Chatfield State Park Campground

Very clean. Great views and nice space between sites. Small bags of firewood $6. Showers and laundry available. A bit of heavy road noise, but still quite peaceful overall. Fun for all ages.

I meant to post this message on the Chatfield State Park website but I think its important enough to also leave it here. So this review is not about this wonderful State Park, it's about the few people who come hear and leave all their disgusting trash behind. These pictures were taken August 14, 25. I beg State Park officials to 🙏 enforce the No Litter law and enforce it with substantial fines. It's unthinkable to me that people come to enjoy this park and use it as trash dumping site.

Coming from Indiana, where the state parks have sites packed together you are practically gaining family members when you camp, we were impressed to have a pull through side with enough space for our family to spread out after a 14 hour drive. We camped in the C loop for 3 nights and truly enjoyed our time just in the campground. We took a walk down the walking path every morning and every evening, which offers great mountains views as well as a view of the lake. The bathrooms, including the pit toilets, were always clean. We were able to visit the Red RocksAmphitheatre and Rocky Mountain National Park in one day with our location. We went south the next day to Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center and Garden of the Gods. There is a LOT to see just through the windows of the truck. We came back one evening to find our site had been mowed which made a huge difference in the lay of our site. From the campground you can take a short track down to the lack to dip your toes in the water, or enjoy the sunset from the parking lot over the mountains. The campground map does locate the dump station adequately, however if you quickly read sign signs, it is easy to confuse! So be ready for that! All in all, if we find our way through the Denver area Asian, I will be booking us a spot here.

Beautiful, well kept park with spacious campsites. Concrete pads, gravel sites and nice metal fire rings

Barely camping, but plenty of outdoors! Concrete RV pads with hookups. A few dirt tent spots. Close enough to town for quick trips or a night out. Far enough away to still be enjoying a camp fire after dark.

Real nice, well run Colorado State Park. Beautiful views, bike trails , and numerous shower facilities.

Its always been a nice spot to stay on the front range. Not anymore. The officers are treating campers with hostility and aggression. Its "wheres your papers" "that facility is for campers only." Never "good morning, Im making sure our guests are the only one using facilities, may I see your reservation?" They start the encounter aggressively and do not change their tone when they discover they have made a poor judgment about a camper. Today is three for three. The last three times Ive stayed here with a valid camping reservation, Ive been harassed and spoken to like I'm a criminal. Today, I made the mistake of making a last minute reservation to stay off the unsafe mountain roads in 112mph winds and was off by one day. That was my mistake. The difference between me and the park staff? I can admit I made a mistake and update my behavior, state park staff absolutely cannot update their behavior for any reason....ever. So, I got a 100$ ticket for my mistake while the parks staff gets to continue being awful to people with zero repercussions. Fun fact: park rangers cant tell if your tag inculdes the registration park pass option Coloradans have when renewing. They have to ask you if you have the park pass.

We had a band come for a concert with food trucks and lots of activities for the kids like face painting. Water balloon toss, hula hoop contest & mote.

This is a beautiful off leash dog park. There's paved trails, which are great if you have a stroller or a wheelchair or are just looking for an easy walk. There are dirt trails and various paths that you can walk and there's lakes for your pups to swim in. At the first entrance they even have the mobile dog wash stations- the first I've seen in the Denver area, which are amazing! My only gripe (and this is nothing to do with the people who run the area) is this- people pick up your dog's poop! There are free bags and multiple trash cans located around the trail so it's not like you have to walk all the way back to your car with the poop.!!

I dig Chatfield for paddle boarding but haven't really gotten a chance to explore it for other activities. This place gets busy so if you are impatient like me and don't have a pass, get here early. Otherwise you can drive past the line if you have the Keep Colorado Wild Pass, see ya!! Nice bathroom at the beach area when you pull in with real stalls, running water, etc. so I typically will stop there before venturing onward. They have a lot of spots you can launch from on your paddleboard of kayak, most have you going through the trees at the moment since the water levels have been high. Since motorized boats are allowed, the waters get choppy especially being right by the foothills so be cautious of that and check the weather. I want to love Chatfield more but for now, it's a good spot to go for water activities but not my number one spot in the area.

