A Monster Guide to Fairplay, Colorado’s South Park City

Our month-long stay in Fairplay, Colorado, happened sort of by accident. We knew we wanted to spend some time in the state during our nomadic travels, but it’s not easy to find affordable short-term rentals in a place in such high demand.

Enter Fairplay, a town that felt like both a quintessential Colorado mountain town and one of the more unique stops in our domestic travels.

Fairplay has been our happiest little accident to date.

This guide details everything we did during our stay so that you don’t have to work too hard to uncover the best things to do in Fairplay. This is one that should definitely be on your Colorado shortlist.

Is Fairplay worth visiting?

Fairplay is worth visiting for easy access to high-elevation hiking, quirky downtown, and fewer tourists than most mountain towns in Colorado.

It’s also a must for fans of the South Park cartoon, a connection we didn’t even know about until we were unpacked for our month in Fairplay.

What is Fairplay known for?

Fairplay is known for its fishing scene, easy access to hiking and skiing in nearby Breckenridge, and its connection to the South Park TV series.

Common wisdom suggests South Park is based on the town in the visual sense. It looks just like the cartoon series. It’s also a fact that creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker were influenced by their time in Boulder, a two-hour drive from Fairplay.

Fairplay is also known as South Park City for reasons outside of the animated show.

Back in 1869, the town was outgrowing its roots as the mining camp known as “Fair Play.” It got that name because of how equal opportunity it was to folks looking for the next big thing.

Locals got together and decided to rename the town “South Park City” as part of a city resolution to show that they were more than a camp, but the name change didn’t stick.

The town returned to its roots as Fairplay in 1874. This time, they turned it into all one word.

San Diego’s South Park is also great, by the way, in case anyone was asking.

Best Things to Do in Fairplay

We spent a full month in Fairplay, so you better believe I have a lot to share. Everything you’ll see below is from our personal experiences in town, but they’re in no particular order.

Pick and choose based on what interests you, when you visit, and how much time you have. It’s a long list!

Pan for gold at Fairplay Beach.

You won’t be swimming here unless you allow your gold pan to float away, but Fairplay Beach is a great place to earn your keep by panning for gold along the river.

We only found flecks of what appeared to be gold, but that’s also because I’m more impatient than people who may do this more seriously.

If you’d like to try your luck, book your permits online ahead of your gold hunting or face the wrath of the Fairplay police force.

You’ll see people out there with more serious gear like trowels, but all we brought with us was a plastic pan from a local sporting goods store. Again, we weren’t that serious.

Fun fact: If you spend a few minutes on your hands and knees and realize this activity isn’t for you, there are quite a few trails that take you to scenic viewpoints of the South Platter River from Fairplay Beach. This was actually one of our favorite things to do in Fairplay with our pup Kimmy during our stay.

Break out the waders and go fishin’.

The Fairplay Beach Recreation Area is also a hot spot for fishing. Apparently, the town is the trout fishing capital of Colorado, which sounds pretty impressive to me.

Join the daily groups of fishing folks here in the Middle Fork of the South Platter River and catch some dinner.

You can also just watch people fish from the gazebo at the top of the hill that overlooks Fairplay Beach. That was more our speed.

Look for the resident moose.

At one point there really was a resident moose in Fairplay that would make his presence known in inconvenient ways. If you’re lucky, patient, and a morning person, you may catch a glimpse of one anyway near the forested areas around Fairplay Beach.

If you’ve never experienced a moose sighting, it really is something else. We usually had our dog with us on walks along the creek so never got closer than watching it from viewpoints above.

The photo above is zoomed in significantly, by the way. We know not to bug these intimidating beasts.

Visit the South Park City Museum.

I thought this open-air museum would be pretty cheesy but quickly found that this one’s a must on any visit to Fairplay for its historical significance alone. The South Park City Museum is on the National Register of Historic Places. 

There’s a street full of buildings to explore to give you an idea of life in a mining town between 1860 and 1900.

That includes a two-in-one dentist/barber shop, an old brewery and schoolhouse, and the train depot. Seven of the buildings here are on the actual original sites.

