Park County brings together natural and cultural themes without being defined by a single landscape or era. The county includes parts of three wilderness areas, two state parks and twelve state wildlife areas. Its history spans the 1859 Gold Rush, mining and ranching culture. When choosing accommodation, you can first consider whether landscapes, wildlife or historic sites should be the focus of your stay.

Landscape and Nature

South Park is a 900-square-mile high-country prairie with an average elevation of 9,000 feet. It provides habitat for elk, deer, bighorn sheep, pronghorn and waterfowl. The Mosquito Range above Fairplay and Alma includes four Colorado peaks over 14,000 feet. This places a wide prairie and its wildlife alongside a mountain range with high peaks as distinct nature themes. This contrast can help you organize the landscape highlights of your trip around your own interests.

Getting Here and Roads

U.S. Highways 285 and 24, as well as Colorado Highway 9, provide access by car to and through Park County. Most roads in the county and in Park County’s towns remain unpaved. When choosing a route, you should therefore distinguish between the highways mentioned above and the local road network. Take the surface of the specific route into account when planning driving days or excursions. This lets you plan your highway journey and drives to individual destinations separately.

Gold Rush and Cultural Heritage

Park County was part of the 1859 Gold Rush, known by the motto “Pikes Peak or Bust.” The South Park National Heritage Area, located in Park County, preserves the spirit of the western frontier, the region’s diverse natural landscape, mining history and ranching culture. The area includes historic railroad sites, historic mining structures, historic hotels, as well as natural and recreational areas. This gives you a clear distinction when choosing a theme: railroad sites and mining structures offer insights into built history, while natural and recreational areas provide a different focus.

Early buildings remain visible throughout South Park; many are still in use. The South Park National Heritage Area has also developed and supported educational programs and initiatives that introduce the public to South Park’s heritage. Historic buildings and heritage interpretation thus offer two distinct perspectives if you would like to include cultural themes in your stay.

Nature Activities at Teter-Michigan Creek State Wildlife Area

Teter-Michigan Creek State Wildlife Area covers 950 acres. It offers opportunities for big-game and waterfowl hunting, cold-water fishing and nature observation. If you are planning your stay around specific interests, you can consider these options as a nature-focused alternative to cultural and historical themes. The activities listed are quite distinct; which ones matter for your trip depends on whether you are interested in hunting, fishing or nature observation.

Discover more destinations: Fairplay, Jefferson, San Miguel, Otero, Costilla County, Rio Grande County, Logan, Garfield.

For the broader travel overview: Colorado.