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Help Protect Our Natural Resources
E. Lehigh Ave.
Swim Beach
Parker Road
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We need your help to do your part by sharing the park
and respecting other users. Complete park and boating
regulations are available at park entrances. Visit cpw.
state.co.us for more information about Cherry Creek and
all 42 Colorado state parks.
1. Motor vehicles must remain on designated roads or in
parking areas.
2. D
ogs must be kept on a leash not exceeding 6 feet in
length, except in the Dog Off Leash Area, and under
control at all times.
3. Pets and glass are not allowed on the swim beach.
4. Camp only in the Campground at designated sites.
5. F
ires are allowed only in grills and in the fire rings
provided at campsites.
6. Speed limits are strictly enforced.
7. Y
ou must pick up after yourself and your pets
and place waste in a proper container. Littering is
unhealthy, unsightly and illegal.
8. Only 3.2% (or less) alcohol is allowed.
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Cherry Creek State Park is located
1 1/2 miles south of I-225 on
Parker Road in Aurora.
E. Hampden Ave.
er
Arapahoe Rd.
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Dayton Ave.
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Quincy Ave.
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Union Ave.
WEST GATE
Belleview Ave.
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EAST GATE
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East Boat Ramp
West Boat Ramp
Hobie Hill
E. Quincy Ave.
Pelican Point
West Shades
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S. Dayton St.
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Butterfly Hill
E. Belleview Ave.
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Cottonwood
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Campground
0.89 Mile
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Belleview Pond Spur 0.34 Mile
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TRAIL NAME
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Shop Creek
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E. Union Ave.
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Lake Loop
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West
Entrance
E. Lake Vie
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0.38 Mile
13
Pipeline
0.71 Mile
14
Pope
1.04 Miles
15
Prairie Loop Nature 0.25 Mile
16
Railroad Bed
2.11 Miles
17
Shop Creek
0.47 Mile
18
Smoky Hill
1.65 Miles
19
South Connector
0.44 Mile
20
Vista
0.65 Mile
21
Wetland Loop
1.22 Miles
22
Windmill Creek Loop 0.37 Mile
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Piney Creek
Cr
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2.49 Miles
12
12
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0.25 Mile
Parker Road
South
Entrance
Pin
North Wetland
11
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12 Mile
10
Cottonwood
Creek
0.42 Mile
S. Peoria St.
Dayton
Cherry
Cherry Creek
State Park
ENJOY YOUR STATE PARKS
Expect other users, changing conditions and wildlife. Be
prepared and responsible for your own safety.
Contact Us
For comments or additional information including
temporary employment and volunteer opportunities
please contact us at:
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Cherry Creek
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C O L O R A D O PA R K S & W I L D L I F E
Outdoor Risks
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Due to Cherry Creek State Park’s convenient location, it
experiences high use on summer weekends and holidays.
A carrying capacity (the maximum number of boats
and vehicles allowed in the park) is enforced to protect
park users, prevent resource damage and provide an
enjoyable experience for visitors. Arrive at the park early
on weekends or visit on weekdays and evenings to avoid
waiting to use the park.
1 mile
Cherry Creek State Park
LEGEND
Boat Ramp
Parking
Campground
Park Office
Entrance Station
Picnic Area
Group Picnic Area
Restroom
Horse Stable
Shooting Center
Marina
Swim Beach
Model Airfield
Boundary
Front
Range
Trail
Roads
Paved trails
Gravel trails
Dirt trails
Wetlands; no dogs,
bikes, horses
EMERGENCY: Call 911
Park Information:
Cherry Creek State Park Office
(303) 690-1166
4201 South Parker Road • Aurora, CO 80014
Phone: (303) 690-1166 • Fax: (303) 699-3864
E-mail: cherry.creek.park@state.co.us
cpw.state.co.us
Visit our Facebook page
Non-emergency:
Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office
(303) 795-4711
Funded in part by Great Outdoors Colorado
through Colorado Lottery proceeds.
CPW_HPCH_33K_3/18
cpw.state.co.us
Cherry Creek State Park
Over 2 million visitors each year can’t be wrong! Cherry
Creek State Park is an oasis in the Denver metro area
for boaters, fishermen, campers, bicyclists, equestrians,
swimmers, hikers, and picnickers alike.
The recreational opportunities are unlimited at this
4,200-acre park. There’s excitement on the 850-acre
reservoir with water-skiers and boaters. Yet solitude
can be found fishing in a cove or walking the nature
trails. For the most relaxing visit, try the park on
weekdays or evenings.
The views are pretty spectacular, too. During the
summer, colorful masts from sailboats dot the lake
against a backdrop of the Rockies. It’s a unique place.
It offers a fast getaway for city dwellers to unwind. It
provides a place to learn about nature and a place to have
a family picnic.
Then there is the unexpected—herds of white-tailed
and mule deer, coyotes, foxes, pheasant, rabbits and a
wonderful variety of resident and migratory birds.
The dam at Cherry Creek State Park was built in 1950
by the Army Corps of Engineers to prevent flooding in
Denver. The early wagon train travelers on the Smoky
Hill Trail that cuts through Cherry Creek could not have
imagined that this rolling prairie studded with yucca
would become such an important natural resource to the
people of Colorado.
