This publication was produced by a collaboration between the 

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Royal Gorge Field Office, 

the National Park Service (NPS) at Florissant Fossil Beds National 

Monument, the Gold Belt Byway Association and the Geocorps 

America program of the Geological Society of America. The activities 

and content address Colorado Academic Standards (CAS) in 

Earth and Life Science. 

Written by Michael R. Johnson 

Illustrated by Paige A. Latendresse 
 

 

Public Lands Belong to You!

The BLM is a federal government agency that takes care 

of more than 245 million acres of land. Most of these lands 

are in the western part of the United States. These lands are 

America’s public lands, and they belong to all Americans. 

These public lands are almost equal in area to all the land in 

the states of Texas and California put together. 

The BLM manages public lands for many uses. The lands 

supply natural resources, such as coal, oil, natural gas and 

other minerals. The lands provide habitats for plants and 

animals. People enjoy the big open spaces on public lands. 

BLM lands also contain evidence of our country’s past, 

ranging from fossils to Indian artifacts to ghost towns. On BLM 

lands, fossil bones, teeth, turtle shells and other vertebrate 

fossils must be left where they are, but clams, snails 

and other invertebrates may be collected. 

When it doubt, leave it be! 

Junior Explorers 

The BLM’s Junior Explorer program helps 

introduce young explorers like you to the 

lands and resources the BLM manages. This 

guide to the Gold Belt Tour National Scenic 

Byway will help you to understand what rocks 

and fossils tell us about Earth’s past. You will 

also visit several spectacular locations, and 

learn where to find even more. 

Earning Your Junior Explorer Badge 

You can work through the activities with an older sibling, parent, or an adult you know. 

If you are 9-12 years old, you can try them on your own. 

If you are 10 to 12 years old, complete fifteen activities. 


If you are 8 to 9 years old, complete nine activities. 


If you are 4 to 7 years old, complete five activities. 


At least one activity should be a special Onsite Activity (at Florissant or Skyline Drive). When you complete the activities, 

check them against the Answer Key in the back of the booklet. Then say the Junior Explorer pledge on page 28 and sign 

the certificate. You can take the certificate to the Visitor Center at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, or bring it or 

mail it to: BLM Royal Gorge Field Office | 3028 E Main St., Cañon City, CO 81212 | phone: 719-269-8500. 

2 
Be a Scientist! 

Rocks and fossils are a record of the 

past. Geologists are scientists who 

know how to read rocks like a book to 

learn about the ancient surface of the 

Earth. Paleontologists are scientists 

who find fossils, and learn about life 

on Earth long ago. In this guide, you 

will learn how to read the rocks and 

study fossils just like those scientists, 

and then you can tell the story of how 

Colorado has changed through time! 

7

Gold Belt Byway
 You will visit seven different places 

in this book that you can also see in 

person. These sites are part of the 

Gold Belt Tour National Scenic Byway, 

which is named for Colorado’s rich 

mining history. But these rocks have 

more than just gold to offer! 

Visiting 

BLM Lands 

Many of these locations are on 

public lands managed by the BLM. 

You are welcome to visit, but please 

remember that these lands belong 

to all of us! As you read this book, 

you will learn that there are rules for 

collecting fossils on public lands. Be 

sure to follow those rules so others 

can enjoy the land too! 

Maps can show 

not just where 

to go, but also 

what you’ll find 

there. Each site 

in this book has 

a certain color 

that matches the 

age of the rocks 

at that site. Color 

each site with its 

special color 

as you read 

about it. 

*Adults!


 

Detailed directions to each 

location can 

be found in 

the back of this 

book. 

3 
Each of the seven places in this book has its own story to tell.

Florissant National Monument

The Florissant Fossil Beds were 

discovered in the 1860s, but only 

became a National Monument 

in 1969 after a campaign led by 

scientists and environmentalists 

like Estella Leopold, Beatrice 

Willard, and Vim Wright.

Cripple Creek and Victor

When first mined in the late 19th

to early 20th Centuries, the mines 

near Cripple Creek produced 22 

million ounces of gold. That’s more 

than 100 elephants, and it would 

take 28 semi-trucks to move all 

that gold! Mining for gold continues 

in the area today!

Shelf Road

The narrow, winding, Shelf Road 

was the first road connecting 

Cripple Creek to the Arkansas 

River Valley. Imagine traveling that 

road with just a horse and wagon!

Garden Park Area

The Marsh-Felch Quarry and the 

Cope Quarries were discovered 

in the late 19th Century as part of 

the “Bone Wars,” a race between 

Othniel Charles Marsh and Edward 

Drinker Cope to find the most 

dinosaurs.

Skyline Drive

The rocks at the top of Skyline 

Drive were formed on an ancient 

beach. If you looked to the east in 

the Cretaceous Period (150 to 65 

million years ago), you would be 

looking across a sea!

Royal Gorge

Royal Gorge was discovered in 

1806 by Lt. Zebulon Pike, who 

thought the gorge was completely 

impassable. Today the gorge can 

be crossed by bridge, train, cable 

car, or zipline.

Indian Springs

The trace fossils at Indian Springs 

are the best in North America! 

