Chatfield Park park
Chatfield Park
One of the best reasons to visit Chatfield State Park is for its outdoor adventures. Visitors can enjoy hiking, fishing, boating, camping, and more. The park has several scenic trails, including the Root River State Trail, which is popular for hiking and biking. The park is also home to several lakes, including Trout, Millpond, and Little Chatfield, which offer great fishing and boating opportunities.
Some notable points of interest in Chatfield State Park include the historic mill pond, the campground, and the swimming beach. The mill pond dates back to the late 1800s and is a popular spot for fishing and picnicking. The campground offers various camping options, including tent and RV camping. The swimming beach is a great place to cool off during the summer months.
Interesting facts about the park include its history as a site of early European settlement and the role it played in the development of the state's agricultural industry. The park is also home to several endangered species, including the timber rattlesnake and the Blanding's turtle.
The best time of year to visit Chatfield State Park depends on what activities you are interested in. The park is open year-round, but summer and fall are the most popular times to visit. Summer offers warm weather for outdoor activities, while fall is known for its beautiful fall foliage. Winter is a great time to visit for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Park & land designation reference
A quick legend for the federal and state land categories Snoflo tracks. Each designation comes with different rules around access, recreation, and resource extraction.
- 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 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.
- 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.
Plan your visit down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Area campgrounds
Snoflo-tracked campgrounds within reach of Chatfield Park, with reservations status.
| Campground | Reservations | Toilets | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Valley Rec Area | ✓ | ✓ | → |
| Minnesota Valley State Park -Horse Camp | ✓ | ✓ | → |
| Minnesota Valley State Park -Quarry | ✗ | ✓ | → |
| High Island Creek Park | ✓ | ✗ | → |
| Allansons Park | ✗ | ✓ | → |
| Allanson's Park | ✓ | ✗ | → |
Plan a longer trip
The closest parks, lakes, fishing spots, and POIs so a park visit can grow into a full weekend.
Responsible recreation & Leave No Trace
- Know before you go
- Check the operator's site for hours, permit requirements, seasonal closures, and fire restrictions before heading out.
- Stay on trail
- Stick to marked paths to protect vegetation, prevent erosion, and avoid disturbing wildlife habitat.
- Respect wildlife
- Observe from a distance, never feed wildlife, and store food securely if camping is permitted on-site.
- Pack it in, pack it out
- Carry out all trash, food scraps, and gear. Many parks have limited or no trash service.
- Leave what you find
- Don't take rocks, plants, or artifacts. They make the park what it is for the next visitor.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Chatfield Park as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, freezing temperatures, fire-restriction days), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.
About Chatfield Park
What can I do at Chatfield Park?
Most Snoflo-tracked parks support hiking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. Check the operator's site for activity-specific rules (camping, fishing, paddling, hunting).
How fresh is the weather data?
The hourly forecast updates throughout the day from NOAA / yr.no. Streamflow comes live from USGS streamgauges.
When is the best time to visit?
Use the 15-day temperature & precipitation outlook on this page to plan -- pick a window with comfortable temperatures and low precipitation.
How do I get to Chatfield Park?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions in Google Maps, or Open in map to center the Snoflo interactive map on the park.
Can I get alerts when conditions change?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this park, set a threshold (temperature, precipitation), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.
Other parks near here
Snoflo-tracked parks within driving distance of Chatfield Park.