Chatfield State Park is one of the most popular spots for stand-up paddleboarding in Colorado.
Non-motorized ponds and large wake-free areas of the main reservoir make for a variety of inviting paddling opportunities. In addition, multiple rental sites for paddleboards, kayaks and other crafts set up within the park. There are enough places to explore that it will take multiple trips to tour them all.
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| Chatfield Gravel Pond |
Chatfield's proximity to Denver makes it a convenient place for a half-day time window or a great opportunity to stretch the early or late limits of the season. Summer weekends can be very busy. Once the park reaches capacity, incoming vehicles will be turned back at the gates. But if you have already made it into the park, there is plenty of water acreage for everyone. Better yet, early mornings, weekdays, spring and fall offer the chance to avoid crowds altogether. The photo of solitary padding above is from a warm day in mid-November.
Scenery: 2
Shoreline Interest: 2-3
Use: High
Fee: $9/vehicle
Access: Paved
Full (active) elev = 5430; Best near full,
late season drawdown possible;
(scroll down to "water levels")
Rec map
Rec info
Weather
Rec map
Rec info
Weather
Gravel Ponds
The gravel ponds parking area is among the first areas to fill up on summer weekends. The ponds are justifiably popular as they have limited wind exposure and often harbor calm waters. However, warm days in the spring and late fall have good opportunities to enjoy the ponds without an excess of company. The first, larger pond is plainly visible from the main park road and from the parking lot spur. A second, smaller pond hides southwest of the parking area and offers quieter water and more natural surroundings. Gravel pond #2 is not depicted as an separate water body on the park map, but is accurately shown on the CPW boatable waters map.
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| Gravel Pond 1 |
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| Gravel Pond 2 |
South Platte Arm
The South Platte River arm and the Plum Creek bay are both buoyed off as no-wake zones of the main lake. Refer to the park map for these delineations. The Kingfisher access, just across from the gravel ponds, offers a quick launch to the southernmost lobe of the main lake. This calm area is surrounded by tall trees that help protect from wind. The Fox Run and Catfish Flats recreation areas are northwest of Kingfisher and provide more access to wake-free areas of the main lake. These two launch points are a short paddling distance to the islands and coves of the southern arm and the South Platter River inlet.
Plum Creek Arm
The less-visited Plum Creek bay is accessed near the Roxborough entrance station. The bay is another wake-free zone that backwaters into the trees around the Plum Creek inlet at high water. Like the glades in the South Platte Arm, Plum Creek's trees provide a shady, green canopy above the water in the summertime heat. Plum Creek is also a fantastic early season outing with the pre-foliage forest reflecting monotone grays against the water.
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| The Plum Creek Arm in April |
Weather and water level considerations
Chatfield's location at the edge of the foothills makes it subject to stronger winds than the rest of the Denver area. Sudden summertime weather fronts can turn a mild breeze into violent, capsizing gusts in as little as 10 minutes time. Be aware of any weather approaching from the mountains--particularly if you are on the main lake with the wind direction is toward a large open water area.
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Chatfield Lake's water levels see mild fluctuations throughout the year. The state parks webpage perodically updates the main reservoir water elevation (scroll down to water levels). Spring and early summer have the best chances of finding high water levels for paddling among the trees. Get an early start and watch the weather. Or go off-season. Whenever you visit, have fun and stay safe!
Please feel free to add observations of current conditions to the comments!
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| Early season on Gravel Pond #2 |
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