Cherry Creek State Park
RV Guide

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.

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.