I visited Chatfield State Park after work this past Friday. It was such a beautiful day. Perfect day to walk outside wearing a short sleeve shirt. The weather was overcast so it was great day to go strolling along the lovely paved pathways in the park. It's nice having the annual park pass. They offer this when renewing your registration annually. There wasn't anyone at the main gate when I entered the park. For anyone who doesn't have the annual pass, there is a self pay option. Also, one may be wondering, do I put something on my dashboard to show I have the annual pass? The answer is, No. your license plate would be checked. This park offers many parking areas. There are plenty of parking spaces with nice views of the lakes inside the park. What I love the most about this park is that you're so close to the highway (I-470) but yet you feel so much farther away. The convenience of accessing this park is wonderful. Take your time strolling their various concrete pathways in the park, marveling at all the gorgeous views. They also have a nice beachhead area with adjacent parking lot. Public restrooms are located at each parking lot. I also saw a lot of bicyclists in the park. It's always nice to see patrons using the park in this way, getting their exercise in while enjoying this beautiful park. The park also has picnic areas with park benches to enjoy your meal while socializing with family or friends. They also have boat launch areas for smaller watercraft. Overall, I loved the peacefulness I felt here. I would love to return and recommend this place for anyone who wants to enjoy our beautiful state parks.

Came for my first time and loved it. $10 for the car to come in and park. Plenty of parking during the week. Can't speak for the weekend. The water felt amazing on a super hot day. The 360 view was refreshing with the mountains. The vibe of the people we were among was good. They had the option to buy food and snacks. Also to rent a paddle board for $22 an hour. I'm looking forward to our next visit. It really changed my negative attitude on a super hot day into a positive one.

I came on July 4 which was super busy but wow $10 well spent my little dog had a blast. Friendly staff. Beach was clean except for dog shit, so gross people don't pick up. I arrived first and got in, then my friend (with a pass) got denied because they said they were full but that was nonsense because people started leaving, but then weirdly enough my next friend did get in. Great day!!' Recommend if you have dogs!!

Colorado lake was nice and cool. You can actually swim here. A lot of the waves are caused by the boats and jetskis that are running. Surprisingly people were catching fish here as well. 1 things is for sure, you won't get washed away like Cali Beaches and the water is not salty either.

Pretty nice park that is also huge and has a variety of activities. We decided to go for just a nice short afternoon by the water. We were there in the late afternoon and there was a crazy long line to get in if you don't have the park pass. We parked in eagle cove lot which was not crowded at all but to get to the water was a bit of a walk through itchy plants. The water is too deep at the moment for any swimming and the water was too murky anyways. No fish were caught. There was some trash around but not too bad and many people were out boating and doing water sports. Definitely a nice state park but recommend later in the summer probably.

This place is gorgeous ! Excellent place to camp, walk, bike etc! And it's also a phenomenal place to take photos and video. I see people come of all ages enjoying this beautiful park for a pic nic or hike or even just laying in the warm bright sun!

Breathtaking! We went with folks who have a park pass and primarily walked around the dog park - I was shocked by the beauty and just how big it was. Lots of sweet doggos on a Sunday evening and I really can't imagine a better spot to bring pups. Pond areas for swims, paths to walk on, and a great place to let out some energy. I didn't see the rest of the park but imagine it is all just as beautiful. I wish I had read the reviews before attending, as there's a rich history I didn't know until now. Happy exploring!

Our family stayed in our 35-foot trailer at Chatfield State Park from Sep. 29, 2023 to October 11, 2023. This review is for the Loop D restrooms only, which happens to be the main bathhouse and laundry area. *** The restrooms are not cleaned properly every day. *** Usually at a campground, the restrooms are swept once a day just because of the public usage. Hair balls in the shower were in the same place for 5 days. A random used bar of soap was on the floor under the sink and it was there for 5 days. The restrooms were finally cleaned but then they started to decline again. In addition, my husband relayed the showers are not hot in the men's restroom. Chatfield State Park is one of the most used parks in Colorado and it should be clean. We stayed at Cherry Creek State Park previously and their restrooms are "5 star" clean clean clean, super duper clean! So, what's up with Chatfield State Park? Please clean your restrooms better at Chatfield State Park. Hope things change for the better and fast. With the photos, the bathrooms were like this for 5 days straight with no change, except getting worse. You know how you see the camp host scooting around on their golf cart many times during the day ... Not at Loop D ... Totally not scootin'.

