This park is kind of our “home park” since the west gate (Deer Creek entrance) is about 8 minutes from our house. We actually find it nicer to drive through this park taking our camper to and from storage. As of 2023, when you register your vehicle in Colorado, you automatically receive full access to Colorado State Parks included in your registration.
Chatfield does have year-round campsites available but they are electric only sites in Loop C. They do have 197 full hook-up sites available in Loops A, B, and D. Sites range from $36-41/night depending on hook ups.
They conveniently have a dump station right along the main road near the south gate. They do charge $28 to use the dump station which can only be paid by cash in an envelope station next to the dump. We typically prefer to use this dump on our way back to storage so we can wait until the very last minute to stop using water.
Campsites can be booked 6 months in advance so I usually hop online in the beginning of the year and book a few weekends during the summer and sometimes even a week so we can have a home base for all things outdoor while still being close enough to home that we can participate in local events with friends.
Paddle Boarding has become a family favorite so we find ourselves heading down to the Gravel Pond on almost a weekly basis. The Gravel Pond is a small pond on the south edge of the main lake. It is very popular for paddle sports because it is smaller and separate from the main lake and you don’t have to worry about motor boats or choppy water due to motor sports. Paddle Boarding is of course allowed on the main lake but you might have a little choppier water. If you don’t own your own paddle boards, no worries. 5280 Paddle Sports has a pop-up facility right there on shore where you can rent online and paddle hourly or for the day.
Swimming is of course popular at the lake and the swim beach (directly across from the west entrance) is usually where everyone heads for that. Plan on getting there early on hot summer days so you can stake your claim on prime beach front property. It does of course get pretty busy on hot days. There are also a few hidden beach pockets around the lake so if you have time for exploring, I would start with the Northwest corner of the lake (before you hit the north boat ramp).
For those of you who are avid boaters, they do of course have a full marina closer to the south entrance with another boat ramp.
If you have a group of friends who want to camp together, they also have several group campsites. They are $200/night and have electrical hookups for 4 RV units with one central water source for all. They have 4 picnic tables and a fire ring with ample space for tents around the perimeter. The group loop is right next to one of the ranger stations where they provide ranger type activities and talks like star gazing during the summer months.
Overall, this is a beautiful park to explore whether you are camping or not. From bird watching to water sports it really has a lot to offer and it is truly just on the edge of the Denver Metro Area if you are looking for a home base for some urban exploring while in the Denver area.