Chatfield State Park

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Parks

Colorado

Nearby: Wingate South Park Dakota Station Park

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Chatfield State Park is a popular park located in the state of Colorado, offering a range of activities for visitors to enjoy.

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Summary

The park offers a variety of recreational opportunities, such as camping, hiking, boating, fishing, and horseback riding. Some of the top reasons to visit Chatfield State Park include its beautiful scenery, its diverse wildlife, and its abundance of outdoor activities.

There are several points of interest to see within Chatfield State Park, including the Chatfield Dam, which provides a scenic backdrop for the park, the Chatfield Botanic Gardens, which offer a variety of plant species and habitats, and the Platte River Trail, which is a popular hiking and biking trail that runs through the park.

Interesting facts about the area include that it was once a cattle ranch, and that the park is home to over 300 species of wildlife, including deer, coyotes, and bald eagles. Additionally, the park offers a range of educational programs and events throughout the year, including guided tours and nature walks.

The best time of year to visit Chatfield State Park is during the summer months, when the weather is warm and sunny, and the park is bustling with activity. However, the park is also beautiful in the fall, when the leaves change colors and the temperatures are cooler.

Overall, Chatfield State Park is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to experience the natural beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities of Colorado.

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.

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