Fun fact: There are also some local cats who may or may not help you along the way, so just let them follow you around and stop for pets if you like. 

For a good rundown of what you’ll see inside, take a seat and watch the short movie that plays in the old brewery.

Sip on brews at South Park Brewing.

Visit this Fairplay brewery for a variety of craft beer styles like cherry blonde ales and strawberry rhubarb sours. Can you tell I have a type when I’m out sipping on brews? Their Ranch Hand, a cream ale, is also a delight.

If you’re hungry, South Park Brewing is also a good place for tacos, tortas, and Frito pie, depending on the day you’re having. I taste-tested their tofu tacos and must say they were pretty darn good.

Taste-test flights of bourbon at Snitching Lady Distillery.

If you prefer whisky and bourbon over beer, Snitching Lady Distillery on Fairplay’s Front Street is a great spot for tasting flights of their small-batch spirits.

They make great craft cocktails, too. I tried their Gold Miner, a cold toddy that nevertheless made me feel quite warm inside. Our visit came with the added bonus of meeting Olaf, a large husky and bar greeter who really knew how to work a room.

Trek the Beaver Creek Trail.

The Beaver Creek Trail is the easiest trail to access from Fairplay, as it’s just a 10-minute drive north of the town’s Main Street. It’s also a super easy trail.

If you’re following along on your AllTrails app, keep walking onto the boardwalk your guide drops you off at for the actual creek. It’s just under a mile to the boardwalk, and you can add on as much as you’d like from there.

We didn’t see any beavers, but we also had our black panther with us. There was definitely some beaver dam activity along the way.

This is also the trail I learned to layer for, as it started to sleet on us when we were heading back. The weather in Fairplay can get wild without any notice!

Walk among ancient pines on the Limber Grove Trail.

The Limber Grove Trail is just a 20-minute drive west of Fairplay proper in Pike-San Isabel National Forest. It’s about 3.5 miles roundtrip and rated moderate on AllTrails.

Note: I found the trail fairly easy, but the drive to the trailhead was challenging. You’ll spend about six miles on an unpaved road, so SUVs and jeeps will treat you best here.

Wear comfy shoes that can handle loose rocks and some mild climbing. You’ll navigate a rocky section to get to the best part, 1,000+-year-old limber and bristlecone pine trees.

Spend some time taking all the photos once you reach them. These are some expressive trees!

In the summertime, watch out for little worms and caterpillars all over the back end of the trail. Shake out your clothes before returning to your vehicle unless you’d like to bring home some companions.

Stroll the Fairplay Historic Walking Tour.

The Park County Department of Heritage & Tourism has put together a historical walking tour so that you don’t have to, complete with information signage along the way.

Stops include the Park County Courthouse and Jail, a site important enough to earn a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. You’ll also learn all about Prunes. That’s a donkey that’s quite famous in these parts, not the fiber source.

You can pick up maps at the Fairplay Visitor Center if you’d like. Honestly, the town is small enough that you’ll probably come across all of the stops naturally as you walk through Fairplay.

Find all of the South Park shoutouts.

As expected, Fairplay has completely embraced its status as the muse for the setting of South Park. You’ll see the resemblance in the colorful buildings along the town’s main streets. It gets a little more obvious, too.

Several shops have cutouts of the show’s characters for you to pose with, including Mr. Hankey, The Christmas Poo. You’ll find gift shops full of South Park merchandise and decor celebrating the town’s special connection with the television series.

Do as the locals do and celebrate Fairplay’s minor claim to fame. I imagine this is how the town gets many of its tourists.

Shop local in Fairplay.

This is one of those blink-and-you-miss-it kinda downtowns, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t spend some time checking out what downtown Fairplay has to offer.

Visit art galleries like Coyote Creek Studio Arts for locally-created art to bring back home with you.

If you’re here to shop, The Salt Licking Goat Clothing Company is a popular option for casual clothing and gifts. High Alpine Sports is your one-stop shop if you’re planning any feats of athleticism during your stay.

Get high in Alma.

