Chatfield

Trails Over 26 miles of hard surface and natural trails wind through the Chatfield area and provide Park visitors with an abundance of opportunities for wildlife viewing and bird watching. Trails are available for hiking, biking, dog walking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. Many trails are mobility device friendly. Download a four-color Chatfield Trail Use map at: http:///cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/Chatfield Picnicking Numerous picnic sites with tables and grills are located throughout the park. Individual sites are available on a first-come first-served basis. Group Picnic sites are available by reservation through the Park office 303-791-7275. Passes, Permits A Colorado State Park pass is required year-round on all vehicles entering the park. Campers are required to have a valid camping permit in addition to a park pass. Visitors who use the Dog-Off-Leash Area are required to have a DOLA pass in addition to the park pass. Park passes are available at the entrance stations, park office and the campground office. Self serve stations accepting cash or check only are available when stations and offices are not manned. Camping The Chatfield campground offers 197 individual campsites. All sites have an electrical RV hook-up (20-30-50 amp) service, a picnic table, fire ring, and grill. In addition, 146 sites are considered full hook-up, and offer water and sewer connections, seasonally. Shower and flush comfort stations are located throughout the campground. A sewage dump station is located near the campground for use by registered campers. A fee is charged for non-registered campers to use the facility. It is illegal to dump wastewater, including dishwater and sewage, anywhere else. A camping permit is required in addition to a Parks pass for persons using the campground. Immediate occupancy of a site is required. Campers may only stay a maximum of 14 days in a 45-day period. Quiet hours are observed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and generators may not be operated during quiet hours. Due to popularity, camping reservations are recommended. Reservations can be made online at www.cpw.state.co.us or by calling 1-800-244-5613. Reservations are available in D Loop year round. Reservations for A and B Loops are typically available mid-April through mid-October and C Loop is typically available mid-April through the end of November. Reservations can be made a maximum of 6 months and minimum of three days in advance. Group campsites are available for reservation through our park office at 303-791-7275. Wildlife Chatfield’s acres of prairie and riparian areas provide habitat to a multitude of wildlife species. Over 345 species of birds have been sighted at the park. A Watchable Wildlife kiosk is located on top of the dam and provides information on key places within the Park to see wildlife. Beaver and muskrat are often seen in the Park’s wetland and pond areas. Whitetail, mule deer, coyotes, fox and bear live or feed in the area. Less developed, natural areas of the park are located on the south side along the Plum Creek and Platte River. Park programs and interpretive walks are offered throughout the year. A schedule of activities can be found on the website or by contacting the park office. Fishing In addition to a healthy population of trout and bass, Chatfield has walleye, channel catfish, yellow perch, crappie, bluegill, sunfish, and carp. The reservoir is periodically stocked with rainbow trout and other fish. Springtime presents superb walleye and trout opportunities, while bass, perch, crappie and catfish are most frequently caught during the summer. Ice fishing is usually under-way by mid-December. Check the Park website and at the entrance for current conditions. An accessible fishing pier is located near the marina on the east side of the lake. An accessible trail provides access to the South Platte River. Dog Off-Leash Area The fenced Dog Off-Leash Area (DOLA) at the north end of the park provides dog enthusiasts with 69-acres of space for exercising their pets. The Chatfield DOLA includes walking trails, two small ponds, two parking lots and restrooms. An annual DOLA pass ($20) or a daily DOLA ($2) is required, in addition to a park pass. Pets must be under voice control while inside the DOLA and on a leash while walking between vehicles and the entrance to the DOLA. Leashed pets are allowed throughout the park except at the swim beach. Owners are required to clean up and dispose of pet waste throughout the park. US Army Corps of Engineers ©CPW ©DICK VOGEL ©CPW/JERRY NEAL Horseback Riding Horse trailer parking, corrals, unloading ramps and a trailhead are located on the Park’s west side, south of the Deer Creek entrance. Horses are available for rent at the Chatfield Stables, located south west of the swim beach. Riders must stay on designated trails. Horses are prohibited at picnic sites, campsite, the swim beach and along the reservoir shoreline. Visitors may leave horses in the corrals overnight if they are camping in the campground, two miles from the corrals. Owners must provide their own feed and water containers, as grazing is not allowed. Water faucets are only available at the corrals. Balloons/Model-planes Chatfield State Park is one of the most popular hot air balloon launch areas on the Front Range. Balloons launch from the Montgolfier Balloon Port, near the Deer Creek entrance. A balloon permit is required in addition to a vehicle park pass. For model airplane pilots, the Chatfield Model Airplane field offers paved runways, frequency posts and field regulations for