Christa’s guidebook

Christa
Christa’s guidebook

Hiking

- An unbeatable hike for adults and children alike is the Limber Grove Trail, which is in the Pike National Forest just outside Fairplay. The hike is about 3.5 miles out and back and includes spectacular turns through a forest of thousand-year-old pine trees that have been twisted by the wind. From the cabin community, take a right on Highway 285 (going south), take your second right onto County Road 18. The road will fork; stay left and continue for about 15-20 minutes. You’ll pass signs for a campground (don’t turn there because there’s no parking) and continue about another 1.5 mile until you see the Limber Grove Trailhead signage on the left.
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Limber Grove Trail
984-3898 4 Mile Creek Rd
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- An unbeatable hike for adults and children alike is the Limber Grove Trail, which is in the Pike National Forest just outside Fairplay. The hike is about 3.5 miles out and back and includes spectacular turns through a forest of thousand-year-old pine trees that have been twisted by the wind. From the cabin community, take a right on Highway 285 (going south), take your second right onto County Road 18. The road will fork; stay left and continue for about 15-20 minutes. You’ll pass signs for a campground (don’t turn there because there’s no parking) and continue about another 1.5 mile until you see the Limber Grove Trailhead signage on the left.
- If you're willing to go over Hoosier Pass toward Breckenridge, try Mccullough Gulch trail. The trail is open June through September. It’s a little steep at the start, but amazing views of multiple glacier lakes. From Fairplay take Highway 9 north toward Breckenridge over the Continental Divide. You'll see Quandary Peak. The rest of these directions are from https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/mccullough-gulch-trail: Look for Blue Lakes Drive (#850). Turn right onto Blue Lakes drive and continue for about 100 yards to McCullough Gulch Rd.(#851). Turn right and continue for 2.2 miles, staying left at the y-junction, to the parking area at the trailhead.
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McCullough Gulch Trailhead
4192 CO-9
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- If you're willing to go over Hoosier Pass toward Breckenridge, try Mccullough Gulch trail. The trail is open June through September. It’s a little steep at the start, but amazing views of multiple glacier lakes. From Fairplay take Highway 9 north toward Breckenridge over the Continental Divide. You'll see Quandary Peak. The rest of these directions are from https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/mccullough-gulch-trail: Look for Blue Lakes Drive (#850). Turn right onto Blue Lakes drive and continue for about 100 yards to McCullough Gulch Rd.(#851). Turn right and continue for 2.2 miles, staying left at the y-junction, to the parking area at the trailhead.
Another great summer hike is the Mt. Sherman trailhead hike to an historic abandoned mine. This one is listed as "easy," but it was a struggle for our kids (then 5 and 7) to get all the way to the top, which is about 2.9 miles. There is a lot of old mine junk to see along the way. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/the-hilltop-mine-trail
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Mt. Sherman Trailhead
9700 4 Mile Creek Rd
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Another great summer hike is the Mt. Sherman trailhead hike to an historic abandoned mine. This one is listed as "easy," but it was a struggle for our kids (then 5 and 7) to get all the way to the top, which is about 2.9 miles. There is a lot of old mine junk to see along the way. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/the-hilltop-mine-trail
Kenosha Pass features an entry into the famed Colorado Trail and unbeatable views during leaf season, September 15 to October 6 or so.
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Kenosha Pass
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Kenosha Pass features an entry into the famed Colorado Trail and unbeatable views during leaf season, September 15 to October 6 or so.

Sightseeing

If you're up for a walk into town, go back out Fuller Drive to Platte Street and take a left, away from Highway 285. Follow Platte until it forks; fork right down a gravel hill toward the Platte River. There are oodles of mining rocks perfect for skipping on the river, and a little metal bridge. Follow the rockpile up a bit and you'll be on a land bridge across the river. Take the huge metal staircase up from there right into downtown.
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Fairplay Beach
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If you're up for a walk into town, go back out Fuller Drive to Platte Street and take a left, away from Highway 285. Follow Platte until it forks; fork right down a gravel hill toward the Platte River. There are oodles of mining rocks perfect for skipping on the river, and a little metal bridge. Follow the rockpile up a bit and you'll be on a land bridge across the river. Take the huge metal staircase up from there right into downtown.
In the heart of downtown, at the end of Front Street, is the South Park open air museum, open May through September every year. It’s an authentic, reconstructed mining town and a great open air playground where kids can see a real one-room schoolhouse, visit the “bank,” and climb on historic train equipment. Adults love it, too.
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South Park City Museum
100 4th St
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In the heart of downtown, at the end of Front Street, is the South Park open air museum, open May through September every year. It’s an authentic, reconstructed mining town and a great open air playground where kids can see a real one-room schoolhouse, visit the “bank,” and climb on historic train equipment. Adults love it, too.

Playground

For some playground action, try Cohen Park. From downtown Fairplay, head down 8th Street from Java Moose about 4 blocks until it curves left into Bogue Street. Head up Bogue Street a little over a block to Cohen Park. Pretty fun playground there with a fantastic space theme.
Cohen Park
615-617 Bogue St
For some playground action, try Cohen Park. From downtown Fairplay, head down 8th Street from Java Moose about 4 blocks until it curves left into Bogue Street. Head up Bogue Street a little over a block to Cohen Park. Pretty fun playground there with a fantastic space theme.
If the weather and roads are both dreary, there’s reliable fun at the Park County Rec Center, which is on the left (west) side of 285, about a quarter mile north of the intersection with Highway 9. There’s a pool (including zero entry for the kiddos), sauna, and fitness equipment.
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South Park Recreation Center
1190 Bullet Rd
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If the weather and roads are both dreary, there’s reliable fun at the Park County Rec Center, which is on the left (west) side of 285, about a quarter mile north of the intersection with Highway 9. There’s a pool (including zero entry for the kiddos), sauna, and fitness equipment.

