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Located just south of Littleton, about 45 minutes south of Denver, Chatfield State Park is a 5,800-acre nature preserve and recreation area situated around the Chatfield Reservoir. Before the 1960s, there was no reservoir, and the South Platte River flowed freely through the wide valley. But after several disastrous flooding incidents, the Chatfield Dam was constructed on the river to prevent further damage to local homes and farms. The land around the new reservoir was developed into a recreation area, and the state park was opened to the public in 1975. The dam and park are named for Isaac W. Chatfield, who served as a Lieutenant of the Union in the Civil War. After the war, he migrated west and farmed this land along the Platte until the late 1800s. With its proximity to the wider Denver metro area and suburbs, Chatfield State Park is the place to go to get outdoors and beat the summer heat. Campers at Chatfield State Park have access to nearly 200 tent and RV campsites in four loops. The majority of sites are equipped with full hookups, with the rest having electrical hookups. Parking pads are both back-in and pull-through, and can accommodate vehicles/trailers up to 45 feet. Some sites are ADA accessible. All campsites have picnic tables, cooking grills and tent pads, and have access to drinking water, flush toilets, hot showers, and laundry facilities; a dump station is located near the campground entrance. There is also a group camp area with 10 sites that can accommodate up to 36 people each. Most sites are open and grassy, with minimal shade; all are within a short walking distance to the reservoir.
Park residents include deer, elk, foxes, prairie dogs, songbirds, eagles, owls, snakes and salamanders. For water fun, there’s swimming, paddling, water-skiing, and fishing on the reservoir. Boaters have access to two launch ramps, and anglers can fish on the lake or from the fishing piers for walleye, rainbow trout, bass, perch and sunfish. During the winter season, trails are open for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, and ice fishing is a popular pastime.
From south of the Denver metro area Santa Fe (Highway 85) to Titan Parkway (approximately 14.6 miles north of Castle Rock). West on Titan to Roxborough Park Road. Take a right on Roxborough Park Road which leads directly into Chatfield State Park.
The campground is open year-round, but with limited access and services during the winter season. Individual campsites are $21–$30/night; group camps are $132–$144/night. However you like to play outside, it’s likely possible at Chatfield State Park. The park offers several picnic areas, a kids’ playground and an off-leash area for doggies to run free. (Dogs must remain leashed in all other areas of the park.) There are 26 miles of multi-use trails available for hikers, bikers and horseback riders, as well as paved, barrier-free paths. Bird and wildlife watching can be enjoyed throughout the park, and in the Audubon area along the South Platte River.
I hadn't been here for over 20 years.
Wasn't expecting a full transformation of everything around me. I was just surprised about the water level coming past the trees to the shore. In the days when I went there that was all usable space. Now all that space is taken away and full of people on paddle boards, paddling around in the trees. It's not that I don't mind that, it just seemed like all that space that I used to enjoy was just taken away. It just felt to me driving around this area that it kind of lost its serenity and became a water world.
Chatfield is a beautiful state park If you enjoy paddle boating and boating. There's a good sized beach with food and restroom accommodations coming in from the west entrance giving you wonderful views. There's camping and model airplane flying right when you come in from the south entrance of the reservoir. The winding roads throughout Chatfield have plenty of benches and picnic tables to enjoy. There are two docks to put your boat in. The one dock from the west entrance is pretty basic, were you just ramp your boat into the water. The dock on the south side has plenty of area to dock your boat and storing it there is an option. The views from the top of the damn are amazing and peaceful with benches and picnic tables.
There's also a very cool secluded area on the north side of the damn with walking trails and picnicking areas hidden within the trees. Bathrooms were available all across the reservoir. I do enjoy Chatfield and have been back several times already.
Chatfield is definitely a great place for the family.
Been boating on Chatfield a few times, this was the first time I ventured around the lake on the paved path, nearly 11.5 miles if you're interested. I have to say it was quite nice! Very well maintained path suitable for walking, running, hiking, and biking, with plenty of restrooms for pitstops along the way. Just a relatively small section of dirt road on the east/ northeast side approaching the dam, nothing a cold on a bike could not handle. I will certainly return!