Water Quality Surcharge
Cherry Creek will charge an additional $3 which goes to
the Cherry Creek Basin Water Quality Authority. This
additional $3 surcharge per year, per vehicle is required
on all vehicles with annual passes. Daily passes include
this surcharge. The funds from the surcharge are used to
improve the water quality in the Cherry Creek basin and
reservoir.
Camping
The park’s 133 campsites
offer visitors convenient
year-round, full hook-up
and basic camping. A
sewage dump station is
also available across from
the campground entrance
to visitors with camping
permits. Pay showers
and laundry facilities
are located nearby. Quiet hours are observed within the
campground from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Campsites can be
reserved in advance online at www.cpw.state.co.us or by
calling 1-800-244-5613.
Nature Study
Enter the enchanting and educational world of nature
study through the interpretive programs led by park
rangers at areas throughout the park. Call the park office
for information and reservations. Bird, plant and wildlife
guides are available on the iNaturalist app for Android
and iPhone.
Special Activities
Park Passes
All vehicles entering the park are required to display a
current Colorado State Parks pass on the windshield.
Daily or annual passes are available. Passes are valid at
any Colorado state park. For annual pass holders who
own additional vehicles, multiple passes are available at
a discounted rate. Passes are available at park entrances
and self-service dispensers.
The Aspen Leaf annual pass is available to Colorado
seniors at a discounted rate. Colorado disabled veterans
displaying Colorado Disabled Veteran (DV) license
plates are admitted free without a pass.
In addition to a parks pass, campers are required to
purchase and display a camping permit at their campsite.
Cherry Creek State Park accommodates limited special
events throughout the year—bicycling and foot races,
triathlons, weddings, sports festivals and sailing regattas.
Please call the park office for more information.
Facilities For People With
Disabilities
Special facilities to accommodate persons with disabilities
are located at the fishing access areas, campground, swim
beach and group picnic sites. Parking for visitors with
disabilities is designated throughout the park.
Fishing
Horseback Riding
Anglers head out to the park to catch trout, walleye,
bass, wipers and more. The Tower Loop area near the
dam is a popular spot, as well as the quiet, south end of
the reservoir. State record walleye have been caught at
the reservoir. Lake zoning maps and copies of Colorado
boating and fishing regulations are available at the park
office.
Horse owners will find miles of multi-use trails for
conditioning or relaxing rides with extraordinary views.
Horse rental, lessons, and boarding are also available. Visit
12 Mile Stables at www.horserentalsdenver.com for more
information.
Boating/Water Sports
Over 100 acres in the 12 Mile Area are available for owners
to exercise their dogs off leash.
There is an additional fee to use the
area and dogs must remain under
control at all times. Dog owners
must carry a leash and waste bag
for each dog. The area may be
accessed from the south entrance
at Parker and Orchard Roads or from the north at 12 Mile
North.
Public boat launching ramps are conveniently located
near the east and west park
entrances. The best way to
have fun on your boat is the
safe way—know your safety
equipment requirements and
boating regulations. Aquatic
Nuisance Species boat
inspections are mandatory prior to launching boats.
Swim Beach
The park is a gathering spot for families to soak up
that Colorado sun—with a sandy beach and roped-off
swimming area. Where else can you sit on a beach in midsummer and view snow-capped peaks? Food vending and
a rinse station are located nearby. There are no lifeguards,
children require adult supervision. Swimming is permitted
only within the designated swim beach area. The swim
beach is open Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Marina/Event Center
The Marina at Cherry Creek offers boat slips, a variety
of vessels for rent and even a store for fuel and safety
equipment. To see everything that the marina offers
please visit www.themarinaatcherrycreek.com
Just above the Marina sits the “Lake House” event center
that has the perfect view for your perfect occasion. The
Lake House offers a great venue for weddings, reunions,
or even corporate functions. For more information
please visit www.thelakehouseatcherrycreek.com
Model Airfield
Model airplane enthusiasts will
find asphalt runways, frequency
posts and field regulations for
radio controlled aircraft at this
area located on the west side of the park.
Dog Off Leash Area
Picnicking
The park offers visitors a cool place for a family outing.
Shade shelters, picnic tables and grills are available to
visitors throughout the park. There are also several group
picnic rental areas that are the perfect outdoor venue for
family reunions, business meetings, employee functions,
to name a few. Call the park office for information and
reservations at 303-690-1166 ext. 6561.
Shooting Sports
Fixed targets for rifles and pistols, a trap area for
shotguns and more can be found at The Family Shooting
Center in the southern area of the park. Visit www.
familyshootingcenter.com for more information. Hunting
is not allowed within the park.
Winter Recreation
Cherry Creek State Park can provide special experiences
for the winter outdoors enthusiast with ice fishing and
cross-country skiing as conditions permit. Remember
there is risk anytime you venture onto ice. Know how to
judge ice conditions and always suspect thin ice.
Trails
The state park’s extensive multi-use
trail system provides a pleasurable
experience year round. Please be
courteous to fellow trail users. The
park’s trails connect to surrounding
trail systems.
