All of these photos were taken on our journeys to Park County. For more pictures and information from our journeys to this area be sure and click here - Char's own web page of Park County! This area in Park County is nestled high in the Rocky Mountain an hour W of Colorado Springs, about 100 miles SW and of Denver and only 40 miles S of the infamous ski town Breckenridge! The County is surrounded by Pike's National Forest and within its boundaries are three wilderness areas, two state parks, twelve state wildlife areas and more territory above 9,000 feet than any other Colorado County. Summertime is long sunny days with daytime temperatures in the 70's and wintertime is cold with nighttime temperatures below zero and daytime just above freezing. With so many things to do its a great place for recreation and the county allows for up to 6 months of RV use so long as septic is installed. 51% of it is Federal lands and it is easy to see why it is called "A Park For All Seasons"! Fairplay is the most populated town with about 610 people and another 1500 in the outlying area. The area has a gas station, post office, restaurant, trading post, real estate office and sits close to three reservoirs making this a destination spot for boaters and fisherman! I stopped at one of the stores for a quick grab and go and the folks were very friendly. Hartsel is a small community that sure has some fishing bragging rights having three state reservoirs offering excellent boat and shore fishing within a 10 minute drive as well as the South Platte River that runs thru town. Some of those are designated "Gold Medal Fishing" by the Colorado Wildlife Commission as providing great spots to catch those large trout! The South Platte River, a Gold Medal Trout Stream rich with Native Cutthroats, Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout, flows from Pike National Forest through town providing outdoorsman with excellent fishing. Spinney Mountain Reservoir has over 2500 surface areas and is one of the few reservoirs to be designated a "Gold Medal" fishing offering Rainbows, Browns, Snake River Cutthroat and Northern Pike. Elevenmile Reservoir has 3,400 surface acres offering Rainbows, Browns, Cutthroat, and Northern Pike as well as Small Mouth Bass, Carp, and the famous Kokanee Salmon. I read that they even ice fish here January thru March. The grasslands were once home to vast herds of buffalo, antelope, elk and others and although things have changed I still saw many of them on my journeys here! Click Here to view the State Of Colorado, Division Of Water Resources Guide To Well Permits, Water Rights and Water Administration. Recreational Map Fishing Areas Map