Because they are so unique, the 

site was made a National Natural 

Landmark in 1979.

Fun Facts

4
Activity - Public and Private Lands 

This book takes you to lands owned by many different agencies and people. There are different 

rules and laws for collecting fossils on public lands (BLM), national parks (NPS), city property and 

private land. Read the chart to learn the different rules, and look at the colors on the map to see 

who owns what land. Then, match each location in this book to its owner and rules. 

OWNERSHIP RULES LOCATIONS 

BLM You must have a permit from the 

BLM to collect fossil bones and 

teeth, but you may collect fossil ___________________________________

___________________________________

___________________________________

shells and plants. 

NPS You may not collect fossils or 

even rocks. 

City of You must have a permit from the 

Cañon City city to collect fossil bones and 

teeth, but you may collect fossil 

shells and plants. 

Private You must ask the landowner’s 

permission. ___________________________________

This map is a simple picture of land 

ownership for the places in this 

book. Check an official map if you 

want to visit other places. 

Florissant 

Cripple Creek 

Victor 

Shelf Road 

Red Canyon Park 

Garden Park 

Royal Gorge Skyline Drive 

Indian Springs 

BLM 

NPS 

City 

Private

5 

 
Geologic Time 

When a geologist studies a rock, it is like 

reading one chapter in a very long book. 

Usually, a geologist can only read one or two 

chapters at a time. How do they figure out 

what order the chapters go in? They use the 

Geologic Time Scale! The Geologic Time Scale 

is like a table of contents that allows geologists 

to figure out which rocks are older and which 

rocks are younger. Each location that you visit 

in this book has its own Geologic Age that you 

can use to put them in order. 

Eon Era Period Today enozoic 

Quaternary 

Neogene 

C

Paleogene 

65 Ma 

Mesozoic 

Cretaceous 

anerozoic 

Jurassic 

Triassic 

251 Ma 

Permian 

Ph

Pennsylvanian 

Paleozoic 

Mississippian 

Devonian 

Silurian 

Ordovician 

Cambrian 

542 Ma 

Precambrian 

4.6 Ga 

6 

Words to Know

cale – How geologists Geologic Time S

ast history into order Earth’s v

t acts like a

smaller periods of time. I

huge calendar. 

ticular period of time Geologic Age – A par

ime Scale. Each on the Geologic T

Geologic Age has its own special

color.

viation that means “billions Ga – An abbre

of years ago

viation that means “millions

.” 

Ma – An abbre

of years ago.”
Paleogene

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument 

Paleogene (34 Ma)

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is famous for its fossils. These fossils belong to 

a smaller geologic age in the Paleogene called the Eocene Epoch. Some of the fossils you 

can find include spiders, wasps, birds, and even giant petrified tree stumps. Fossils are very 

difficult to make. An animal or plant has to be buried before anything comes along to eat it 

or step on it, and then survive millions of years of weathering and erosion. Even then, we 

usually only find the “hard parts:” bones, teeth and shells. The Florissant Fossil Beds are a 

very special kind of fossil discovery called a 

lagerstätten (LAH-ger-SHTAH-ten). This means they contain many 

fossils that are very well-preserved, and even include fragile insect 

wings, leaf impressions and feathers!

ONSITE

Activity 1 – Visiting the Visitor Center

The Visitor Center can show you a lot of fossils, and explain what they tell us about the past.

As you explore the center, answer these questions about Florissant:

How old are the Florissant Fossil Beds?

What are “diatoms?”

How was the climate of Lake Florissant different from today?

What clues do paleontologists use to figure out past climate?

What is a “regurgitalite”?

What kinds of rocks preserve the fossils at Florissant?

Words to Know

Fossil – The remains or signs of a living

thing that have been turned to

 stone.

Petrified – Turned to stone.

Weathering – Breaking apart a rock. May

happen by cracking and shattering the rock, or dissolving it.

ay sediment by Erosion – Carrying aw

 wind, water, or ice.

Lagerstätten – A rich deposit of very

well-preserved fossils.

7
 

.

How Do You Make a Fossil?
 
 

The fish dies and sinks to the 

bottom of the lake. 

Its flesh rots away, but the 

bones stay behind. 

The bones are buried, 

and turn to stone over a very 

long time. 

The bones are later exposed 

by wind and rain, and can be 

discovered by paleontologists

ONSITE 

Activity 2 – Amazing Fossils 

Usually, big, tough bones become fossils 

more easily than small, delicate bones. But 

at Florissant we find incredible fossils of 

fragile things like plant leaves and insects 

that leave paleontologists in awe. Which 

Florissant fossil is your favorite? Draw it 

to the right! 

Activity 3 – Going Back in Time 

The mix of insects, leaves and trees tells paleontologists that there was once a

tall forest here, and the climate was warmer than today. The thin layers of rock

tell geologists that there was a lake next to the forest with a volcano 

very nearby. Look at the pictures below, and cross out what doesn’t belong 

in a picture of ancient Florissant. 