Chatfield Reservoir was constructed from 1967-1975 as a direct result of The Denver Flood of 1965. The flood caused damages over $500 million dollars and the water reached 20 feet high at certain points in metro Denver. Knock on wood this dam will hold the next flood... South Platte River headwater starts near FairPlay, CO then flows through Denver and meets up with North Platte River in Nebraska then flows east to St. Louis MO merges with the Mississippi River then flows south all the way down to New Orleans then into the Gulf of Mexico. Why did I just write a geography lesson on Yelp? Because Air that we breath is free for now. Denver Water is relatively cheap only cost me about $3 per 1000 gallons. Food we buy comes from farmers who needs irrigation from rivers or aquifers. So long story short, if no Platte River all the tribes of CO, NE, KS, MO, AR, LA (the state) will be thirsty and dead. 2020 Colorado state park pass daily fee per Car: $10 Swimbeach is located on the west entrance on Wadsworth. Stand up paddle boarding (SUP) rental is available @ 5280 paddles sports inside the park. -Not a Geologist (source: google maps and Wikipedia)

Awesome park! Came here super early one Friday morning (6am early) to go tubing/paddle boarding. It's kind of confusing trying to find the park byt just follow signs. The first paddle board area did not allow tubes, which is weird to me because you'd think they'd allow tubes/swimming where theres no boats. Swim up beach has a blocked off area for tubing/swimming, I do wish they would make it slightly bigger. It's decent enough size though. This park has camping, and walks for dogs- tons of things to do its huge! P.S get a park pass for the year ...it's worth it. 10$ for a day vs 80$ for the year. Also tip- Book early for the paddle boarding/kayak rentals. They go fast!

Beautiful park in south Denver and close to the i25. We have enjoyed all their events they have hosted.

CSP was a nice little day get away within city limits that still took me out for a little outdoor adventure. Entering at one of the 2 known to me ranger stations I paid $10 to enter but inquired about a National Park lifetime disability pass that one of my guests had , these cannot be used at state parks but I was handed a state park disability form for them to have their Dr. sign off on and I'm sure they will return. I then ventured off to one of the nearest open parking lots near a park restroom. There are restrooms at almost every parking lot that was pretty clean along with LOTS of benches. Make sure to bring a gallon of water or sanitizer for your hands (no wash sinks) Nobody was really here the day I came. I saw maybe 3 people the entire day. I had brought my roller skates to break them in. Another person brought their roller skates as well and one person brought their bicycle. There is a swim beach area and if you inquire and make reservations , there is a room to hold gatherings. There's a boat launch area and boat dock, camping area and outdoor recreation gazebos. You must call / go online to inquire about certain gazebos. Some are open to first come first serve visitors , no reservations needed, those are on the western side of the park (the side with the horse stables) They have covered areas with charcoal bbqs and tables. There are walking paths and most people share the road biking with cars going around the reservoir park area. You can also fish with your fishing permit in the designated areas. I saw lots of wildlife when I came . Birds, rabbits , deer, and other animals. I really enjoyed my time and was able to skate around, I'll be back for sure.

Came here for a little COVID quarantine respite. In the dead of winter, natural surroundings in Colorado are just plain old boring - dry grassy areas and bare trees. But there is a beautiful calmness that more than makes up for it here. Circle of life type stuff. Came here to take advantage of the 60 degree spring like weather and explored the area by foot and car. Looks like there are horse stables here so would definitely look into that once summer rolls around.

