Boating at Chatfield

To boat on Chatfield Reservoir you need a current boat registration, a Colorado aquatic nuisance species (ANS) stamp and a mandatory pre-launch inspection at the ramp. Launch from the North boat ramps on the northwest side (eight lanes) or the South boat ramp on the southeast side (two lanes). The lake is open to boats from March 1, ice permitting, through November 30, and closed to every boat and paddle craft from December 1 until the ice goes off. Kayaks, canoes and paddleboards that you launch by hand are exempt from inspection.

The Two Boat Ramps

• North boat ramps, northwest side of the reservoir: eight launch lanes and four courtesy docks.
• South boat ramp, southeast side: two launch lanes and one courtesy dock.

Courtesy docks are seasonal and are pulled out when ice starts to form. In November only the North ramp is staffed.

Inspection Hours (ANS Checks)

Park staff inspect every motorboat and sailboat at the ramps during these hours:

• April 1–30: both ramps, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• May–September: both ramps; Friday to Sunday 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Thursday 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• October: both ramps, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• November: North ramp only, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• December 1 until ice-off, through March 1: reservoir closed to all boats and paddle craft.

Arriving outside inspection hours? The park brochure explains that you may launch by dropping a State Boat Inspection Seal and Receipt in the drop box at the ramp and writing your details in the logbook.

The ANS Stamp

Every motorboat and sailboat needs an ANS stamp before launching in Colorado. Colorado residents pay for it automatically when they register the boat. Out-of-state boaters buy it online at cpwshop.com or at a CPW office or sales agent, and must keep the receipt, printed or on a phone, for inspection. New Zealand mudsnails have been found in Chatfield, so clean, drain and dry the boat and all gear before you leave.

Lake Zones and Right of Way

1. The main body of the lake is the power zone, for general boating and water skiing. Travel counter-clockwise.
2. Skiers and towed inflatables follow the counter-clockwise direction around the centerline buoys.
3. Two large no-wake zones sit at the southwest and southeast ends.
4. On peak days the lake can hit boating capacity. Rangers then hold launches at the ramp until a boat comes off the water.

Water Skiing and Tubing

Every skier needs a designated lookout on the boat, besides the driver, who watches the skier and raises a flag when the skier is in the water.

Jet Skis

Personal watercraft are welcome after the same ANS inspection, and everyone aboard must wear a properly fitting life jacket. CPW notes that jet skis are currently not available to rent at the park, so bring your own.

Paddleboards, Kayaks and Canoes

Paddleboarding is allowed on the reservoir and on the gravel ponds. Life jackets are required. Hand-launched, human-powered craft skip the ANS inspection. Colorado law requires a properly sized life jacket aboard every vessel for each person.

Hazards to Watch For

• Floating debris after high stream flows.
• Missing navigation aids in the off-season; not every hazard is marked.
• Afternoon storms that build from the west and bring strong wind.

Good For / Maybe Skip If

Good for: trailered boats, water skiers and sailors who want a big reservoir just southwest of Denver, and paddlers who want calm no-wake water.

Maybe skip if: you don't own a boat. Rentals run through the concessionaire at the Chatfield Marina. Just want to fish from shore? See Fishing.