8 
Cripple Creek and Victor 

Paleogene (33 Ma) 

Cripple Creek and Victor are famous for their gold mines. Some of the historic mines 

went as deep as 3,350 feet below the surface. You can see the historic mining 

structures throughout the area, many of them accessible by hiking trails. To learn more 

about mining history of the area visit the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum or go to the 

Independence Mill Site to walk multiple 

interpretive trails and see historic 

buildings. 

g Paleoeneg

How Did the Gold Get There? 

The rocks here come from two different times in Earth history. 

The oldest rocks are pink, black and stripey rocks called granite 

and gneiss (pronounced “nice”) from the Precambrian (1.7 Ga). 

The youngest rocks, called breccia, come from violent, explosive 

volcanoes in the Paleogene (33 Ma). 

Granite and gneiss form deep Eruptions blast the granite and 

underground. gneiss into small, sharp fragments.

Hot magma dikes force their Hot water seeps into these cracks, 

way into the cracks left by the and deposits gold in veins.

eruption.

These volcanoes also 

produced a mineral that 

geologists call pyrite. 

Miners called it “Fool’s 

Fool’s Gold Gold.” 

Real Gold 

In the mining district take care and stay on the trails! 

Historic mining openings can be dangerous! 

 

Words to Know

Granite – A type of rock that forms

when magma cools underground.

It is usually pink and white with 

 smaller black spots. 

Gneiss – A type of rock that forms when

ed squeezed and heat granites are 

deep underground. They usually

 have pink and black stripes. 

Magma – Hot, molten rock found deep

o the underground. If it comes t

 surface, it is called lava. 

ype of sedimentary rock Breccia – A t

 made of big, sharp pieces of rock

. that have been squeezed and 

fused t

ype of intrusion that comes up

ogether. 

Dike – A t

 in a narrow sheet like a wall. 

Vein – A narrow line of valuable metal like

 gold. 

Pyrite – Fool’s Gold! Where do you think

ts this nickname? it ge

9 
Activity 1 – Geologic Word Search 

Geologists and paleontologists use a lot of special words to describe rocks, fossils and minerals. 

Find some of these words here. Do you know what each of these words mean? 

BRECCIA 

CONGLOMERATE 

DIKE 

FORMATION 

GNEISS 

GOLD 

GRANITE 

LAGERSTATTEN 

MUDSTONE 

PYRITE 

SANDSTONE 

SHALE 

TRACE FOSSIL 

VOLCANO 

LIMESTONE 

L A G E R S T A T T E N 

C O N G L O M E R A T E 

S J E R D S D J A P V L 

A J I A D V H D C Y O I 

N B S N M H F E E R L M 

D B S I G E N S F I C E 

S O R T A O N E O T A S 

T C Q E T S L O S E N T 

O I X S C A N D S O O O 

N C D V H C O D I K E N 

E U W S S E I H L I D E 

M W H F O R M A T I O N 

Activity 2 – Nobody’s Fool 

Miners can use geology to help them 

find gold, but they still need 

a bit of luck. Enter the mine 

from the top to find a gold 

vein, but don’t waste time by 

digging for Fool’s Gold! 

10 
Red Canyon and Shelf Road 

Ordovician to Pennsylvanian (450 to 300 Ma)

Red Canyon Park gets its name from the bright red sedimentary rocks of the Fountain 

Formation. Sedimentary rocks can be made up of bits of older rocks that were broken 

up by weathering, or made from the remains of ancient life. The Fountain Formation 

was made by breaking down the Ancestral Rocky Mountains, a chain of mountains that 

grew and were eroded away long before the mountains you can see today!

The Shelf Road Climbing Area has even older dolostone rocks from the Ordovician 

Period. These rocks are the remains of an ancient coral reef. In fact, you can even see 

the corals still in the rock! Fossil corals look like honeycombs or beehives in the rock. 

In the picture below, some of the corals have been colored in. Can you see the rest? 

Where do you find coral reefs today? What does that mean for ancient Colorado?

Fossil Coral

Ordovician

Pennsylvanian

Red Canyon Park

Shelf Road

Words to Know

Sedimentary rock – A rock that forms

when sediment is deposited and

ed together until it is no squeez

 longer loose.

Sediment – Broken bits of rock or shell,

 like sand, gravel and mud.

Fountain Formation – A thick layer of red

sand and gravel that was formed

by ancient rivers. It can be traced

 all across Colorado!

Dolostone – A type of rock that

 formed in ancient oceans.

t of layers

Formation – A layer or se

of rock that can be followed

for long distances.

11
Activity 1 – What is a Formation? 

Geologists divide rocks into groups called formations that can be followed over long distances. 

You can follow the Fountain Formation to many other famous places in Colorado. Unscramble these 

other locations! 

Word bank: FLATIRONS, GARDEN OF THE GODS, RED ROCKS PARK, ROXBOROUGH STATE PARK 

DRE ORCSK RPAK _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 

ROTINSLAF _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 

BOOXORRGUH ETATS AKPR _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

DRANGE FO HET ODSG _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 

12 
 

Activity 2 – Being a Good Steward 

Being a good steward means helping to keep the land preserved so that the people who come after

you can have the same experience that you had. Stewardship means planning carefully for your

trip, and then following the hiker’s motto: Take only pictures, leave only footprints. Make choices on 

the hike below to be the best possible steward! The rangers will let you know if you need to make

different choices.