radio-controlled aircraft. The airfield is located south of the campground. Radio-controlled devices are prohibited throughout the main park area. History ©CPW/KEN PAPALEO The first settlers came to the Chatfield area in search of gold in 1858. Prospectors discovered the precious metal in the vicinity of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River. When these pioneers began building the settlement that is now Denver, Arapahoe and Cheyenne Native Americans warned them that it was “bad medicine” to settle in the area. In 1870, Isaac W. Chatfield, a Union lieutenant in the Civil War, bought 720 acres of land at the confluence of the South Platte River and Plum Creek. Chatfield farmed the land until he moved in 1879. The area and a nearby road still bear his name. The area continued to grow as an agricultural community, and small activity centers and subdivisions were built. But the warning of “bad medicine” proved true as floods washed through Denver in 1933, 1935 and 1942. On June 16, 1965, the rain swollen Plum Creek caused the Platte River to jump its banks and sweep away homes and businesses. The result was 13 deaths and over $300 million in damages. As a control measure, in August 1967, two years after the flood, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers began development of the $85 million project and in 1973 work began on the dam. In 1974 Colorado State Parks entered a long-term lease to manage the 5,600-acre recreation area. The dam was completed in 1975, resulting in a 1,500 surface acre reservoir. Funded in part by Great Outdoors Colorado through Colorado Lottery proceeds. cpw.state.co.us CPW_HPCH_3/18 ® cpw.state.co.us 11500 N. Roxborough Park Rd • Littleton, CO 80125 (303) 791-7275 • E-mail: dnr_chatfield.park@state.co.us Chatfield State Park In case of an emergency, call 911. More information can be found on our website http://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/pages/boatinspection.aspx Inspections are MANDATORY prior to launch, and can be performed by park staff at Inspection Stations located at both boat ramps during posted hours of operation. To launch outside of such hours, a State Boat Inspection Seal and Receipt must be deposited in the drop box located at the boat ramps. Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) are invasive animals, plants and diseases causing pathogens that are “out of place” in Colorado waterways. They are introduced accidentally or intentionally and are not considered native to this area. ANS are a significant and growing threat to Colorado’s water. ANS are primarily spread by recreational boating and angling. Please help to prevent the spread of these invasive organisms; CLEAN, DRAIN, and DRY your boat before moving between water. Emergency room care is available at Littleton Adventist Hospital, 7700 S. Broadway (Broadway and Mineral), and at Swedish Medical Center, 6196 S. Ammons Way (S. Wadsworth, between Coal Mine and Bowles). The staff at Chatfield is committed to providing visitors with a positive recreation experience while protecting the natural resources. Park Rangers are fully trained law enforcement officers who work closely with local resources to keep visitors safe. Most park staff are trained in first aid and can assist during an emergency. Safety Aquatic Nuisance Species ENJOY YOUR STATE PARKS Swimming is permitted only within the designated swim beach area. The swim beach is open Memorial Day through Labor Day. Chatfield State Park Wadsworth Boating, water-skiing and swimming are among the most popular activities at the park. Areas are set aside for different activities to ensure a safe experience for visitors. All power boats and sail boats must be registered. Boaters must observe navigation buoys, direction of travel and lake zoning. A copy of the Colorado Boating Statues and Regulations is available at the park entrances and at the boat ramps. Chatfield is open to boating from March 1st, (or at ice-off, whichever comes later) through November 30. Boating/Water Sports 6179 S. Balsam Ave. (303) 932-6911 Dog Training Area (see detailed map) Swedish Southwest ER C O L O R A D O PA R K S & W I L D L I F E Location Chatfield State Park Dog Off Leash Area Colorado Parks & Wildlife Littleton Office Center US Army Corps of Engineers Operations Corps of Engineers Tri-Lakes Project Office Eagle Cove Balloon Launch NO WAKE BOATING ZONE NO WAKE BOATING ZONE Historic Slocum Cabin Horse Stables Park Headquarters Gravel Ponds LEGEND Discovery Pavilion/ Audubon Center Amphitheater Restaurant RV Dump Station Snack Bar Stables (seasonal) Trailhead Group Camping Handicap Accessible Horses Permitted Paved Trails US Army Corps of Engineers Operations Regulations Concessions 1. Vehicles must remain on designated roads or in parking areas. 2. Fires are permitted only in the fire rings and grills provided. Fires are not permitted on the swimbeach. 3. Pets must be on a leash at all times. 4. Hunting, fireworks, and model rockets are prohibited throughout the park 5. Keep your park clean! Place litter in the receptacles provided. 6. Camping is permitted in designated campsites only. 7. Swimming permitted only in designated swim beach area. Chatfield Marina - B  oating supplies, groceries, boat/sailboat rentals and lessons, fuel docks, patio restaurant, snack bar, slip rentals, boat storage. Open: April - October. Information and Reservations: (303) 791-5555 • www.chatfieldmarina.com Chatfield Stables - S table horses for lease, trail rides, hayrack rides, riding lessons. Open May - September, 9-6 p.m. Winter rides by appointment Information: (303) 933-3636 www.chatfieldstables.com