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.