Picture a peaceful landscape of 38 million years ago. Suddenly, volcanos erupt covering the land with fire and ash. A peaceful new land emerges. It gets swallowed by a shallow sea. More volcanic erupt spewing ash into the sea. Rinse and repeat.

What do you have 38 million years down the road?

One of the largest fossil sites in the world. Florissant Fossil Beds is an ongoing dig and research site, learning from the fossils how the wildlife in the past adapted (or didn't) to the climate and environment changes.

Several hiking trails wander through the fields past petrified tree stumps, another remnant of the past.