Cherry Creek State Park is a part of the Colorado State Park System. This 4,200-acre park in Aurora, Colorado, offers a variety of land and water-based activities. We visit this park often since it is close to our home. One of the best parts about Cherry Creek State Park is that we discover something new just about every time we go.
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Entrance Fees and Park Pass Options
Cherry Creek Park has fees, including park passes, dog off-leash area pass, camping fees (reservation required), group camping, and facilities (amphitheater).
- Park Pass – The daily vehicle pass is $11. You can also purchase an annual affixed pass for $83. This annual pass allows you access to all of the parks in the Colorado State Park System. There are pass options for veterans, individuals over 64 years old, and income-eligible individuals.
- Colorado Residents – You can now purchase a Keep Colorado wild Pass when you renew your vehicle registration for for only $29. Visit the Official Colorado Wild Pass page to learn more!
We have the annual pass, which makes visiting the parks affordable. Another benefit of the annual pass is that there is usually a specific lane for park pass holders, which goes much faster than the non-park pass holder lane.
- Camping Fee – All camping in Colorado State Parks now require a reservation. Cherry Creek Park offers year-round camping. Campsites are reserved over the phone (1-800-244-5613) or on the Official Colorado State Park Camp Reservation website. A basic campsite is $28.00/night. It is important to note that camping fees do not include the cost of a daily park pass, which is necessary while camping.
Entering Cherry Creek State Park
There are multiple entrances to enter Cherry Creek Park. Typically park staff members at monitor the entrance gate. If there is not someone available, you can purchase a day or annual pass at one of the digital kiosks.
- East Entrance – The East Entrance is at the intersection of East Lehigh Avenue and Parker Road in Aurora, Colorado at 4201 South Parker Road, Aurora, Colorado 80016. Are you looking for the most direct entrance for the campgrounds, swim beach, playground, and boat ramp? This is it.
- South Entrance – The South Entrance is near Orchard Road and South Parker Road in Aurora, Colorado. at South Entrance Road, Aurora, Colorado 80015. You can access the Dog Off-Leash Area directly through the south entrance.
- West Entrance – The West Entrance is at the intersection of East Union Avenue and South Dayton Street. I had a difficult time locating the address for this entrance. Park staff provided me with these GPS coordinates. The West Entrance is the most direct entrance to access the boat ramp, model airfield, and marina.
What You Can Do At Cherry Creek State Park
Some of these activities may be seasonal, require an additional fee or have limitations and/or restrictions. We recommend checking with the park for additional information, such as safety equipment, hours, locations within the park, and any potential hazards that may exist.
Facilities
- Archery
- Boat Ramps
- Boat/Jet Ski Rental
- Dump Station
- Full-Hookup Campsites
- Group Camping
- Group Picnic Area
- Horse Rental
- Laundry
- Marina
- Picnic Sites
- Shower
- Shooting Range
- Stable
Recreation
Unique Feature: Model Aircraft Field
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Dog-Friendly
- Education Programs
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback Riding
- Ice Skating
- Jet Skiing
- Model Airplane Flying
- Picnicking
- Sailing
- Sledding
- Snowshoeing
- Snowtubing
- Swimming
- Volleyball
- Water Skiing
- Winter Camping
Camping
Cherry Creek State Park has 133 campsites. The campground is open year-round.
Check-in/Out: Check-in is at 1 p.m. and check-out is at noon.
Map: The campground map shows an image of the campground spots, restrooms, and the campground rules.
Fires: Open-flame fires are permitted only in designated fire pits. Obey mandatory fire restrictions when in effect. Gathering firewood in the park is prohibited.
Maximum Occupancy: A maximum of 6 people, two camping units, and two vehicles are allowed per site. A camping unit is defined as a tent, camper, or RV. Only one RV or camper is permitted per site.
Pets: All pets must be on a maximum of a six-foot leash and under control at all times. Pets may not be left unattended.
Cabins: Cherry Creek State Park does not have cabins.
The campground office has souvenirs, such as magnets, stuffed animals, clothing, and books. You can ask for the Colorado Park Passport at the campground office. Do you already have one? Great! They can stamp it for you.
Hiking
Cherry Creek State Park has 12 miles of multi-use trails. The Cherry Creek State Park Map displays the trail locations, lengths, and limitations of each trail.
Dam Trail – This 0.36-mile trail runs along the Cherry Creek dam. The foot and bike trail is unpaved. We brought non-motorized scooters the first time we visited this trail. We did not realize that the path is primarily gravel-covered. We would not recommend using scooters on this trail unless you want to carry them. You can access this trail from the West Entrance. It will be a short walk from the parking lot to the Dam Trail. You can also access this trail from the East Entrance. Once you pass the entrance booth, you can make the first right and follow it to the end. There is also a restroom in this parking lot. This lot is a popular spot for people fishing.
Pipeline Trail – This 0.71-mile trail runs through the Wetland Preserve at the park. Dogs, bicycles, and horses are not allowed on this trail. The easiest way to reach this trail is to enter at the East Entrance on Parker Road. Once you enter the park, you can take the first two left-hand turns. There will be a small parking area on the right-hand side identified by a Shop Creek sign.
The shade from the many trees helps you stay cool in the bright sun. We had a great leisurely walk with many bugs on the day we visited. We recommend bringing bug spray. There is a small bridge with a creek that runs under it.
Tips For Visiting
- Location – This Colorado State Park is convenient to Denver attractions, such as the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Elitch Gardens, and the Denver Art Museum. It would be a great campground choice for a weekend visit to Denver. We recommend making campground reservations as early as possible.
- Popularity – Cherry Creek State Park is a popular destination in the summer. It is not unusual for the park to fill up in the early morning. We have seen the line go all the way out to the main road in the past. We recommend arriving early to help ensure you have a good experience and gain access to the park. Once the Cherry Creek State Park is at capacity, the park will temporarily close off new visitors.
- Colorado Park Passport – The Colorado State Park System offers a Colorado Park Passport. You can ask for this free passport at the campground office or the regular admission gate. The park passport is a small booklet that lists information about each park. The park rangers can stamp the booklet at each park. Once you collect all of the stamps, you can send the park passport in for a free prize!