I’m talking about the elevation, people. Alma sits at 10,578 feet. That makes it the highest incorporated town in North America. If you take any day trips or hiking treks out of Fairplay, you’ll likely pass through here anyway, as it’s just five miles away.

If you visit in the summer, the most popular thing to do here is to drive the Mosquito Pass, one of the highest mountain passes in the state at 13,185 feet.

The Buckskin Cemetery has both a scenic mountain setting and a reputation with ghost hunters. If you’re hungry, Otto’s has a food cart here for crispy chicken sandwiches.

Summit a 13er at Pennsylvania Mountain.

Some of the best hiking near Fairplay requires quite a bit of effort on your part. If you’re looking for the ultimate hike, look no further than the Pennsylvania Mountain Southeast Ridge Trail. This is 4.7 miles with several steep sections to false summits.

You’ll learn quickly why false summits became my nemesis on this trip to Colorado if you try to tackle this hike. In fact, many turn around at the last false summit as it does look (and feel like) you should be done by that point.

There’s another half mile of hiking down then back up to get to the actual endpoint. I’d urge you not to give up at that point, no matter how tired you feel.

The views at each milestone are worth the trek, but the last view is the best. Download the map from your AllTrails app so that you can watch your progress in sections without well-marked trails.

You will be scrambling over rocks, so proper footwear and hiking gear are a must.

Note: We encountered some confusion at the start because the Pika Trail starts in the same spot. Stay to the left of the trail as you follow along on your hiking app. If you’d like something quick and easy, the Pika Trail is just 1.2 miles with limited elevation gain.

You’ll travel a bumpy road to get there, but we saw several sedan-type vehicles navigating this road, albeit slowly.

READ MORE: Love a challenging hike? Colorado’s Sky Pond hike has to be one of the toughest we’ve completed to date!

Eat at the best Fairplay restaurants.

There aren’t a plethora of restaurants in Fairplay, but the town has some surprisingly yummy options for its size.

Here are a few of our favorites, all taste-tested during our Fairplay stay, as eating local is one of my favorite activities:

• Millonzi’s Restaurant: If there’s one thing you should know about it, it’s that potato is one of my favorite pizza toppings. The one pictured above had a little upgrade called bacon, too. We returned to this one for their fig and Brie pizza and beet salad.
• The Soup Pot: Enjoy soups of the day, sandwich combos, and a variety of prepared salads at this casual eatery. I had a classic grilled cheese and tomato basil situation that warmed me up on a rainy day while Brian got jalapeño corn chowder.
• Asian Fusion: That really is the name, and that’s exactly what you’ll get. Expect super friendly staff, yummy but spicy curries, and a variety of noodles from all over the Asian continent. The Singapore-style noodles were our favorite. 
• Salado: This southwestern-style restaurant has a happy hour from 4-6pm that looked great, but we were unfortunately seated for a table at 6:05pm after a short wait. I forgave them after tasting the fried cheese curds and cactus fries.

Grab dessert at Silver Scoop Creamery.

We were visiting Fairplay in the summer, so this ice cream shop was expectedly busy most sunny days. That didn’t stop us from picking up a quart of ice cream with no regrets.

Salted butter? Yes, please. Did I know a quart was as aggressive a size before I ordered? Not especially, but they don’t sell pints!

More Stuff to Do in Fairplay

Even though we had a full month in Fairplay, there were still a few things we didn’t get to. Here are a few alternative things to do outside of everything I’ve shared already:

• Burro Days: We just missed the town’s biggest annual event of the year. If you time things right, you’ll experience burro races, a parade, live music, and more. Don’t miss out on the temporary Burro Days Museum for the history of the event. 
• Old Red Barn: We passed by this antique furniture shop several times on our walks, but for whatever reason never went inside. I suppose it may be because I don’t love antiquing. The barn used to be a livery stable, so there is history here.
• American Safari Ranch: Brian doesn’t love horseback riding and I probably love the idea of it more than anything else. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t love to embrace those Old West vibes in Fairplay and experience that mountain air on horseback.  
• Platte Ranch/Double B Riding Stables: If you’d like to comparison shop, this is another option for horseback riding and guided tours on horseback around Fairplay.
• Weston Pass: The Weston Pass Road is an epic drive through Rocky Mountain vistas that connects Fairplay with towns just south of Leadville. It’s nearly 31 miles from start to finish, so it’s best to tackle a segment at a time.
• Kenosha Pass: This high-mountain pass climbs to 10,000 feet. The popular Colorado Trail, nearly seven miles of trekking to wildflowers in the spring and leaf peeping in the fall, starts along the pass.