Hike on the trail 

Finding a Fossil 

Hiking 

You should go back and 

make a different choice. 

Good job!  You know 

how to be a responsible 

steward of public land!

Water, jacket, boots, 

map, snack 

Toys, video games,

sports gear Hike off the trail Dig it out Take a picture

Tell a ranger 

Pet it Meeting a 

Wild Animal 

Feed it Take a picture 

Leave trash 

at your site 

Camping 

Leave fire 

unattended 

Pitch a tent 

Packing 

13 
 

Garden Park Area 

Jurassic (150 Ma) 

The Garden Park Area has produced a lot of dinosaur fossils from the Jurassic Period. 

You might say this is the real Jurassic Park ©! The Marsh-Felch Quarry and the Cope 

Quarries were discovered at about the same time by two rival paleontologists, Othniel 

Charles Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope, during the “Bone Wars.” They competed to 

see who could find the most dinosaurs, and fought each other with words, 

ideas and money. Although they made great contributions to science with 

all the fossils they found (136 new species of dinosaurs!), they weren’t 

very good stewards; they destroyed many fossils that they couldn’t collect 

just so no one else could find them. 

O. C. Marsh E. D. Cope 

Activity 1 – Dinosaurs of Garden Park 

Paleontologists know where to dig for fossils because they can usually see bones sticking out of 

the rock face or outcrop. Circle the skeletons of some of Garden Park’s most famous dinosaurs 

hidden in the outcrop on the next page! Once you find all the dinosaurs, you can color the outcrop. 

Diplodocus 

(dip-LAH-doe-kuss) 

Allosaurus 

(AL-oh-SORE-us) 

Camarasaurus 

(cam-AIR-ah-SORE-us) 

Brachiosaurus 

(BRAK-ee-oh-SORE-us) 

Stegosaurus 

(STEG-oh-SORE-us) 

Camptosaurus 

(CAMP-toe-SORE-us) 

14 

Ceratosaurus 

(sir-AH-toe-SORE-us) 

Jurassic

Words to Know

Outcrop – Exposed layers of rock.

– The land, climate, water Environment 

and living things in a particular

place.
15 
Activity 2 – Written in the Rocks 

When a geologist looks at an outcrop, she sees a story set in stone. Different types of rock tell of 

different environments in Earth’s history. Look at the chart below to learn what each type of rock 

means. Then, read what the geologist has to say about the Garden Park Area on the next page, 

and tell the story that is written in the rocks! 

ROCK NAME WHAT A GEOLOGIST OBSERVESS THE STORY IN THE STONE 

Conglomerate 

“Pebbles are pretty heavy 

and hard to move.” 

“There was probably a strong 

river here!” 

Mudstone 

“Mud gets left behind by floods, 

but then cracks as it dries.” “This spot used to be a floodplain!” 

Coal “This rock is soft, black, sometimes shiny, and burns very 

easily. I’d better keep it AWAY 

from flames.” 

“Coal forms from buried plants, so I bet 

I am looking at a swamp!” 

Shale 

“This rock feels like a mudstone, 

but it has thin layers.” 

“Those layers mean the water was 

calm and deep, far from shore. This is 

the ocean!” 

Limestone and 

Dolostone “Limestone and dolostone 

form big, blocky rock walls. 

Sometimes I can see corals 

or shells in the rock.” 

“Coral reefs today are found in quiet 

ocean waters far from shore. That 

means that limestone and dolostone 

are the remains of ancient oceans!” 

Sandstone “I can easily see sand grains, 

but this is tricky. Beaches are 

made of sand, but so are 

river beds.” 

“I might be on an ancient beach, or in 

an ancient river. I should look at some 

of the other rocks for more clues.” 

Ash 

“This might look like mud or 

sand, but look at these chunks 

of other rocks stuck in it!” 

“This rock is a sure sign of a volcano!” 

Granite 

“This rock has big pink 

and black crystals in it.” 

“It used to be hot melted rock like lava, 

but because it was underground we call 

it ‘magma.’ The big crystals grew as the 

magma cooled slowly.” 

16 
Activity 2 – Written in the Rocks continued . . .

Here’s what the geologist observes about the rocks and fossils at Garden Park. 

“The dinosaur bones in the Garden Park Area are usually found in sandstone. But there are also a 

lot of very colorful mudstones.” 

Mudstone 

Sandstone 

What did Garden Park look like in the Jurassic? Tell the story with words or by drawing a picture. 

17 
Indian Springs Trace-Fossil Site 

Ordovician (450 Ma) 

Fossils like those from Florissant and Garden Park are called body fossils because they 

are a part or the whole of an animal’s body. Living things can leave other signs behind 

for paleontologists to discover, like footprints or burrows. These marks are called trace 

fossils, and Indian Springs has some truly remarkable examples. The trace fossils here 

were made by jawless fish, and arthropods like sea scorpions, horseshoe crabs or the 

famous trilobites. 

Sea scorpion 

Trilobite 

Horseshoe crab
 Ordovician

18 
 

Activity 1 – They Went That Way! 

