Campground Near Denver - Chatfield State Park
If you have a kayak, SUP, boat, wave runner, etc. Chatfield State Park located in South Denver Metro is the perfect place for camping and getting out on the water with convenience. It is well situated near the foothills and boasts many park activities to keep you busy including horseback riding and biking. Not to mention, it’s a fantastic spot for fishing, including ice fishing in the winter. If you don’t have your own paddleboard there are several spots in the park to rent one for the day. The park has recently added a swim beach that is the perfect summer spot for kids as well as several more picnic areas and trails. There is even a model airplane airfield if you're interested in watching or joining in on the fun. Or go in search of the historic cabin not far from the camping loops.
We enjoy this campground and have been going to Chatfield several times a year for well over a decade because it is not far from home, but doesn’t feel like you’re in the city either. This state park has undergone major reconstruction over the past few years and I must say it really is better now, though there have been no recent upgrades to the campground.
The sites are all large and well spaced out with most loops being pull-through (D loop is the only exception - but it is newer and has more pine trees). A, B, and D loops are full hook-up and only open April through October ($41/night as of 2020). C loop is electric only and open all year long ($36/night as of 2020). The dump station located near the east entrance is no extra charge. Group loops are available and are often reserved by Boy Scouts or large families. You do need reservations for all sites - it is no longer a drive up campground and this goes for all Colorado State Park campgrounds, in fact. If you would like to visit during peak season, I recommend booking 6 months early as the reservation windows open up. You can book all your reservations on Reserve America or CPWshop.com.
Please be aware, if you do not have an annual Colorado State Park pass you will need to pay a $10 daily entrance fee for every vehicle you have (ex. a class C towing a Jeep - that's two daily pass fees on top of your daily camping fee), but this allows you to explore the state parks during your stay.
However, if you love hiking or nature walks please also go explore Roxborough State Park to take advantage of that extra pass fee. It's about 10 minutes south and is absolutely gorgeous. On your way back to the campground, stop and get some lunch/dinner from Rosa Mexican Kitchen or Waterton Tavern, both are excellent and you'll drive right by them in the Safeway shopping center which is also a good spot to stop and get gas.
No campground is perfect, there are always downsides, so here are ours. The summer weekends are EXTREMELY busy. Long entrance station lines, lots of boats on the water, and crowds. My advice would be to get ahead of the crowd, no later than 9:00 am. Also, don’t leave the park mid-day unless you would like to wait in a very long line to get back in. Also, Colorado State Parks, do not supply hand soap in the bathrooms, it’s very annoying to me so remember to grab yours before heading out.
And while you’re sipping your early-morning beverage don’t forget to look northwest to watch for any hot air balloons taking off.