UPDATE! What's up Chatfield - I'm totally obsessed with your beaches, which extend around the lake, some for swimming and others perfect for docking the boat and playing a game of cornhole. I dig that your waters aren't terribly cold, that you're the "it "spot to paddle board and innertube, and that everyone is welcome in your park. I'm a fan of camping on your grounds, even though fires aren't allowed. Sure, your rangers are a bit uptight, but with how popular you are, I don't blame them for wanting to keep you pristine. I love that I can have a fun day without having to break a 10-dollar bill, and that you're only a 15-minute drive from my house. I also can't appreciate enough that military members get in for free in the month of August. No matter what you do, I'm always returning for more fun. Keep it up Chatfield, the summer isn't over yet! Your lake obsessed friend, Katie F

Perfect camping getaway with Mountain View's. Bathrooms were not open so we had to hike to the shower house which was super sucky but that was my only complaint!

Outstanding trail right off the main road! This is a loop but we chose to hike along the river on our way out and back. the trail along the river is much more well shaded and. Secluded. The return loop is out in the open and along the roadway, so we opted not to hike that part of the trail. Our terrier loved the hike and the river access. This is definitely an easy trail as far as its very flats but it is a solid 4 miles. Check it out out you wont be disappointed!

This is a fantastic park we found by accident! We were actually headed to Roxborough state park and were told they don't allow pets (we had our dog with us) but the park ranger said that Chatfield does allow pets. So we headed there instead...and we are so glad we did! We loved every inch of this park....the trails are awesome and the water areas are great....our dog had a blast in the water! We will definitely be back soon!

I would have given higher stars, except the issues we encountered were unacceptable given the cost of staying in a park with less amenities due to the winter season. It's a wide open park with little tree coverage that Apple Maps will send you to the wrong location when you search the park name. The address in Yelp works though and unfortunately the confirmation email includes conceptual directions, but not an address and the concept works for both, incorrect and correct locations. This made us an hour late and setting up in the dark due to the directional issue. We did our first winter/snow camping here and when we arrived our site wasn't plowed, which I suppose could be a lesson learned on my part, but if you make a 3 night reservation months in advance and you're are plowing the roadways of the campground, why wouldn't you plow the reserved sites too? I reserved site 153, as I knew all bathrooms weren't going to be open due to winter season. The park map shows the showers are located in the bathroom close to site 153, so it seemed like the most likely bathrooms to be open. Nope, the showers and restroom that was actually open are located in the restroom close to 138/139 and circled in the picture. Soooo I'm not sure why the showers are marked in the wrong restroom, but it was super fun rolling in after dark due to bad directions, having to shovel our pad in the dark and then thinking you had no toilet since the restrooms next to us were locked and by the campground map, should have been the ones that were left open. We did find out the next day from the ticket lady at the gate where the open restrooms were and they were actually the ones with showers and laundry, despite the inaccurate campground map. We were aware of this part, but to charge campground/site fee in addition to the day pass fee made it $46 dollars a night for electric hook up only and due to all of the issues, inaccurate campground map/no toilet the first night, bad directions and shoveling our own pad. That's a ridiculous cost.

I had a death in the family. Was going to meet his children for less than an hour as a send off. Had my card shutdown over the weekend for fraudulent charges being racked up. Conni at the booth said she was happy to tell me that she would be glad to hear that I'm sharing with you that she can't make an exception to wave their whole $10 fee for an hour with the clock ticking to see my uncle's kids who fly out tomorrow with a family death and only having to shut down my card due to fraud.

I feel like I have a love hate relationship with this Local Colorado State Park. Being so close to Denver- it's almost always fully crowded during the summer. If you're a boater like me, the long lines, busy dock, and the limited area for cruising (most of the lake is wake free), it makes for a rough outing on any weekend. The weekdays and evenings are usually much more reasonable during the summer. As far as the fishing- it seems to be ok if you aren't battling rowdy ski boats and oversized yachts that don't really belong there. You'll mostly catch trout, smallmouth bass, and more rarely - a few smaller walleye. Apparently there's some larger ones but I've yet to catch anything surpassing the 18" limit. It will also ice over and I've had some success here and there in the winter as well. Overall- nice smaller lake, but will continue to get even more crowded with Sterling Ranch being developed. Definitely a shame!