Different types of animals leave different marks in the sand or mud that can eventually become 

trace fossils. Match these tracks to the animals that made them! Look at the pictures on the 

previous page for hints. 

A 1 

B 2 

C 3 

Words to Know

ossil that represents a Body fossil – A f

part of a living thing, like a shell,

. bone or leaf

Trace fossil – A fossil that represents a

sign of a living thing’s life, like a 

. footprint or burrow

ery early fish that had not awless fish – V

 

J

t evolv s. They ate by ye ed jaw

sucking in food. 

th a shell and Arthropod – Any animal wi

jointed legs, lik ts, spiders e insec

or crabs. 

 ea scorpion – An extinct arthropod

ed like a scorpion, but

S

that look

. Some were tinger didn’t hav

bigger than a full grown person!

e a s

They all died out 251 Ma.

thropod that Horseshoe crab – An ar

has a dome-shaped head and a

long, pointy – but not poisonous

till alive today! – tail. They are s

Trilobite – An arthropod that came in all

ome swam, shapes and sizes. S

s, and some ate some ate plant

other animals. They all died out

251 Ma.

Activi ty 2 – Fossils Are Signs of Li fe 

From trace fossils, paleontologists can learn things 

that body fossils can’t teach. Trace fossils can show 

how an animal mo ved, where it made its home, and even 

what it ate. Look at these fossils, and circle the trace 

fossils. 

Burrows 

Footprint 

Snail shell 

Leaf Trilobite

19 
Royal Gorge 

Precambrian (1.7 Ga) 

The Royal Gorge was carved by the Arkansas River beginning about five million years 

ago. The river now cuts as deep as 1,200 feet into the rock! The walls of the gorge 

are made of granite and gneiss, just like some of 

the rocks from Cripple Creek and Victor. These 

are the only rocks you will 

see at Royal Gorge today 

because the Arkansas 

River completely eroded 

all the layers that used to 

be on top. 

What does 

erosion mean 

again? 

 see page 7 

Activity 1 – Folds, Faults and Erosion 

The strong forces that raised the Rocky Mountains also jumbled 

up the rock layers by folding and faulting them. Wind and water 

have also removed parts of some rock layers by eroding them. 

It is not always easy to read the story in the rocks when they have been damaged in these ways. 

Fortunately, geologists have a set of rules to help them sort things out. 

1. The oldest rocks are on the bottom.

2. Sedimentary rocks always form in flat, wide layers.

3. Intrusions and faults are younger than the layers they cut.

These drawings show several rock formations in cross-section. If we 

could slice into the Earth and look at it like layers in a cake, this is what 

we would see. The numbers show the order in which the rocks formed, 

from oldest (1) to youngest (5). Only after they form can the layers be 

folded or cut by an intrusion or fault. 

ecambrian Pr

w Words to Kno

 in Fold – A bend rock. 

ers break and Fault – When rock lay

move.

ure that shows Cross-section – A pict

something from the inside as

alf. though it has been sliced in h

– Magma that has forced its Intrusion

way into another rock. 

4

3

2

1

5

20 
Activity 1 – Folds, Faults, and Erosion continued . . . 

In this diagram, the layers are all tilted and folded. Since rocks usually form in flat, wide layers 

(rule 2), the folding must have happened last. 8

7

6

3

5 2

4 1

Practice reading the rocks by ordering the layers in these next drawings from youngest 

to oldest. 

A

B

E

D

C

G

H

I

E

D F

C

A E

D

C B B E

F F

G G G

I D I

C

B

D

H

A

Youngest 

_____ 

_____ 

_____ 

_____ 

_____ 

Oldest 

Youngest 

_____ 

_____ 

F _____ 

_____ 

_____ 

_____ 

_____ 

_____ 

_____ 

Oldest 

Youngest 

_____ 

_____ 

_____ 

_____ 

_____ 

_____ 

_____ 

_____ 

_____ 

Oldest 

Block 1 

Block 2 

Block 3 

21 
Skyline Drive 

Precambrian to Paleogene (1.7 Ga to 60 Ma)

Skyline Drive wraps around a narrow ridge of rock called a hogback. At the top of this 

hogback you can look west at mountains made of Precambrian rock, or east across 

the Cañon City Basin. There are two smaller hogbacks in the basin that are made of 

limestone. Limestone rocks form underwater, which means Cañon City (the red dot 

in the map below) used to be in the middle of an ocean! Geologists call this ocean the 

Western Interior Seaway because it covered the middle of North America during the 

Cretaceous Period. 

Cretaceous

Jurassic

Pennsylvanian

Ordovician

Precambrian

W

Hogback – A high narrow ridge of

ords to Know

Basin – A low area where sediment can

rock.

collect, often surrounded by 

mountains. 

Western Interior Seaway – A warm,

shallow sea that covered the

middle part of North America in

the Cretaceous Period (100 to

75 Ma).

22 
Activity 1 – The Story of Colorado 

Geologists can put an order to the story told by rocks by 

looking at big stacks of rock formations. When you look at all 

the layers exposed at Skyline Drive, you are looking at exactly 

such a stack. Use the stack of rocks to help the geologists 

put their stories in order. Look back at the chart on page 16 

if you need a hint. 

