Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument and Seven Falls................................

Our last day in Colorado Springs came quickly, and we had one more place to explore. Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. For more information on the park, click here. 

Many many years ago (34 million), the environment was very different here. The area was a lake, with Redwood trees also in the area. Due to volcanic activity, the redwood trees became buried in volcanic mud and petrified. Back in the day, visitors to the area would take petrified wood home, thus taking most of the petrified wood! There are only several stumps of the Redwoods that remain today, and most are protected by fencing. Some are even buried in mud for protection.

giant redwood tree-petrified

another giant redwood-note the top is strapped in so it doesn't fall apart

trying to preserve the giant redwood

three trees in one

We took the nature walk through the park to see the petrified redwoods. As we walked through the meadow, we were so pleasantly surprised by all the wildflowers. So many different flowers. When you look across the meadow, it just looks green. Not an obvious blast of color. But looking at the edge of the meadow as we walked, aaahhh. Pretty.

This area was a lake, about 12 miles long, many moons ago. Volcanic ash, interspersed with algae blooms and diatoms, would trap insects and leaves, and eventually the layer would sink to the bottom. This happened repeatedly. Over time, and with compression from layers of volcanic mud, fossils were formed.

Layers and layers of shale, with fossils of about 1200 different species of insects, fish, and leaves, were found in these fossil beds. A ranger  was stationed at a dig site to explain a bit more about this process. This PhD geologist ranger only "works" one morning a week, and we were lucky with our timing. Very interesting.

walking the trail through the meadow

Ranger talk at the fossil dig site

close up

We continued on the "Big Stump", the largest petrified redwood in the world. These trees were buried in mud from volcanic activity, which allowed the minerals to seep into the cells and petrify the tree. Unfortunately, the many visitors that came to the area in the early would take pieces home. Today we are educated to "take only pictures, leave only footprints".

moving along to the petrified wood

the largest petrified redwood tree in the world

you can tell this was a lake, can't ya?

several petrified redwood and other types of trees along the trail

see the tree rings?

the remnants of the petrified trees are now protected with fencing

here is one still buried in the earth

The Visitor Center had a great movie, and an exhibit of fossils found in the area. The fossils looked like artwork to me. They were so very clear. We were happy to have listened to Dr. Rich at the dig site, where we learned the fact that one person identified 1200 of the 1700 species found so far in the fossil beds. There are only plants, fish, leaves and such, due to the way the fossils were formed (lake bottom). No mammals.

After our exploration, we headed out to an different area of the park for a picnic lunch. We secured a a table in a nicely shaded spot, right next to a gently flowing stream. The hiking trail there looked so enticing, but with temperatures hovering near 90, we decided that one of us wouldn't fare too well. (I am the weakest link-ugh!)

With a little bit of time left in the afternoon, we decided to head on over to The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs to visit the Seven Falls. The Broadmoor is quite a complex! Some of the prices I spotted when looking at their website were $780-$1000 a night for the wilderness packages! Out of our price range for sure. Anyway, we took a shuttle to the Seven Falls, since no cars are allowed up there. For more information on the falls, click here. For more information on The Broadmoor, click here.

Despite being so hot, we really enjoyed the walk through the box canyon to get to the falls. Its a little less than a mile, and there is a tram available for those who are not up to the walk. Though it was very scenic, and the falls were just gorgeous, we were a little disappointed. We thought it would be a more natural experience. Apparently, there was a flood a few years ago, and the seven falls became five. A lot of work was done to save the falls, so even though it is natural, there is a lot of man-made types of things we noticed. Even walking through the canyon along a beautiful stream, it seemed that some of the rocks were strategically placed. Hhmm. Again, it was a nice experience, but in a Disneyworld kind of way, rather than a gem hidden in nature. Just our opinion.

no cars allowed....everyone must come by shuttle bus from a couple of miles away

The Broadmoor (main building?)-it was quite a complex

walking through the box canyon to get to the Falls

very nice

we walked along the stream whenever a path diverted from the paved road

we liked the shade too (it was HOT)

signage indicates some of the rock formations

nice pleasant walk

still walking through the canyon

canyon walls are about 900 feet

lots of little waterfalls

pretty

there's the tram

really pretty area

hmmm....that IS what it looks like

the wrestling bears

Oh boy. I think I saw the stairs before the actual waterfall. NO CAN DO! There are a zillion stairs up the steep side of the waterfalls to afford wonderful up-close views of the falls. There is also an elevator for those not up to doing the stairs, and the view is a little bit distant. I had a nice view of Tom as he explored the waterfalls from the stairs.

A restaurant sits at the base of the falls, with an infinity pool stocked with fish. We hear it is very good. It is certainly in a scenic spot.

okay then...

a little scary for me

the Falls are really nice!

the restaurant and infinity pool (how would you like to have that view in your backyard?)

safety first!

I'll meet up with you later Tom :)

oh boy

view from my perch (up the elevator!) upper and lower falls

Tom is still heading up stairs

it is beautiful

here comes Tom now...back down the stairs

view from the elevator perch

As we walked back throught the canyon to catch the shuttle bus, we spotted something way high up in the trees. Looks like a zipline or other type of "adventure" is being built. Or.....that is the adventure....walking along a suspended bridge between the peaks? Not sure.

more signage about the rocks :)      this one is the Half Dome

hmmmm....what is that through the trees?

i have no words....this is what my nightmares look like!

the canyons were truly spectacular

very scenic 

There was more to explore at The Broadmoor, but we ran out of time. It would have been interesting to see the inside of the main building, or visit the Penrose Museum. Mr. Spencer Penrose built the Broadmoor in 1918, and was committed to preserving the heritage and history of the area. It is certainly a beautiful area-Cheyenne Mountain and Colorado Springs.