Chatfield State Park - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Chatfield State Park is a state park located in Douglas and Jefferson counties of Colorado. The park centers on Chatfield Reservoir, a 1,423 acre surface area lake fed by the South Platte River and two other creeks, including Plum Creek. It is popular with hikers, boaters, campers, bikers, fishermen, and picnickers.

Chatfield Reservoir is a flood-control reservoir on the South Platte River owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In addition to its primary purpose of flood control, it serves as one of many water supply reservoirs for the city of Denver, Colorado. The reservoir is surrounded by Chatfield State Park, a recreation area with boating, horseback riding and camping. A secondary inflow from the south is Plum Creek. A tertiary inflow from the west is Deer Creek.

A picturesque nature preserve among the grasslands, ponds and cottonwood banks of Deer Creek houses a community farm supported by CSA members. Facilities include nature trails, a wildlife observation area, display gardens, educational exhibits, a historical farm, a 19th century one-room schoolhouse, working beehives and picnic areas.

This beautiful Denver park is popular with hikers, boaters, campers, bikers, fishermen, and picnickers.The park centers on Chatfield Reservoir, a 1,423 acre surface area lake fed by the South Platte River and two other creeks, including Plum Creek.

Hildebrand Ranch was a large cattle ranch and farm along Deer Creek southwest of Denver. After remaining in the hands of the Hildebrand family for more than a century, the ranch was condemned by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1971 for the construction of Chatfield Reservoir. The ranch sits on land that had been used for thousands of years as hunting, gathering, and camping grounds by Native inhabitants including the Ute, Cheyenne and Arapaho.

Chatfield Dog Park is located in Arapahoe County, Colorado. A variety of terrains keep dogs interested in exploring the park. Other park features include multiple trails and ponds where your dog can take a swim. Bring water for your pup and bags to clean up after your dog. This is a popular trail for birding, trail running, and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day.