When we moved to Park County in 2018, we really didn't know what we were getting into. Our first trip to Fairplay was during Burro Days so the town was full of people celebrating, llamas racing, and children dancing in the streets (seriously!). We were excited to buy a home and settle down in this amazing part of Colorado after our first day of house hunting. Our whirlwind move just happened to be 2 days after our wedding in Steamboat Springs and we started our marriage off by celebrating in our new home on 5 wooded acres.

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Now that we have lived here for 5 years, we thought we should dedicate a blog series to exploring Park County in 2024. We love our community and we want to share more with the world, so let's learn a bit about Park County and what you can expect to see from us in 2024!

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Park County, sometimes called South Park, is home to approximately 17,000 people spread out over 2,100 square miles. This means many of us see more wild life than other humans on a daily basis! Fairplay is the county seat and is approximately 30 minutes from Breckenridge and 1.5 hours from Denver. Other towns in Park County include Alma, Bailey, Como, Guffey, Hartsel, Jefferson, and Lake George. We plan to do a dedicated blog for each of these amazing small towns over the course of 2024. Each place brings something great to this beautiful part of Colorado!

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There are two distinct parts of the county, separated by a massive mountain range including Kenosha Pass and Wilkerson Pass. The average altitude of the area is 9,000 feet above sea level which can be a little scary for visitors coming from lower elevations. We moved from 6,000 feet to 10,000 and it took us a solid year to not be out of breath walking up the stairs! Remember to drink lots of water when visiting any high altitude environment.

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Outdoor activities are abundant, including world class fishing, hunting, and hiking. People come from all over the world to fly fish The Dream Stream, officially known as the South Platte River. The chances of seeing elk herds or a bull moose are high when you spend a week here. You might even get lucky and see a bald eagle or a bob cat!

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We also have phenomenal annual events like Bailey Days, Burro Days, and Festival in the Clouds. The summer season is short so we take full advantage of the sunny days with concerts, races, and parades. There is always something fun to do on the weekends during the warm months.

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In our opinion, fall is the most incredible season in the mountains and Park County is no exception. Dense groves of aspen cover much of the area and the colors pop off in September/October. Kenosha Pass is a popular leaf peeping spot an hour from Denver where a section of the Colorado Trail winds through the colorful aspen.

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Winter can be harsh in Park County with intense winds and heavy snow fall. We personally love a good cross country ski which is how we stay in shape during the cold months. Ice fishing is a huge draw at Eleven Mile Reservoir and Antero Reservoir. Snowshoeing is another amazing winter activity in the mountains and some brave folks will even go for a moonlit snowshoe on a full moon night.

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If you've been looking for a reason to visit the mountains, consider a stay in Park County. We have photographed tons of great rentals in all parts of the county. We promise the views will be worth it and you will leave with a deep appreciation for life in the mountains!