STORIES ROCKS 

_____ 

_____ 

_____ 

_____ 

_____ 

_____ 

1)“These rocks tell me there was strong 

river here, carrying some pretty big pebbles 

downstream.” 

2)“Ooh, I wish I could have been here in the 

past. I would have been floating in a nice 

warm ocean. And look at these neat corals!” 

3)“I think I’m in the sea, too! But this rock has 

a lot of muddy layers in it.” 

4)“I’m on dry land here. See these cracks in 

the mud? Oh, there might have been a river 

nearby, too!” 

5)“It’s a good thing I packed sunscreen, 

because I’m on a nice sandy beach! I can tell 

because some of these other rocks are from 

deeper water.” 

6)“Even though this rock is on the surface 

now, it formed deep underground. I’m glad it 

isn’t still melted. Ouch!” 

23 
In the rocks at the top of the hogback you can see some very exciting trace fossils: dinosaur footprints! The dinosaurs left their prints on an ancient muddy beach just like you might do walking along the 

shore or a riverbank. You can also find tracks and burrows from worms, arthropods and clams nearby. 

Remember you are on the road. WATCH OUT for cars! 

ONSITE 

Activity 2 – Following in Their Footsteps 

Footprints may not be as unique as fingerprints, but paleontologists can still tell a lot about the 

animal that made them. We can count its toes, look at the shape of its foot, and even tell how

heavy it was by how deep its print is. Draw the dinosaur that made the footprints at 

Skyline Drive. 

ONSITE 

Activity 3 – More Than Meets the Eye 

Geologists and paleontologists will spend hours and even days

studying a single outcrop. There are a lot of clues they might 

miss if they aren’t careful about their observations. Make 

these special observations at the top of Skyline Drive! Be 

sure you observe any CARS COMING UP THE ROAD! 

1.____A dinosaur footprint 

2.____A dinosaur handprint (Hint: The hand is smaller, and shaped 

like a crescent moon.) 

3.____A dinosaur that stepped in another dinosaur’s footprint 

4.____A track that wasn’t made by a dinosaur at all 

5.____A conglomerate (Pebbly rock - Remember what a geologist 

 observes?) 

1 2 

3 4 

5 

24 
Activity - Geologic Time in the Gold Belt Byway 

We have now finished our trip along the Gold Belt Tour National Scenic Byway, and seen rocks 

from many – but not all – geologic ages. What do you think happened to the rocks from 

those missing ages? Put the sites in order by matching their colors to the Geologic Time Scale 

on the left. Flip back to each site in the book if you need a hint. Which site has the youngest 

rock? Which site has the oldest rock? How do you know? 

Cripple Creek Area

Florissant 

Fossil Beds

Skyline Drive Trackway

Garden Park Area

Red Canyon Park

Indian Springs

The Royal Gorge

Phanerozoic

Paleozoic Mesozoic

Cenozoic

Ordovician

Pennsylvanian

Jurassic

Cretaceous

Paleogene

Precambrian

Eon Era Period

25
Career Profile: Herb Meyer 

Paleontologist, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument 

What does a paleontologist do?
�
 

As a paleontologist, I study fossils to learn more about ancient life on Earth and what it tells about 

climate change and evolution. Paleontologists excavate fossils to make new discoveries, and we 

try to find new ways to protect the fossils so they won’t fall apart.
�
 

What are some of your favorite parts of your job?
 
�

I like writing about fossils, and one of my books is called The Fossils of Florissant. I also like 

working with paleontologists in other parts of the world, and working with university student 

interns, even though my job is not at a university. And of course it’s always exciting to split a rock 

to expose a fossil that has been hidden for the past 34 million years.
�
 

Why did you become a paleontologist?
 

I became interested in collecting rocks and minerals when I was in grade school, and knew I 

wanted to be a geologist. Paleontology is a part of geology, and by the time I was in high school, I 

was working on a project to study fossil leaves. 

What did you do in school?
�
 

The most important classes for a career in paleontology are geology and biology. I earned 

three degrees from the Paleontology Department at the University of California at Berkeley: a 

bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D., all in the field of paleontology.
�
 

What skills are important for your career?
 
�

I think that writing and photography are two of the most important skills. These are needed so 

that the information we learn can be written and illustrated for scientific papers and books. 

What advice do you have for Junior Explorers?
 
�

I started by joining a rock and mineral club for kids. Our club was sponsored by adults who took 

us on field trips to collect fossils. You can also visit museums and sites such as national parks and 

monuments where fossils are found. There are also summer camps that teach paleontology, 

geology and biology.
�
 

What do you like to do when you aren’t at work? 

I’ve always like to go on camping trips, and when you’re out camping you’re often close to the 

places where fossils are found. I also like to travel to places all over the world. 

What other careers are there in paleontology? 

Other places where paleontologists work are for universities, museums and different government agencies. Paleontologists also work for oil companies, where they use fossils to help 

discover oil, and for consulting companies, where they help determine whether activities such as 

digging pipelines will affect fossil resources. 

