Chatfield's heronry is a spring wildlife-watching spot

Chatfield State Park sits where the South Platte River flows out of the mountains at the mouth of Waterton Canyon, on the Jefferson and Douglas county line southwest of the metro area. The park grew up around a flood-control reservoir built by the Army Corps of Engineers, and it has become one of the busier birding areas on the Front Range.

One feature many visitors come for is the heronry, an area labeled on the park map where herons nest in trees near the water. Herons nest in groups, and spring is the time to watch the adults come and go. Bring binoculars or a spotting scope, since the whole point is to watch from a distance without disturbing the nests.

Beyond the heronry, the mix of river, wetland, reservoir, and cottonwood makes Chatfield good for many kinds of birds through the year, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife records hundreds of species here.

A few notes. This is a state park, so you need a valid pass or daily entry, and park rules cover dogs, fires, and where you can go. Nesting birds are sensitive, so stay on trails and out of any closed areas. The reservoir also draws boaters, so shorelines can be busy.

For the heronry location on the park map, current bird information, and pass rules, check the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Chatfield State Park page.