Located in Aurora, Colorado, Cherry Creek State Park offers 880 acres of rolling prairie hills for you to enjoy, along with a wide variety of recreational activities to choose from. Go for a pretty hike, try horseback riding for the first time, or take the boat out on the stunning reservoir. There are so many ways to enjoy the outdoors here that you’ll never get bored. Just minutes from Denver, as a camper in the park, you have a myriad of options for day trips to the big city if you get your fill of nature and want to venture out for some sight-seeing. Return to the comfort of your RV after an exciting day in the mile-high city.
RV campers have plenty of options here in Cherry Creek State Park. In the summer, this is the place to soak up the sunshine and good weather before the snow begins to fly in the cold Colorado winters. During this time, you’ll be able to find all sorts of fun and unique activities in addition to hiking, fishing, and boating, such as education programs and model airplane flying. But winter is a great time to visit the park as well. When there are fewer people and there's a chill in the air and snow on the ground, you’ll find that the park is a great place to bring your RV for a quiet and peaceful getaway. Dig out your cross-country skis and snowshoes and head to Cherry Creek for some winter camping fun. Whenever you visit Cherry Creek State Park, you’re sure to have a memorable RV vacation.
Getting to Cherry Creek State Park is easy as it's only a mile south of I-225 on Parker Road at Lehigh in Aurora, a suburb of Denver, Colorado. Once you’re inside, getting around the park by personal vehicle is a breeze too. Just pick up a pass when you first enter the park and display it on your vehicle’s windshield. You can also pick up maps and brochures to help you out. The only seasonal road closures are roads that go to campsites that close for the winter. You’ll still have easy access to the open winter campsites though.
Cherry Creek State Park is very welcoming to large vehicles and expects people to bring their RVs, boats, and trailers when they visit. There are lots of parking lots located all throughout the park, but during the busy season, you’ll find it much easier to set up your RV at a campsite and venture out in your car instead, to avoid limited parking issues.
Make a stop in the Colorado High Plains at the beautiful, clean and quiet Limon KOA campground. Within just over an hour drive to both the Denver and Colorado Springs areas, and conveniently located along I-70, you can really get away from it all and relax in this pretty area. Limon Heritage Museum and Railroad Park is just a few minutes away. On-site, enjoy the playground, seasonal swimming pool, summer pancake breakfasts, and a fully stocked camp store. Indulge in delicious pizza and wings at the snack bar. The Limon KOA also features a dog park, and campground amenities include laundry and restroom facilities, Wi-Fi, and cable TV.
Near the Denver East/Strasburg KOA, the Rocky Mountains of Colorado provide a variety of adventures and experiences, and there are attractions for everyone in the nearby big city of Denver. Check out the beauty of Colorado Springs, try skiing, hiking, or simply take in the views of one of the greatest mountain ranges in the world. A variety of museums, theme parks, and other outdoor spaces are just a few of the attractions to explore. Denver East/Strasburg KOA offers big rig-friendly sites for RVs up to 70 feet, with 50-amp electrical hookups available. Other amenities include Wi-Fi, cable TV, a seasonal pool, and an adults-only spa. Propane and firewood are available on-site for purchase.
With 136 sites to choose from, you'll have no trouble finding the perfect spot for your RV stay. The campground inside Cherry Creek State Park stays open all year round and has 106 full hookup pull-through and back-in sites for your comfort and convenience. There are also 30 primitive sites. It may be a bit cold here in the winter, but it shouldn’t be a problem since they offer 20-, 30-, and 50-amp hookups.
If you’re coming in the winter, you can park your RV in the Abilene Loop. There’s a chance that showers and laundry facilities might be closed during this time, but they’re always available during peak season. You’ll also have access to a dump station in the summer, which can make things a lot easier when RV camping. RVs up to 80 feet long can be accommodated, and any of the basic sites can also be reserved for tent campers.
If you’re up for a challenge, willing to brace the cold, and craving the peaceful solitude of winter, then try your hand at winter camping. Bring your RV and enjoy yourself. You’ll be surrounded by a winter wonderland, and while it may not be the peak season, you’ll still be able to find a variety of activities without all the crowds. Best of all, you can enjoy the serenity of a quiet snowfall as it blankets the prairie in white. Before settling down in the comfort of your warm RV taking advantage of the full hookups, venture out to see a vibrant winter sunset reflected off the prairie snow.
