Chatfield Swim Beach

Chatfield's swim beach is the only place you can swim in Chatfield Reservoir. It's open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, sunrise to sunset every day, and there is no lifeguard on duty, so you swim at your own risk. Children under 12 must be supervised by an adult, and dogs and horses aren't allowed on the beach. Entry is covered by your Chatfield park pass; there's no separate beach fee listed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

When the Beach Is Open

• Season: Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
• Daily hours: sunrise to sunset. Nobody may swim between sunset and sunrise anywhere in the reservoir.
• Outside the season: the beach is closed to swimming. The rest of the park stays open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Hours & Fees).

Rules Worth Knowing Before You Go

1. There is no lifeguard. Watch your own group, and keep weaker swimmers in shallow water.
2. Kids under 12 must have adult supervision.
3. No dogs, not even leashed ones. Take them to the Dog Off-Leash Area, which has its own ponds.
4. No horses.
5. Swim only inside the beach area. Elsewhere, swimming is banned at the marina, the boat docks, anywhere marked with Keep Out signs or buoys, and more than 75 feet from shore in the power boat zone.

Cold Water and Drop-Offs

Colorado Parks and Wildlife warns that most Colorado water stays under 70 degrees for most of the year, cold enough to cause cold water shock: an involuntary gasp that can pull in water, a racing heart and hyperventilation. If you go in and lose your breath, get your breathing back under control and curl into the HELP position (arms crossed over your chest, knees pulled up). Lake bottoms are uneven, with sudden drop-offs, and CPW notes that most reservoirs average 40 to 100 feet deep. Low water can also expose hidden hazards such as trees and rocks.

Alcohol and Life Jackets

CPW lists alcohol as the leading factor in recreational boating deaths and says it adds to the danger of cold-water immersion. A life jacket is the single best protection for kids and anyone who isn't a strong swimmer.

Getting to the Beach

The swim beach sits on the reservoir inside the park; follow the park road signs after you enter. Big Horn Stables is southwest of the beach. If you're driving an electric car, the park's one EV charging station is at the swim beach. Entrance addresses that work in a mapping app are on Entrances & Directions.

Busy Summer Days

Chatfield is a popular summer swim spot for the Denver area. Come early on hot weekends and bring your own shade and drinking water.

Good For / Maybe Skip If

Good for: families with young kids who want a sandy beach day, and a hot-day swim close to Denver and Littleton.

Maybe skip if: you want lifeguards or a pool. Or you're bringing the dog: try the off-leash ponds instead. Want to be on the water rather than in it? See Boating and Marina & Boat Rentals.