Things to Do Near Fairplay

I usually hate lists that recommend stops outside the city you’ve searched for when talking about things to do in that city, but Fairplay makes SUCH a great day trip base.

We loved spending time in town, but we also spent quite a bit of time exploring everything nearby.

Here are our favorite things to do around Fairplay that make for perfect day trips:

• Breckenridge: You can get from Fairplay to Breckenridge in about 40 minutes. We made the trip several times despite the insistence of Fairplay locals to keep “the Breckenridge” out of their town. Use my guide to plan your Breckenridge trip.
• Frisco: We took the trip out to Frisco, about 45 minutes north of Fairplay, for Outer Range Brewing Company. The mountain views are pretty epic, and you know I don’t love the hyperbole. If you’re hungry, order some Bird Craft while you wait.
• Florissant: Florissant is home to Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, a very special place no matter how you feel about petrified tree stumps. Get there in just under an hour from Fairplay. If it’s nice out, add a stop at Lake George.
• Colorado Springs: Colorado Springs is just an hour and a half from Fairplay. We made the trip several times to see highlights like the Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak. My Colorado Springs guide gets into all of that.
• Cañon City: Most folks head to Cañon City to see Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, the highest suspension bridge in the country. The town is also home to The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey, a nunnery/winery with some pretty decent pours.

Those aren’t even all of the day trips we had on our list. We just ran out of time. Antero Junction, a ghost town at 9,180 feet, the geothermal spas of Buena Vista and Glenwood Springs, and Bailey, home of the Coney Island Hot Dog Stand, all look fun.

When to Visit Fairplay

The weather in Fairplay can change by the minute. You can have a balmy morning followed by flurries that same afternoon. If you visit in the winter months, expect plenty of snow. Fairplay gets an average of 84 inches of snow per year.

During our summer stay, I found that it was best to layer up and bring rain gear no matter what the forecast called for on any given day. We were caught in rainstorms on days our apps told us not to expect even a sprinkle.

Some of the weather silliness has to do with its elevation. The elevation of Fairplay is 9,953 feet. That makes the town the fifth-highest incorporated place in the state. Yes, you will feel it. Give yourself some time to acclimate.

READ MORE: Undeterred by hiking at elevation? It doesn’t get more epic than Machu Picchu.

More Tips for Visiting Fairplay

We got to Fairplay on a lengthy road trip throughout the United States. If you’re not on the road in a similar fashion, the closest airport to Fairplay is Denver International Airport. 

Unfortunately, it’s about a two-hour drive from the airport into town, but from what you’ve read so far, it’ll all be worth it. Denver is also a great airport for finding hot airfare deals. 

You will need a car to get around Fairplay. There is no public transportation to speak of once you’re in town.

If you plan on tackling any hikes while you’re there, you may encounter some off-roading. We made some friends who were able to handle all of the local drives in their sedan, but I’d highly recommend renting a high-clearance vehicle if you can. 

We did really well in our Toyota RAV4 but still had to drive pretty slowly on those mountain passes.

Where to Stay in Fairplay

Fairplay lodging is super local. As we were staying a full month, our home base was a short-term rental that unfortunately is no longer available.

It was a former physical therapy office, which is a huge positive when you realize the size of physical therapy offices.

Browse the map below for options at a variety of price points:

Fairplay is the best Colorado town you haven’t heard of.

I may not be giving you enough credit. Maybe you’ve heard of it thanks to South Park, or you passed through on your way to elsewhere.

This is certainly one of those places we never had on our list, and we love visiting smaller towns with character. I’m so happy we were able to spend so much time exploring all there is to do in Fairplay. This place is weird and wonderful.