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Saturday, May 30, 2015

Campground Review: Chatfield State Park, Denver, CO

We spent our second week in Denver at Chatfield State Park. Whereas Cherry Creek State Park was smack dab in the middle of the city, Chatfield felt like a calm oasis due to its location on the South West edge of the city. During our stay the lake was at least eight feet above the high water line and the South Platte River flooded its banks and closed the road around the South end of the park.

We had back-in site #196 in the D loop. Roads and sites are paved and each site has a picnic table and fire pit. All utilities were towards the back of the site, making it quite a stretch to the sewer hookup. Sites are well separated. Our site was wide open to the East allowing us to watch all the storms passing through the area. The Remote Control Aircraft field was visible across the plains and was enjoyable to watch except for the occasional noisy aircraft.

There are many miles of paved and dirt trails throughout the park, though some were flooded during our stay. All types of watersports are allowed on the lake and there are stables for horseback riding. There are pit toilets in each campground loop as well as showers and real toilets and a small laundry facility more centrally located. Verison signal was strong, as was the campground wifi.

Deer roamed through the campground a few times during our stay.
This was taken from our doorway.

There are lots of prairie dogs in the lowlands.

Chatfield Reservoir viewed from the top of the dam.
The campground is located on a rise on the far side of the reservoir. There was no danger of the campground flooding.
Had the trails not been flooded we could have had an excellent loop bike ride around the entire park.

That's a bridge sticking out of the water on the left and the very top of a BBQ on the right.
This is a picnic area on the West side of the park.


The structure in the center is a restroom which encloses pit toilets...I shudder to think about that under water!
This road led to parking for a picnic area.

We drove through here twice before the road was closed for the duration of our stay.

Western Tanager.

Taken from our doorway.

We let the huntress out to roam free in the tall grasses...she was in heaven!

Rosie in her element!


The old Slocum cabin claimed a prime spot on a bluff overlooking what was the South Platte River valley in the 1800's.
Six people lived in this small cabin!


A paved trail winds among the grassy knolls along the tree lined reservoir.

This trail has been overtaken by the river!

We walked a big loop one day that included the Highline Canal trail, shown here.
Just outside Chatfield State Park, the Highline Canal trail took us past bucolic looking farms and pastures.


Our site, D196.


Storm watching from our site.







20 comments:

  1. Excellent photos as always. I would be tempted to sit and watch the Prairie Dogs all day!

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  2. Looks like a nice park. So does Rosie just come back on her own when you let her off leash? When Sophie escapes it's not easy to get her to come home!

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    1. She does not take off and is easy to catch if we need to. But the longer we stay somewhere the bolder she becomes.

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  3. What a beautiful place! The double rainbow is an amazing thing. You and Hans have a talent for finding good places to stay.

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    1. We've been lucky as we head through CO, their state parks are awesome. So far we have always had full hookups!

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  4. This is certainly a wonderful place to stay. Your site is so private. Love the deer that visited:) You had a spectacular rainbow!! Super photo! I hope they test the water before anyone is allowed to swim in it since the pit toilet is flooded. Oh, that just makes me shutter!!! Every water way is so high and flowing so swiftly!

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    1. We loved how much space was around us. The road through the park was about 50 yards away, so we did have vehicles driving by during the day, but it was never excessive.

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  5. While it is just down the road from us... We have never camped there. We have done some sailing on the reservoir but we need to try camping there one of these days. Great photo review!

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    1. There are even some water view sites. It's quite nice!

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  6. Love the little prairie dog gathering! You sure had plenty of water at a Chatfield. Glad you stayed afloat. We just visited Curt Gowdy today for a little hike and thought of you.

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    1. How funny, we were just talking about Curt Gowdy SP today!

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  7. Nice wildlife and rainbow shots!

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  8. Wonderful park. I love all the space, but those rear hookups are a challenge! Rosie looks very wild :-) Sometimes I think buzzards get a bad rap, their wings are so beautiful. Then I see their faces..... :-( Glad you're finally getting some sunny skies, hope the flood waters drop quickly.

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    1. Yeah, we managed to full time about 6 months before we had to buy a second sewer hose. Fortunately those long stretches don't come along very often!

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  9. Amazing storm photos and so much rain. But what a rainbow. The pit toilet thing would concern me too. Really wonderful pictures. I love the huntress.

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  10. Very nice Lisa, in spite of all the water! Love the Tanager pic and rainbow shot! Hate to leave family but looking forward to hitting the road!!!

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  11. Another wonderful spot to call home for a few days! I am so liking the Colorado state parks you have visited!
    The double rainbow picture should be published...it is gorgeous Lisa!

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  12. Another great spot you've found -- although I would prefer being there without so much rain (I'm sure you would, too!). Your double rainbow shot is gorgeous -- and I love the photo of Rosie in the tall grass playing "Jungle Kitty." :-)

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