All of the park’s trails are open to cross-country skiing during the winter season. Just make sure that the snow conditions are right, as you wouldn’t want to cause any damage to the ground beneath you. Cherry Creek is a great place to explore for beginning and expert cross-country skiers. Bring your own or rent some in Aurora, just a few minutes away from the park.
Don’t let the winter cold and snow stop you from exploring all the trails that are offered here in the park. When the conditions are just right, you can choose to go snowshoeing on all the same trails that are available during peak season and even explore some of the off-trail backcountry as well. If you don't own your own snowshoes, you can easily rent some in the nearby town of Aurora. So go ahead - bundle up and head out of the camper on your snowshoes. Don't forget to pack some water as snowshoeing is a highly exerting sport.
In the winter when everything has frozen over, the lake here makes for the perfect ice skating arena. During the winter holidays, skating on the shallow parts of the reservoir is a popular activity among locals. You'll have to bring your own skates though. Just make completely sure that the lake is frozen solid before attempting to skate on it and never skate alone, as you’ll be skating at your own risk. When done safely, this can be a really fun activity during the cold season.
There are three sites within the campground that have been set aside specifically for large groups. If you’re traveling with a group of 36 people or less, Cherokee and Arapahoe group sites are the perfect spots. The Chief Ouray group site can hold up to 72 people - a pretty impressive number. All three of these sites have areas to put up tents and have RV hookups available as well. The most popular time of the year for these sites is during the summer on weekends. As there are only three group sites, they can fill pretty quickly. You can also reserve an amphitheater located inside the campground. It can seat up to 100 people and can serve as the perfect meet-up spot for your camp group. You’ll be guaranteed that your group is taken care of when you stay here.
Who doesn’t love to go sledding in the snow? With the rolling hills and heavy amounts of snowfall that this area receives during the winter, this is the perfect place to come for some fun and exciting sledding opportunities. Just make sure there’s enough snow on the ground to prevent damage before you start sledding. Most hills are gentle and sloping, but there are still some trees in the area, so make sure to avoid them as you speed down on your saucer.
One of the most popularly observed forms of wildlife in the park is birds. Cherry Creek is home to a unique ecosystem that attracts all kinds of birds. You’ll likely be able to spot and identify these different species of raptors: the bald eagle, red-tailed hawk, ferruginous hawk, and northern harrier. The marshes on the south side of the park tend to attract all kinds of waterfowl, shorebirds, and even songbirds. So make sure you pack your binoculars in your campervan and grab a checklist from the park office to see how many you can spot.
Horse lovers will be excited to know that horseback riding is available in the park. If you bring your own horse with your trailer, you can stable your horse right inside the park. Novice riders will enjoy renting a gentle horse from the stables at Cherry Creek Stables. If you’ve never ridden horses before, this is a great place to learn. They offer riding lessons, horse boarding, and of course, horse rentals. You can also go for hayrides here and join day camps. There plenty of fun opportunities at the stables.
A unique feature you probably won’t find at many other state parks is the model airplane flying fields. Suhaka Field at Cherry Creek State Park is run by the Denver R/C Eagles Flying Club. Here you’ll find two paved runways, taxiways, a pit area, and even a separate field just for rotorcraft. Both electric and gas/glow aircraft are flown here, and beginners are always welcome. After a morning flying your RC craft, enjoy a picnic at the tables provided and watch other enthusiasts fly while you relax with your lunch.
This park offers 12 miles of trails that you can hike at your leisure. The longest trail you’ll find is the popular Cherry Creek Trail that totals nearly five miles. While this trail may be long, it’s still easy to conquer since it is paved and mostly flat. Other trails in the park are under three miles long, and some are paved, while others are not. You can even enjoy a guided walk in the park from the staff at Cherry Creek, where you might get to see different kinds of wildlife throughout the grasslands, marshes, and cottonwood trees.
Boating is a popular activity at Cherry Creek Reservoir, and you can even go fishing right off your boat. There are public boat launches located at both entrances of the park for your convenience. Always be sure to check safety requirements and boating regulations before heading out to ensure that you have a safe trip. Buy a Colorado fishing license and help yourself to your limit of walleye, crappie, bass, and wiper at a reservoir known for its trophy-sized fish. Take your catch back to the Airstream to cook up an authentic camp meal for the family.