Food scene

Great for a cup of coffee (they actually do a dry cappuccino!) and a quick breakfast. They also have Wi-Fi and their cheery, art-filled rooms are open until 3.
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The Java Moose
730 Main St
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Great for a cup of coffee (they actually do a dry cappuccino!) and a quick breakfast. They also have Wi-Fi and their cheery, art-filled rooms are open until 3.
The most delicious breakfast for many miles; has a distinct tex-mex flare and the fluffiest pancakes ever. You might have to wait, but it will be worth it.
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Brown Burro Cafe
706 Main St
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The most delicious breakfast for many miles; has a distinct tex-mex flare and the fluffiest pancakes ever. You might have to wait, but it will be worth it.
Dinner options are somewhat slim in Fairplay. Your closest bet to fine dining is Salado, a traditional American bar and restaurant at 456 Front Street in downtown Fairplay. It’s in a lovely historic building with a courtyard that’s delightful in the summer.
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Salado
456 Front St
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Dinner options are somewhat slim in Fairplay. Your closest bet to fine dining is Salado, a traditional American bar and restaurant at 456 Front Street in downtown Fairplay. It’s in a lovely historic building with a courtyard that’s delightful in the summer.
For ice cream, we recommend the Silver Scoop Creamery at 456 Front Street. The goods are not homemade (they serve Liks ice cream from Denver), but the shop is a quaint, tin-ceilinged outfit that’s worth the trip. But get there early for a post-hike treat: it closes at 4:30 p.m.!
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Silver Scoop Creamery
456 Front St
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For ice cream, we recommend the Silver Scoop Creamery at 456 Front Street. The goods are not homemade (they serve Liks ice cream from Denver), but the shop is a quaint, tin-ceilinged outfit that’s worth the trip. But get there early for a post-hike treat: it closes at 4:30 p.m.!
The best tamales around with gluten free options available. Eat 'em in the store or take a few dozen frozen to eat over time at the cabin. They're delicious either way.
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KB's Kakery & Dorothy's Tamales
331 US Highway 285
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The best tamales around with gluten free options available. Eat 'em in the store or take a few dozen frozen to eat over time at the cabin. They're delicious either way.

Neighborhoods

There is tons to do in Breckenridge. Besides the obvious wintertime skiing, the gondola is always free (although nearby parking is not), and the views are spectacular. If you feel like sledding, Carter Park (300 S. High Street in Breckenridge) is the best hill around. Super fun to slide down; easy enough to walk back up. We have sleds in the shed, or you can buy some in at Breckenridge Market (311 S. Ridge St.)
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Breckenridge
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There is tons to do in Breckenridge. Besides the obvious wintertime skiing, the gondola is always free (although nearby parking is not), and the views are spectacular. If you feel like sledding, Carter Park (300 S. High Street in Breckenridge) is the best hill around. Super fun to slide down; easy enough to walk back up. We have sleds in the shed, or you can buy some in at Breckenridge Market (311 S. Ridge St.)
We love Buena Vista, which is only 40 minutes away. Specifically, we're crazy about the Mt. Princeton or Cottonwood Hot Springs there. Both are pricey ($20-22 each entry fee) but a good way to pass the day in any weather. Cottonwood has more of a hippie vibe (definitely more yoga instructor types drenched in patchouli), but it has a variety of different tubs to sit in, and kids should be able to touch bottom in most of them. At Cottonwood, we frequently see a herd of bighorn sheep climbing the hillside nearby. The options for kid friendly pools at Mt. Princeton are more scarce in the winter, when they don't have their main pool and waterslide open. We love Asian Palate for dinner in BV. The downtown there is just generally super cute. There's also a nice walk you can do along the Arkansas River.
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Buena Vista
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We love Buena Vista, which is only 40 minutes away. Specifically, we're crazy about the Mt. Princeton or Cottonwood Hot Springs there. Both are pricey ($20-22 each entry fee) but a good way to pass the day in any weather. Cottonwood has more of a hippie vibe (definitely more yoga instructor types drenched in patchouli), but it has a variety of different tubs to sit in, and kids should be able to touch bottom in most of them. At Cottonwood, we frequently see a herd of bighorn sheep climbing the hillside nearby. The options for kid friendly pools at Mt. Princeton are more scarce in the winter, when they don't have their main pool and waterslide open. We love Asian Palate for dinner in BV. The downtown there is just generally super cute. There's also a nice walk you can do along the Arkansas River.
The Alma Al-Mart. There's not much to see in Alma, but it is North America's highest incorporated town. The Al-Mart is one of those super-weird general stores where everything is available. Kind of fun for kids.
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Alma
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The Alma Al-Mart. There's not much to see in Alma, but it is North America's highest incorporated town. The Al-Mart is one of those super-weird general stores where everything is available. Kind of fun for kids.