Chatfield State Park

It doesn’t matter what type of outdoor enthusiast you are, you’ll find your pleasure at Colorado’s Chatfield State Park. And if you live in the greater Denver metro area, you only have to travel as far as Littleton. Are you a boater, kayaker, or canoeist? Well then, just hitch up your trailer or roof carrier, and you can paddle, fish, row, or can water ski on the clear calm water of the Chatfield Reservoir or one of the park’s freshwater lakes. As for the sun worshipers in your family, they can plant themselves in the warm brown sand of the swim beach and take in the rays as they dry off after a vigorous swim.

But if you prefer pedaling to paddling, you can pedal to your heart’s content on any of Chatfield State Park’s 26 miles of bike paths, 12 of which are paved. Speaking of trails, Chatfield has hiking trails for two-legged visitors and dog paths for their four-legged companions. If just the thought of this panoply of outdoor activities is overwhelming you, there’s no need to make a choice. Chatfield has campgrounds, so even if you live in Littleton or Denver, you can camp out and take all the time you need to fit them all. In addition to 10 group camping areas, there are 197 individual campsites. All of them have electrical hookups, and many have full hookups. So, in addition to electricity, you’ll be able to flush your waste water away and connect to running water.

A Few Things You Should Know about Chatfield State Park

Birdwatching, wildlife viewing, fishing, picnicking, horseback riding, and even occasional hot air balloon rides are just warm-weather activities. Chatfield State Park is open all year round. In winter, you can ice skate on the frozen lakes, go snowmobiling, or snowshoe on fresh fallen Colorado snow – all within eight miles of Littleton.

– Chatfield’s numerous picnic tables and grills are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

– There are no lifeguards. Therefore, swimming is at your own risk, and children under the age of 13 must be supervised at the beach

– Off-road vehicles are prohibited.

– During the peak season, visitors wishing to avoid bottlenecks and waiting for lines should arrive before 9 AM or after 4 PM on weekends or plan their visits for weekdays.

Read more about South Platte Park and Carson Nature Center here.