Parking is $10. On the weekends it can get pretty crowded so there may be a line of cars to get into the park. They have plenty of parking. It's great for boating, jet skiing, camping, swimming, picnicking, jet skiing, wake boarding, tubing, sailing,paddle boarding and much more. The water is patrolled by security folks who make sure that everyone is doing everything they're supposed to. I came and wake boarded for the first time here (I was not good at it) and thought it was tons of fun. They have a swim-beach area but it's currently closed due to COVID. The playground is also currently closed. The lake is large and has bigger waves than Cherry Creek State Park. I came in June and the water temperature was in the 60s. They also have a dog park where dogs can roam off their leashes. I love Colorado and their dog-friendly facilities!

I would drive the extra miles to come here, campgrounds are clean, beaches doesn't stink and people seem to respect the no littering rules. There's also a paddle boarding only area about 3 miles north of west entrance. Can't wait to camp or day trip here again! I highly recommend.

We love chatfield!! Its the best way to beat the summer heat! Paddleboarding, being lazy, swimming & snacking its enough to never want summer to end!

We usually come to the observatory or swim beach in the morning so it's not ever busy. I do notice it starts to get pretty busy closer to 11. We always have a great time and we love the view!

its beautiful place to meander around to enjoy the great outdoors Colorado has to offer. I don't know the full story of this place but definitely feel cleaner than the Cherry Creek reservoir and appears to be lot bigger. on my last trip, I wanted to circumvent the perimeter using the bike path and started the trip from the parking lot of South Plate Reservoir. north portion of the Chatfield: bike path is combination of concrete and asphalt. they are maintained very well. signage is good and some areas are very steep so you can test out the bikes or you legs in that matter. I made it up to the top of the dam and was rewarded with grand view of the lake in entirety. There are parking areas and also picnic tables to enjoy. The road ends here with sign that says "no motorized vehicle" and blocked off. If you want to circle around the lake, you must take this dam road to go over to the other side. If you take the nice road to the north, only thing you will be doing is go "fast" down the hill and wonder how good your brake is and rewarded with huffying and puffing bike ride up again to follow another route. continued...

I took my dog to the off leash dog park today. Entrance fees were a bit pricey but I totally understand the price changes due to COVID. I had an amazing experience. The park was very presentable and cleaned up. Once we got into the park, I felt very confident and comfortable letting my dog off leash. All the dogs we encountered were very friendly and my dog had a blast. When we finally got to the first lake the dogs loved it. There were different entrances around the lake for the dogs. Once they swam for a little we kept walking. There are some really fun side trails that the dogs loved going down. There was so much ground to cover so we are definitely coming back. The dogs were exhausted after their adventures. I'm so happy I thought about bringing the dogs here.

A beautiful park with beautiful landscapes and facilities. A great place to watch birds, hike, or even camp. A great park in the middle of a metropolitan area!

Chatfield State Park is a roughly 3,895 acre park located next to the foothills southwest of Denver. Numerous activities including boating, camping, fishing, hunting, trails, and wildlife viewing are supported by the park. Some of the facilities include: - 197 single camping sites (w/electrical hook-ups; 120 w/full hookups). - 10 group camp areas available for reservation up to 6 months in advance. - 4 reservable group picnic areas. - 26+ miles of trails. - A full-service marina. - A model airplane field. - Showers @ campgrounds/swim beach (50¢ for 3 min; 25¢ per additional min). - Stables. - Swim beach. Daily park passes are available for $8. Annual passes are also available for $70. There may be additional fees for camping, facilities, etc. It's best to check their website for more detailed info. Overall, Chatfield is a beautiful, easily accessible park. Trails are well-maintained and campsites are conveniently located and provide easy access to wildlife. The lake is available for boating activities during the warmer months, which can be lots of fun! I'm not personally a fan of the swim beach, but it always seems as though many children are enjoying it! There are also hot air balloons that occasionally launch from sites within the park on calm mornings. Looking for them in the sky above the park. It's a cool spectacle.

