C O L O R A D O
P A R K S
&
W I L D L I F E
Cherry Creek State Park
FACT SHEET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017
Who we are
Metro Denver’s playground, Cherry Creek State Park offers great recreation opportunities anchored around an
850 surface-acre lake. Cherry Creek is comprised of a natural prairie environment with gentle, rolling hills, and it
features complete outdoor recreation facilities that accessible throughout the year, including camping and group picnic sites. Park visitors
can view birds, deer, fox, prairie dogs and badger in their natural habitat. Visitors can also enjoy boating, fishing, swimming, horseback
riding, hiking and more, all in the midst of a busy urban area.
Visitors to Cherry Creek State Park spend about $19.8 million annually at local businesses.1
Top attractions
•
A diverse collection of recreation opportunities in close proximity to the Denver Metro Area. The lake provides opportunities for water
recreation of all types, and an extensive trail system accommodates different types of trail enthusiasts
•
Great summer camping opportunities for beginners and RV enthusiasts. Group camping and picnic areas for getting together with
family and friends
•
A 100-acre dog off-leash area
•
Arapahoe County
•
Denver RC Eagles
•
Cities of Greenwood Village, Denver,
Aurora and Centennial
•
•
Cherry Creek School District
•
Cherry Creek Basin Water
Quality Authority
Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado
•
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
•
Mile High Youth Corps
•
Colorado Department of Transportation
•
Denver Field Ornithologists
•
Cherry Creek Stewardship Partners
•
Colorado Parks Foundation
•
Friends of Colorado State Parks
•
Great Outdoors Colorado
NORA LOGUE/CPW
Our partners
Challenges we face
•
Ongoing deferred maintenance of critical infrastructure including roads, trails and buildings continues to be an issue. Colorado Parks
and Wildlife needs an ongoing funding strategy for park maintenance and renovations after the partnership with the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers Cost Share program ends.
•
Maintaining the highest level of natural resource stewardship will always be a challenge at an urban park. There is a continuing need for
new, innovative ideas and partnerships to maintain and enhance the natural resources of Cherry Creek.
•
Meeting the demands of and handling new issues with an increasing population within the Denver Metro Area while providing
sustainable outdoor recreational opportunities for our visitors is a challenge. With budget appropriations remaining stagnant and
the cost of operating the park increasing, management will have future challenges providing historical services and amenities.
Volunteer activities
•
Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) boat inspection technician
•
Park ambassador
•
Special projects
•
Alternative service worker
•
Reptile/amphibian monitoring
•
Resident volunteer
•
Eagle Scout projects
•
Raptor monitoring
•
Lake Appreciation Day
•
Outdoor Adventure Expo
•
Naturalist
•
Weed warriors
1Source: Corona Research, Colorado State Parks Marketing Assessment, “Visitor Spending Analysis 2008-2009” (adjusted for inflation).
COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE 6060 Broadway, Denver, CO 80216 (303) 297-1192 cpw.state.co.us
4201 South Parker Road, Aurora, CO, 80014
(303) 690-1166 • Email: dnr_cherry.creek.park@state.co.us
Park Manager: Jason Trujillo
As of June 30, 2017
Manager’s message
Cherry Creek State Park is an oasis in the Denver Metro Area where residents can easily connect with nature and recreate year-round. Because
Cherry Creek offers a wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities, it is often visitors’ first step into the outdoors. We strive to provide
enjoyable and sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities that educate and inspire current and future generations to serve as active stewards
of Colorado’s natural resources, while mindfully managing the most visited State Park in Colorado.
Geography
Region: Northeast
County: Arapahoe
Year Acquired: 1959
Elevation: 5,550 ft
Miles From Denver: 13
Facilities
2 Boat Ramps
Boat Rental
Dump Station
5 Group Picnic Areas
Jet Ski Rental
Laundry
Marinas (year-round)
Mooring/Docking
106 Picnic Sites
Showers (coin-operated)
Stables (year-round)
Acreage
Total Acres: 4,420
Governmental
US Cong Dist: 4th
CO Senate: 26th and 27th
CO House: 3rd and 40th
Trails
Biking: 26 miles
Hiking: 35 miles
Horseback: 25.6 miles
Cross Country Skiing/
Snowshoeing: 35 miles
Total: 35 miles
Employees
Permanent: 17
Temporary: 56
Volunteers: 550
Volunteer Hours: 31,715
Annual Visitation
2,194,038
Fort
Collins
Sterling
Estes Loveland
Park
Recreation
Boating
Fishing
Ice Fishing
Ice Skating
Jet Skiing
Ranger/Nature Programs
Sailboarding
Shooting/Archery Range
Horseback Riding
Marina/Event Center
Swimming
Water Skiing
Winter Camping (limited)
R/C Airfield
2 Wildlife Viewing Areas
Camping
Campsites (basic): 30
Campsites (full-hookup): 103
Group Facilities (seasonal): 3
Walden
Craig Hayden
Steamboat
Springs
Roads
Paved: 33.5 miles
Unpaved: 2.25 miles
Greeley
Oak Creek
Fort Brush
Morgan
Meeker
Kremmling
Wray
Brighton
Denver
Golden
Avon Vail
Rifle
Cherry Creek
Frisco
Glenwood
Springs
Breckenridge
Collbran
Fruita
Aspen
Leadville
Castle
Rock
Limon
Burlington
Fairplay
Grand Junction
Delta
Paonia
Hotchkiss
Buena
Vista
Crawford
Colorado Springs
Kit Carson
Cripple Creek
Olathe
Gunnison
Montrose
Salida
Canon City
Pueblo
Ridgway
Ouray
Lamar
La Junta
Dove
Creek
Walsenburg
Monte Vista
Dolores
Cortez
Durango
Alamosa
La Veta
Springfield
Pagosa
Springs
Trinidad
NORA LOGUE/CPW
Mancos
COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE 6060 Broadway, Denver, CO 80216 (303) 297-1192 cpw.state.co.us
KEN PAPALEO//HIGH
COUNTRY COLORING
Cherry Creek State Park