26 
Career Profile: Tim Brown 

Exploration Manager, Cripple Creek

and Victor Gold Mining Company 

What does an exploration manager do?
 

I direct the Exploration Program in an historic and active gold mining district. My responsibilities 

include promoting a safe working culture, guiding the direction of the program, working closely 

with the other geologists and developing the program’s budget.
�

What are some of your favorite parts of your job?
 
�

My work has led me and my family around the country and around the world. I really enjoy 

working with the other geologists as we share a common passion about rocks and minerals. It is 

really enjoyable to watch young geologists grow, develop and learn about the district’s geology. 

We have also added several million ounces of gold to the reserves in the Cripple Creek District.
�
 

Why did you become a geologist? 

I took an entry level geology class during my first semester of college and never looked back 

because I enjoyed it so much. This was not planned, but not unexpected either, as I grew up 

around old mines and miners in Montana. 

What did you do in school? 

I received a Bachelor’s Degree in Geology from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. 

I decided to attend graduate school at the University of Minnesota in Duluth where I received 

a Master’s Degree in Geology. I really enjoy learning and I completed a Master of Business 

Administration Degree at the University of Colorado after attending night school in Colorado 

Springs. 

What skills are important for your career? 

There are several skills that have helped including a passion for geology, flexibility in working 

environments and a good attitude. It is also important to have good skills in technical writing and a 

solid understanding of business principles. 

What advice do you have for Junior Explorers? 

Follow your passion! There will be times when it is hard and things don’t go as you might want, 

but be flexible and stay the course. You’ll be glad you did. 

What do you like to do when you aren’t at work? 

I am involved with a couple different geologic groups and I love taking field trips and learning new 

things about geology. I also enjoy fly fishing, especially in areas that are geologically interesting! 

What other careers are there in geology? 

There are several different fields of geology where geologists can work. I would really enjoy 

looking for oil and gas as a petroleum geologist. Hydrology, the study of water resources, is a very 

big field that continues to grow in importance as well. Finally, teaching geology to other students 

would be very enjoyable. 

27 
Bureau of Land Management

Junior Explorer

Junior Explorer Oath

I promise to help protect the Gold Belt Tour National Scenic Byway, public lands, 

my community, and the Earth by being an active and responsible 

steward of the environment.

I promise that I will not feed wild animals.

I promise to respect the laws and rules of the land when I find fossils, rocks, 

plants, artifacts, or historic objects so that everyone may enjoy them.

I promise to explore, learn about, and respect the world wherever I go.

I promise that I will share what I learn with others.

Signed__________________________________________

Date____________________________

28
Travel Guide (for driving adults)

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument – West off of Teller County Road 1, 2.3 miles south of US 24. Open nearly 

every day, but hours vary seasonally. Free admission for kids 15 and under. Visit www.nps.gov/flfo/index.htm or call 

(719) 748-3253 for more information. 

Cripple Creek and Victor – The Cripple Creek Heritage Center and Cripple Creek Overlook are on CO 67, just northeast 

of Cripple Creek. The Victor Lowell Thomas Museum is located in Victor at the corner of 3rd and Victor Ave. Open daily 

Memorial Day through Labor Day. The Independence Mill site is located off County Road 81 across from the Battle 

Mountain Kiosk Interpretive Site. 

Red Canyon – Red Canyon Park is located about 10.5 miles north of Cañon City on Fremont County Road 9. The park is 

administered by Cañon City. The Shelf Road Climbing Area is located 2.7 miles north of Red Canyon Park. Follow the sign 

for “The Bank.” Shelf Road itself is a narrow, winding dirt road that offers few places to pull over or turn around before 

reaching Cripple Creek 14 miles to the north. 

Garden Park Area – The Cleveland and Marsh-Felch Quarries are located about 6 to 7 miles north of Cañon City on 

Fremont County Road 9. Each has an interpretive site marking an overlook of the quarry. The Cope Quarries can only be 

viewed from the road at a distance, further north along County Road 9. 

Indian Springs Trace-Fossil Site – Indian Springs is located on private land off Phantom Canyon Road (Fremont County 

Road 67), 3.6 miles north of the junction with US Highway 50. Because the site is protected, you cannot visit the fossil 

site without first contacting the Thorson Family for guidance and supervision. Tours of the trace fossil site are $10 per 

person. Please visit www.indianspringsranchcampground.com or call (719) 372-3907 for more information. 

Royal Gorge – Follow US Highway 50 to Fremont County Road 3A, 9 miles west of Cañon City. The gorge is a public 

park, and there are fees to cross by bridge or gondola. However, there are picnic areas on the rim from which the gorge 

can be easily viewed for free. 

Skyline Drive – Take US Highway 50 west from Cañon City for about 3 miles. The entrance to Skyline Drive is clearly 

marked. The road is narrow, one-way, and has no guardrails. A parking area can be found at the top of the hogback just 

past the interpretive signs. 

