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Educational Activities: Colorado > Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

Quick Facts

Shootin' Star Trail

Beginning Elevation:	8,480 Feet (2643.4 Meters)
Difficulty:	Moderate
Elevation Gain:	80 Feet (24.9 Meters)
Ending Elevation:	8,400 Feet (2618.5 Meters)
Length:	1.4 Miles (2.33 Kilometers)
Other Maps:	Trails Illustrated 137 Pikes Peak, Canon City
Usage:	Heavy in Summer
Vehicle Accessibility:	Passenger Vehicle

General Description

This trail follows an old logging road and leaves the meadows to travel through the Ponderosa Pine forest. It was named after the nearby Shootin' Star Ranch. Look for signs of former agricultural activity along this trail. The trail is 1.4 miles one way and connects with Lower Twin Rock Road , Hornbeck Wildlife Loop and Twin Rock Trail.

Directions from Florissant: Traveling west on Highway 24, you'll come to a junction with State Road 1 in Florissant. Turn left on to 1 and travel 2.5 miles to the road that leads to the Florissant National Monument Visitors Center.

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Recreation Opportunities

Activity		Remarks	On Site
	Cross-country Skiing	Shootin' Star Trail	Yes
	Biology	Shootin' Star Trail	Yes
	History	Hornbeck Wildlife Loop	Yes
	Hiking & Walking	Shootin' Star Trail	Yes
	Horseback Riding	Shootin' Star Trail	Yes

Related Activities

Caves Trail - The Caves Trail begins at the Visitor Center and extends to the western boundary of the Monument. The rock formation known as 'The Caves' is actually a grouping of large boulders that have fallen together.

Hans Loop Trail - A 1.1 mile extension of the Sawmill Trail, this trail provides vistas of 14,110' Pikes Peak.

Hornbeck Wildlife Loop Trail - Hornbeck Wildlife Loop leaves the Visitor Center and splits from Cave Trail after .6 miles. After the split, Hornbeck Trail leads to the reconstructed Hornbeck Homestead and crosses the road to link with Shootin' Star Trail.

Petrified Forest Loop Trail - The Petrified Forest Loop is 1 mile long with no elevation gain. An informative pamphlet guides you through and around an ancient lake bed complete with several petrified tree stumps.

Sawmill Trail - Sawmill Trail is 2.2 miles long with a moderate level of difficulty. The terrain it travels through provides a good example of Colorado's Montane Life zone.

Twin Rock Trail - Following a riparian, or stream habitat, this trail features a quiet view of rock formations, open meadows, aspen groves, willows and pond life.

Walk Through Time Trail - A pamphlet guides visitors around this .5 mile loop, which introduces the geologic history of the area.