A Popular Colorado National Monument is Rolling Back Strict Rules

Visitors planning a trip to Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument can still explore the park, but they should review the updated fire rules before arriving.

The monument returns to Stage 1 fire restrictions on Wednesday, Sept. 16, with some rules differing from the Stage 2 restrictions that began July 1. The updated restrictions take effect at 12:01 a.m. and apply to all lands within Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.

These changes follow restrictions that began when Teller County was experiencing fires.

The Stage 1 restrictions apply to all lands within Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.

Visitors should follow these rules while the restrictions are in effect:

Fires: Lighting or maintaining a fire for warmth, cooking, or aesthetics is prohibited.

Smoking: Smoking is prohibited except within a personally owned enclosed vehicle or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren of all flammable materials.

Fireworks and pyrotechnics: The use or possession of fireworks or pyrotechnics of any kind is prohibited.

Under the Stage 2 restrictions that were in effect since July, all fires and campfires were prohibited, including charcoal fires. Properly shielded gas or liquid-fueled portable camp stoves were allowed. Smoking was prohibited except inside a personally owned enclosed vehicle.

The National Park Service says Stage 1 restrictions are intended to reduce the number of human-caused fires during periods of high fire danger by decreasing potential sources of ignition.

Park law enforcement rangers may issue citations to people who violate the restrictions under Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Teller County continues to experience fire conditions, including dry fuels, above-normal temperatures, low humidity, minimal precipitation, and high winds.

The park also said competition for firefighting resources remains high as fires continue to burn across the West.

Florissant Fossil Beds is 35 miles west of Colorado Springs near the town of Florissant. Established in 1969, the national monument protects fossil deposits that include insects, leaves, seeds, fish, and some mammals and birds.

Visitors can see excavated fossils in the Visitor Center, where an 18-minute park film is also available. Outside, the monument has petrified redwood tree stumps along one-mile and half-mile self-guided trails, plus 15 miles of hiking trails and the grounds of an 1878 homestead.

Other activities include Junior Ranger programs, picnicking, night-sky programs, and ranger-guided programs during summer.

Pets are prohibited inside the Visitor Center and on trails but are allowed in the parking lot and designated pet exercise area when kept on a leash.

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This story was originally published by TravelHost on Sep 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add TravelHost as a Preferred Source by clicking here.