Cherry Creek State Park

State Park in Aurora, CO

Hours:

Campground Office: Monday through Sunday: Daily, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Entrance Fees:

Daily Vehicle Pass: $​10

Dog Off-leash Daily Pass: $3

Daily Water Basin Authority: $1

Annual Water Basin Authority: $3

Animals Permitted:

  • Leashed Dogs
  • Service Animals
  • Horses

Park Address:

4201 South Parker Road
Aurora, CO 80014
United States

Contact:

303-690-1166

cherry.creek.park@state.co.us

Surrounded by the Denver metro area, Cherry Creek offers a recreational oasis amid the hectic urban world. Almost any day, the park’s 35 miles of multiuse trails, including 15 miles of paved trails, are abuzz with walkers, hikers, bikers, and families on outings. In winter, there might be snowshoers or cross-country skiers. The cool waters of Cherry Creek Reservoir attract water skiers, anglers and boaters of all kinds.

Cherry Creek State Park

State Park in Aurora, CO

Surrounded by the Denver metro area, Cherry Creek offers a recreational oasis amid the hectic urban world. Almost any day, the park’s 35 miles of multiuse trails, including 15 miles of paved trails, are abuzz with walkers, hikers, bikers, and families on outings. In winter, there might be snowshoers or cross-country skiers. The cool waters of Cherry Creek Reservoir attract water skiers, anglers and boaters of all kinds.

Hours:

Campground Office: Monday through Sunday: Daily, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Entrance Fees:

Daily Vehicle Pass: $​10

Dog Off-leash Daily Pass: $3

Daily Water Basin Authority: $1

Annual Water Basin Authority: $3

Animals Permitted:

  • Leashed Dogs
  • Service Animals
  • Horses

Park Address:

4201 South Parker Road
Aurora, CO 80014
United States

Contact:

303-690-1166

cherry.creek.park@state.co.us

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Sun shining through trees on the beach

Sun shining through trees on the beach

Activities and Trails

What to Do at Cherry Creek

In the middle of the Denver area, Cherry Creek State Park offers year-round family fun. Walk, hike or bike on 35 miles of trails, including 15 miles of paved trails. The reservoir is great for water skiing, fishing and boating. The park has 135 modern campsites, and you'll also find amenities like an amphitheater, boat ramps, a marina, a model airplane field and picnic spots.

  • Biking
  • Birding
  • ​​​​​​​​​​Boating
  • Camping
  • Cross-country Skiing
  • Education Programs
  • Fishing
  • Group Camping
  • Hiking
  • Horseback Riding
  • Ice Skating
  • Jet Skiing
  • Model Airplane Flying
  • Picnicking
  • Rowing
  • Sailboarding
  • Sailing
  • Shooting Center
  • Sledding
  • Snowshoeing
  • Snowtubing
  • Swimming
  • Swim beach
  • Volleyball
  • Water Skiing

Best of Cherry Creek

Reservoir

Reservoir

The park's main attraction is the 850 surface-acre reservoir, where visitors can boat, fish, jet ski, row and water ski.

Paddle boarding

Paddle Boarding

Paddle boarding is a popular water activity at Cherry Creek. Visitors can rent a paddle board through the marina.

 Activity

Family Shooting Center

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. Firearms are prohibited elsewhere in the park.

Activity

Swim Beach

The park’s sandy beach and roped-off swimming area is a gathering spot for families to soak up the Colorado sun. There’s a bathhouse with restrooms located at the beach for convenience. The swim beach is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Upcoming Events

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Maintenace Closure -

The Dog Off-Leash Area will be closed Thursday and Friday April 24-25 for scheduled maintenance. It will reopen at 7am Saturday, April 26.

Fun for Dogs

Dog Off-leash Area

Over 100 acres in the 12 Mile area are available for owners to exercise their dogs off leash. The area may be accessed from the south entrance at Parker and Orchard roads or from the north at 12 Mile North. 

Hiking, Biking and Horseback Riding

Trails

Cherry Creek's extensive multi-use trail system spans 35 miles and provides a pleasurable experience year-round. 

