Chatfield State Park
State Park in Littleton, CO
Hours:
Park: 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Office: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Campground Office: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
11500 N. Roxborough Park Rd.
Littleton, CO 80125
United States
Chatfield State Park
State Park in Littleton, CO
Hours:
Park: 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Office: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Campground Office: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
Daily Vehicle Pass: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
11500 N. Roxborough Park Rd.
Littleton, CO 80125
United States
Navigate to:
Welcome to Chatfield State Park
The area around Chatfield State Park has been inhabited for a long time. Today, the park draws many visitors year-round looking for water recreation and outdoor adventures of all kinds. Float your boat in the lake, water ski, bicycle or hike on a trail with scenic views of the neighboring foothills and the Platte River valley, camp, ride a horse and even fly a model airplane. Campers have their choice of 197 campsites all with electrical hookups, and many with full hookups (water, sewer and electric), in four campgrounds. In addition to the single-family campsites, there are 10 reservable group camping sites available.
5,381
acres
345
bird species
32.8
miles of trails
197
campsites
GPS DIRECTIONS
Accessing the Park
Do not enter “Chatfield State Park” into your mapping app. It will give you the wrong directions.
Instead, enter one of these addresses: 9700 S Wadsworth Blvd, Littleton, 80128 or 11500 N Roxborough Park Rd, Littleton 80125
The office is located inside the park on the east side, toward the middle of the reservoir, between the Heronry Picnic Area and the campground.
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed noon to 12:30 p.m. for lunch.
Located at the swim beach. Available seasonally.
Fees and Passes
Pass |
Description |
Duration |
Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Daily Vehicle Pass |
Single vehicle and its occupants |
1 Day |
$10 |
|
Individual Daily Pass |
For individual entry on foot, bicycle, horseback, etc. |
1 Day |
$4 |
|
DMV vehicle registration renewal option for Colorado residents |
1 Year |
$29 |
|
|
Annual Vehicle Pass (Affixed) |
Pass for a single vehicle and its occupants |
1 Year |
$80 |
|
Family Annual Pass (Hang Tag) |
Members of the same household |
1 Year |
$120 |
|
Aspen Leaf Annual Pass |
Visitors 64+ |
1 Year |
$70 |
|
Centennial Pass |
Income-eligible Colorado residents |
1 Year |
$14 |
|
Columbine Pass |
Colorado residents with disabilities |
1 Year |
$14 |
|
Veterans License Plate |
DMV vehicle registration renewal option for military veterans (disabled veterans or purple heart plates) |
Lifetime |
Free |
|
Independence Lifetime Pass |
Veterans with disabilities |
Lifetime |
Free |
|
Blue Spruce Pass |
First responders with disabilities |
Lifetime |
$10 |
Additional Passes
Pass |
Description |
Duration |
Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Dog Off-leash Daily Pass |
Handler and up to three dogs |
1 Day |
$3 |
|
Dog Off-leash Annual Pass |
Handler and up to three dogs |
1 Year |
$25 |
Nature and Wildlife
Large areas of open space and the diversity of terrain and plant life at Chatfield provide habitat for an abundance of wildlife.
Be on the Lookout for Birds
Can you spot all 212+ bird species? Download the Bird List Brochure (PDF).
Birds You Might Find
- Mallard
- American White Pelican
- House Wren
- Yellow-breasted Chat
Mammals You Might Find
- Deer
- Elk
- Coyote
- Red Fox
Reptiles and Amphibians You Might Find
- Prairie Rattlesnake
- Western Hognose
- Snapping Turtle
- Six Lined Racerunner
Geology at This Park
Chatfield State Park is situated in the lower foothills of the Front Range on the southwestern edge of Denver. At an elevation of 5,450 feet, Chatfield sits on a gently rolling plain covered with alluvial cobble, gravel, sand, silt and clay, with some exposures of older sandstones and shales.
Habitats and Plants at This Park
Ecologically, the park is diverse as a result of a variety of topographic and hydrologic features. The rolling hills of park uplands are dominated by mixed-prairie communities of short and midgrasses, including sand dropseed, needle-and-thread, blue grams, western wheatgrass, little bluestem, and fortes such as blazing star, purple and white prairie clover, hairy golden aster, fringed sagewort, winterfat, yucca and prickly-pear cactus. The reservoir shoreline, South Platte River and Plum Creek floodplains support large wetland, riparian and aquatic communities. Ponds and wetland habitats have also been created at the southwestern edge of the park through a cooperative venture with the neighboring Lockheed-Martin facility.
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Park History
A timeline summarizing the settlement of the area and creation of Chatfield State Park.
- 1858: The first prospectors discover gold in the area of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River. Settlers begin to build what will become Denver.
- 1870: Issac W. Chatfield, a lieutenant in the Civil War, buys land at the confluence of the South Platte River and Plum Creek. Chatfield farms the land until 1879.
- 1933–1942: The area continues to grow as an agricultural community and center of activity and housing. Floods along the South Platte River corridor damage the growing community.
- 1965: The South Platte River once again floods due to heavy rain and wipes out bridges, homes and businesses in Denver. Afterward, state and federal authorities decide to build the Chatfield Dam for flood control.
- 1967: The Army Corps of Engineers begin construction of the dam with a budget of $85 million dollars.
- 1973: Work begins on the 5,600-acre Chatfield recreation area.
- 1974: The State Parks of Colorado begin a 25-year lease to manage the recreation area.
- 1975: The dam and reservoir with recreation area open to visitors.