Enjoying the campground!!! Still doing construction but enjoying the peace and quiet looking at the reservoir!! Please not book sites here I want to come me back again!!!

This place is beautiful! We road tripped to Denver during the first week on January and spent several days camping in Loop D. We hiked the easy trail along the lake and even got to experience walking on a frozen lake (checked off my bucket list). There is a trail that leads you to the lake from the main trail. The view of the mountains was breathtaking and just being able to wake up to the mountains made camping in the freezing cold worth it. Chatfield State Park is about 30 minutes from the city, which wasn't too bad. During the slow season, only the main office is opened which is located inside the park. We only experienced hiking around the lake, but we saw several people biking around the lake and around the park. The only downside was the restroom cleanliness in Loop D. It really made me cringe and I tried my best to not touch the walls. Either way, I'll be back here to camp again if ever taking another camping road trip to Colorado. It's $8 a day for car entrance fee. There is no fee for # of people entering the park. It's also $24 a night to camp.

Kind of a lame park for being so close to beautiful mountains. It is like an old gravel pit that has been dammed up to make a lake. The bathrooms were not all open (which I was not told when I checked in) and the one I found open had not been cleaned, had no toilet paper, and smelled awful. If you have low expectations this place is for you!!!

Wow are we lucky to have a resource like chat field state park off -leash dog area. Unparalleled in terrain, ponds, trails friendly dogs and owners. My life and my dogs life is improved because of chatfield state park.

I love this park! If I ask my dog, she would love it too! This is an incredible park, like heaven to the dogs. Dogs are welcome to play, swim, run, have a party and enjoy their time here. I live in NYC, so when my Hubby's niece said she would take me to the dog park, I was thinking the dog park like we go in NYC and our neighborhood. No no no, this is a real deal! There're 2 lakes for your dog to swim, many acres of land to run and play and of course the dogs go off-leash. They should be on leash up to the entrance and then you see the happy campers running freely on the other side of the gate. So happy to see your dog having such a fantastic time. Having the lakes helps the dogs to cool off in the summer. Very good for dogs to socialize, same like humans. If they don't socialize, they become strange lol. The niece said she takes the dog here in the winter too. Of course you have to clean after your dog after they make. That's why this park is very clean. It's a state park, so the state maintains it well. Great job Colorado! You got my vote!

What a great park! I don't go here that often since I live closer to Cherry Creek Park, but I love the Gravel Pond for non motorized watercraft (Kayaks and Sup) which I wish Cherry Creek had so it may be worth the drive. Not tons of parking back there for busy days. They do have SUP rental companies there, but on a nice weekend in CO I recommend you book ahead online as they will be booked up. Camping, hiking, biking, off leash dog park...tons to do. Beautiful scenery around this park. My one complaint is that they only have one entrance and the line can get long on busy days. Get out there!

I have 70 . annual pass I am getting money worth very relaxing near swim beach plenty to look at . restrooms sometimes need more attention but main restrooms good usually.I listen to music smoke my cigars and read... cowboy_

Always a fun trip to Chatfield! We've camped here, hiked here and boated here. We always have a great time and it is always worth the visit.

Our beloved Sophie LOVES this park. She's gets excited in the car when we enter the park. If you do go regularly, buy a park permit. You'll get your money's worth. We've seen all types of dogs here and they are so friendly. Only once did I hear someone yell "CONTROL YOUR DOG!" to another dog owner. There's plenty of room for the poochies to play and romp around. The water is a great bonus! The only downside is there aren't enough garbage cans, so depending on where your pooch poops, you could be carrying it for a while.

Love the variety of activities here. From animal and people watching to seclusion and natural connection around the lake, it's great!

Every beach we've been to this summer had something different and special to offer but this one takes the cake when it comes to seclusion and privacy! We are here visiting on a Thursday, got into the park and set up by noon and there was only two other families on the side of the beach where we decided to set up camp! Perfect perfect! We put up the hammock between some shaded trees and got the kids out on the boat and in the water in no time! Us moms pitched a tent and called it good! So peaceful and relaxing here! The water is much like that of cherry creek reservoir a little on the murky side of things but much warmer temperature than bear creek lake! The sand is almost like dirt here so it's very natural feeling and soft on the feet! Perfect way to spend a beautiful summer day! Enter the park for $8 a car load daily and relax those city troubles away!