Horse Stables
The 12 Mile Stables at Cherry Creek offer horse rentals, hay rides, day camps, riding lessons and horse boarding. Please call 1-888-61-HORSES or visit the website for more information.

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​​​Cherry Creek Trail

4.75 miles, paved
Hiking, horseback riding, biking
ADA accessible
Dog friendly

Access point: Cherry Creek Crossing or Cottonwood Creek trailhead

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Dam Trail

0.36 miles, non-paved
Hiking, biking
Dog friendly

Access point: Parking lot on north side of marina

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Pope Trail

1.04 miles, non-paved
Hiking, horseback riding, biking
Dog friendly

Access point: Pope trailhead

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Butterfly Hill Trail

1.08 miles, non-paved
Hiking, horseback riding, biking
Dog friendly

Access point: via Pope or Cottonwood Creek trailheads

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Prairie Loop Nature Trail

0.25 miles, non-paved
Hiking only

Access point: Prairie Loop parking lot

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Vista Trail

0.65 miles, non-paved
Hiking, horseback riding, biking
Dog friendly

Access point: via Cottonwood Creek trailhead

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Cottonwood Creek Trail

1.88 miles, non-paved
Hiking, horseback riding, biking
Dog friendly

Access point: Cottonwood Creek Trailhead

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Windmill Creek Loop Trail

0.37 miles, non-paved
Hiking, horseback riding, biking
Dog friendly

Access point: Cottonwood Creek Trailhead

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Railroad Bed Trail

2.11 miles, non-paved
Hiking, horseback riding, biking
Dog friendly

Access point: Cottonwood Creek Trailhead

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Pipeline Trail

0.71 miles, non-paved
Hiking only

Access point: Cottonwood Creek or Shop Creek trailheads

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South Connector Trail

0.44 miles, non-paved
Hiking only

Access point: Cottonwood Creek or Shop Creek trailheads

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Wetland Loop Trail

1.22 miles, non-paved
Hiking only

Access point: Cottonwood Creek or Shop Creek trailheads

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North Connector Trail

0.27 miles, non-paved
Hiking only

Access point: Shop Creek Trailhead

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Campground Trail

0.89 miles, paved
Hiking, horseback riding, biking
ADA accessible
Dog friendly

Access point: Campground or swim beach parking lots

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Parker Road Trail

2.49 miles, paved
Hiking, horseback riding, biking
Dog friendly

Access point: Shop Creek parking lot

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Shop Creek Trail

0.47 miles, paved
Hiking, horseback riding, biking
ADA accessible
Dog friendly

Access point: Shop Creek parking lot

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12-Mile Trail

2.81 miles, non-paved
Hiking, horseback riding, biking
Dog friendly

Access point: 12-mile North and South parking lots

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Smoky Hill Trail

1.65 miles, paved
Hiking, horseback riding, biking
Dog friendly

Access point: Dixon Grove, swim beach, Smoky Hill or old jet ski parking lots

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Beaver Pond Nature Trail

0.42 miles one way, 0.84 miles round trip; non-paved
Hiking only

Access point: 12-mile North parking lot

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Piney Creek Trail

0.38 miles, paved
Hiking, horseback riding, biking
ADA accessible
Dog friendly

Access point: 12-mile South parking lot

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​​​Cherry Creek Trail

4.75 miles, paved
Hiking, horseback riding, biking
ADA accessible
Dog friendly

Access point: Cherry Creek Crossing or Cottonwood Creek trailhead

Model plane

Model Airplane Flying

Suhaka Field

Model airplane enthusiasts will find asphalt runways, frequency posts and field regulations for radio-controlled aircraft at this field located on the west side of the park. Both electric and gas/glow aircraft are flown at Suhaka Field. The elevation at Suhaka field is 5,700 feet. Beginners are always welcome, and instructor pilots are available for flight training at no additional charge.

Denver R/C Eagles Flying Club
Suhaka Field is operated by the Denver R/C Eagles Flying Club. ​You do not need to be a member of the club to fly at the facility. However, you do need to follow all the club rules, including the requirement that all pilots display a current Academy of Model Aeronautics membership.