Cherry Creek Reservoir
An 880-acre prairie reservoir in Aurora with wide skies, wetlands and Front Range sunsets.
About Cherry Creek Reservoir
Cherry Creek Reservoir anchors Cherry Creek State Park in Aurora, a roughly 4,200-acre island of prairie, wetlands and cottonwood groves surrounded by the southeast Denver metro area. The 880-acre reservoir sits at about 5,500 feet and is circled by 35 miles of trails, including 15 miles paved.
It's a do-everything park, with boating, a swim beach, camping, horseback riding, a shooting range, a model airplane field and a dog off-leash area. Despite the urban setting, the park supports deer, more than 40 mammal species and well over a hundred bird species.
For photographers, the payoff is the view west across open water toward the Front Range, which makes it one of the easiest places in the metro area to catch a big sunset reflection.
An 880-acre reservoir anchoring Denver's most-used regional park, with rolling prairie terrain and full camping and picnicking facilities. It's busy and lively in summer, quiet and easy the rest of the year — plan around whichever mood you're after, and sailboats on the water add a nice moving element to an otherwise static shoreline shot.
History
The Army Corps of Engineers built Cherry Creek Dam between 1946 and 1950 to protect Denver from floods on Cherry Creek. In 1959 the state signed a lease with the Corps to manage the land for recreation, making it the first state recreation area of its kind in Colorado.
The park's biggest day came in 1993, when Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass here for more than 375,000 people during World Youth Day, the largest event in Colorado State Parks history.
Photographing Cherry Creek Reservoir
Best light: Sunset is the classic shot here: from the east side of the reservoir you look west across the water to the mountains as the sky lights up. Sunrise from the west side can catch warm light on the water with the plains beyond. Fall brings golden cottonwoods along the creek corridor.
Shots to look for
- Sunset over the reservoir with the Front Range silhouetted on the horizon, shot wide from the east shore
- Sailboats or paddleboarders as small silhouettes in golden light with a telephoto
- Cottonwoods and wetlands along Cherry Creek in October color
- Waterfowl and wading birds in the wetlands with a 100-400mm
- Storm clouds building over the water in summer
Photo tips
- Weekends in summer are crowded; weekday evenings are easier for parking and clean shorelines
- The flat terrain makes a long lens useful for compressing the distant mountains behind the water
- Bring bug spray for wetland areas in summer
- Boating closes for the season in late fall; check CPW for current dates
Know before you go
- Vehicles need a state parks pass or daily pass plus the small Cherry Creek Basin water fee
- The dog off-leash area requires a separate pass and occasionally closes for maintenance
- Toxic algae and boating advisories occur; check CPW before water activities
- There's an active shooting range in the park; expect gunfire noise near it
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to get into Cherry Creek State Park?
You'll need a Colorado state parks pass or daily vehicle pass plus a small Cherry Creek Basin fee. Rates change, so check CPW.
Is there an off-leash dog area at Cherry Creek?
Yes. The off-leash area requires a separate daily or annual dog pass in addition to park entry.
Where is the best place to watch sunset at Cherry Creek Reservoir?
Anywhere along the east side of the reservoir looking west across the water toward the mountains.
Featured in: Photography Spots Near Denver
Combine it with
Chatfield Reservoir · Barr Lake · Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge · Eastern Plains
More Colorado spots
Sources & further reading: cpw.state.co.us · en.wikipedia.org. Conditions, fees and rules change; check with the managing agency before you go.