Chatfield State Park

Chatfield State Park is our favorite place to park while in the Denver area. The sites are large and level and well spaced. In addition, the park is close to where our son Eric and his family live and fairly near the neighborhood we used to live in. Colorado's state parks aren't a bargain. Our full-hookup site costs non-seniors $26 a night during the summer months, in addition to the $8 a night park pass. We have a senior volunteer pass because we volunteered last summer at Lathrop State Park so we don't have to pay the daily park pass charge and we get $3 off on camping, Sunday through Thursday. Not a bargain, but where else can you get 50 amps and so much space for $23 to $34 a night?

We were delighted on this stay to find that a great-horned owl nest is in a nearby tree. The two babies are out surveying the world each evening. Aren't they adorable and cuddly-looking?



We haven't seen either parent owl. The babies can't fly yet, but one of them is learning what wings are for. We saw him testing them the other night.



They really get the attention of campground visitors, including our family when they came over Monday night.



The Western Meadowlarks have been serenading me on my morning walks.



There are a lot of Canada geese in the park.



We saw this family of geese when we visited the marina.



Right after I took this picture, the hawk (I'm not sure what kind it is) flew off with some small critter in its beak.


I saw this bird one morning. It is too big to be an American Kestrel. Maybe it is a prairie falcon? (Carolyn, help!)



You can probably see why we enjoy this park so much.