website for their schedule.