29 
Answer Key

Public and Private Lands page 5 

BLM – Garden Park, Shelf Road 

NPS – Florissant 

City of Cañon City – Red Canyon Park, Royal Gorge, Skyline Drive 

Private – Indian Springs, Cripple Creek, Victor 

Going Back in Time page 8 

Cross out the snowman, dinosaur, cactus and shark 

Geologic Word Search page 10 

L A G E R S T A T T E N 

C O N G L O M E R A T E 

S J E R D S D J A P V L 

A J I A D V H D C Y O I 

N B S N M H F E E R L M 

D B S I G E N S F I C E 

S O R T A O N E O T A S 

T C Q E T S L O S E N T 

O I X S C A N D S O O O 

N C D V H C O D I K E N 

E U W S S E I H L I D E 

M W H F O R M A T I O N 

Nobody’s Fool page 10 

Written in the Rocks page 17 

Mudstone tells that there is a floodplain. The sandstone AND 

the mudstone tell that there is a river, too. The dinosaurs were 

either buried or washed into the river. 

They Went That Way! page 19 

A-2, B-3, C-1 

Fossils Are Signs of Life page 19 

Circle the footprints, the leaf, and the burrow. All the other 

fossils are body parts. 

Folds, Faults and Erosion page 21 

Block 1: A, B, E, D, C 

Block 2: E, H, C, F, G, I, D, B, A 

Block 3: G, H, I, A, F, E, D, C, B 

The Story of Colorado page 23 

3, 5, 4, 1, 2, 6 

Geologic Time in the Gold Belt Byway page 25 

Florissant Fossil Beds and Cripple Creek, Skyline Drive, Garden 

Park Area, Red Canyon Park, Indian Springs, Royal Gorge 

Cripple Creek Area has the youngest rocks because they are on 

top. Royal Gorge has the oldest rocks because they are on the 

bottom. 

Dinosaurs of Garden Park page 15

What is a Formation? page 12 

RED ROCKS PARK 

FLATIRONS 

ROXBOROUGH STATE PARK 

GARDEN OF THE GODS 

30 
Colorado Academic Standards for Science

Activities and Content

Geologic Time (7th Grade 3.2.a)

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (3rd Grade 3.1.a,b; 4th Grade 2.2.a)

Visiting the Visitor Center (4th Grade 2.2.a,b)

Going Back in Time (4th Grade 2.2.a,b)

How Did the Gold Get There? (3rd Grade 3.1.a,b; 5th Grade 3.1.a,b)

Red Canyon (3rd Grade 3.1.b; 5th Grade 3.2.a,b; 6th Grade 3.1.a,b)

Written in the Rocks (1st Grade 3.1.a,b; 3rd Grade 3.1.a; 5th Grade 3.2.a,b)

Indian Springs Trace-Fossil Site (4th Grade 2.2.a)

They Went That Way! (4th Grade 2.2.a)

Fossils Are Signs of Life (4th Grade 2.2.a)

Royal Gorge (3rd Grade 3.1.b; 5th Grade 3.2.a,b; 6th Grade 3.1.b)

Folds, Faults and Erosion (7th Grade 3.2.d, CAS 3rd Grade 3.1.a; 5th Grade 3.2.a,b)

Skyline Drive (3rd Grade 3.1.a; 5th Grade 3.2.a,b)

The Story of Colorado (1st Grade 3.1.a,b; 3rd Grade 3.1.a,b; 5th Grade 3.2.a,b; 7th Grade 3.2.d)

Following in Their Footsteps (4th Grade 2.2.a)

More Than Meets the Eye (1st Grade 3.1.a; 5th Grade 3.2.a)

Geologic Time in the Gold Belt Byway (7th Grade 3.2.a,d)

Academic Standards

1st Grade 3.1.a – Identify materials by texture, size and color

 3.1.b – Sort and classify materials 

3rd Grade 3.1.a – Investigate ways rocks can be broken down or formed

 3.1.b – Explain processes that break down or form rocks 

4th Grade 2.2.a – Explain what fossils say, the similarities between fossil and living organisms

 2.2.b – Interpret evidence for past environments 

5th Grade 3.1.a – Explain how Earth resources are generated

 3.1.b – Understand origins of Earth resources

 3.2.a – Identify how forces change Earth’s surface

 3.2.b – Explain factors that change Earth’s surface 

6th Grade 3.1.a – Explain the interaction between constructive and destructive forces

 3.1.b – Explain the formation of surface features 

7th Grade 3.2.a – Describe the Geologic Time Scale

 3.2.d – Determine the sequence of geologic events 

Acknowledgements

Funding for the publication of this book comes in part from the generous donations of the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, 

Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mining Company and the Colorado Department of Transportation.

Dinosaur silhouettes and skeletons copyright Scott Hartman, used with permission.

Photos of Herb Meyer and Florissant fossils courtesy of Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.

Photo of the Royal Gorge Bridge (p. 20) by Eve Nagode.

Photos of Indian Springs trace fossils courtesy of University of Colorado Museum of Natural History – UCM 38876, UCM 

29164, UCM 29142.

31 
ota 

Sandstone 

Dak

and Shale 

Mudstone 

and Sandstone 

Morrison anch 

Sandstone 

Bell R Fountain 

Conglomerate 

32 
 


 

Notes
 

33
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