This was a beautiful state park. We really enjoyed our time here. The only complaints are no soap in the bathrooms and having to pay to take a shower. Otherwise everything was great.

On February 24th. 2018at 10:00a.m. .The heavy set guy with the goatee who works at the campground registration office right after you enter the b&c campground entrance . this guy works for chatfield state park. He was very rude, and mean, and very unprofessional to me and my wife, and he made my wife cry too. We were nothing but polite and nice to him!This guy shouldn't be working with the public at all!!! Something should be done about this! I hope upper management takes a look at this review.If you run into this guy beware he is a very angry rude person!

My dogs loved this park! And so did my husband and I! It has a Great Lake for the doggies to jump in and play in! It was perfect and we will definitely be coming back again

Beautiful, spacious area right next to Littleton... great for camping or boating. You can also do SUP! There are fishing restrictions kind of like anywhere else in Colorado when fishing. You must have a day pass or the yearly pass to get in and park. This place is not only good for camping it's also good for biking as there are biking and hiking trails around the whole lake. The lake is kind of small so not a whole lot of boats can be on it and when it rains it floods the whole beach area. This is a nice little place in town to getaway from the city vibe.

Chatfield was an incredible experience for me and my dog. I travelled to Denver from Baltimore with a huge, flully baby named Nani. She is my life and I was so lucky to find out about this wonderful park to take her to. There was so much open space for her to explore that I was almost afraid I would lose her...but fortunately big girls like her don't move too quickly. She got to swim, meet a bunch of other fun dogs and get as dirty as she wanted. We walked for a while and just had a great time. She was exhausted for the next 2 days, which was great since I had job interviews. When I move to Denver in the spring, I am going to be a regular at chatfield.

I can't say enough about how much we enjoyed our stay at the park. The RV spots are well kept and the restrooms and laundry areas are very clean and convenient. There were plenty of activities for the grandkids even though the swim beach was experiencing some extensive improvements. While staying at Chatfield, we were sightseeing down south in Colorado Springs. We were caught in a huge hailstorm that incapacitated our vehicle for about 4 days. We were scheduled to move to another loop, but those plans went down the drain with our windshield. The rangers and camp staff were incredibly empathetic and accommodating. Hats off to staff for staying on top of our situation, helping us to remain calm, and allowing us to remain where we were until we could move. Special thanks to Cali McAllister (sp?) and her team for their quick work and understanding. We would come back in a heartbeat!

Favorite place to take my pup so far. They have a dog-training area that is not fenced, but so HUGE that it's unlikely Fido will get too far if they tend to run. The Platte river runs through to the north, and there are also a couple of ponds for the dogs to swim in. SO many dogs here on the weekends. Lots of people training their huntin' dogs, as well as people just watching their dogs romp and play in the pretty outdoors. Scenery is beautiful - wildlife, too. We saw a Great Blue Heron here yesterday, just chillin in the river. Also lots of picnic areas and restrooms available, and you know.. there's a whole reserviour with boating and fishing and camping and swimming in the summer and all the like. Dogs have to be on-leash outside of the dog training area, though. If simply for the dog park alone; Chatfield rocks. Oh yeah, $6 per car though. So if you plan to make it a habit, a season pass is a good idea.

I don't get the love fest for the place. It's a boob job in terms of outdoor spaces... totally fake and overpriced. It's a reservoir with a man made dam, which looks very similar to Cherry Creek Reservoir, also with dam. Meanwhile there are real, majestic lakes with amazing scenery just west in that area called "mountains" and not suburbia. I felt bad for the boy scout troop that was "camping," since parking a trailer on asphalt, hooking up a wide screen for movies, having clean, lighted bathrooms, and being able to see the Denver skyline isn't exactly roughing it.