Metal Detecting at Cherry Creek State Park, Colorado
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Rules unconfirmed — check with the land manager
Metal detecting at Cherry Creek State Park is unclear. No Colorado park rule mentions detectors, but the park sits on Army Corps land where detecting is allowed only on designated beaches. Call the park first. Rules checked against primary sources in .
Key Conditions
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife's park regulations (Chapter P-1, in both the 2023 and the November 2026 text) never mention metal detectors, so no CPW rule bans them here
- The reservoir and park are Army Corps of Engineers land leased to the state, and the Corps rule allows detectors only "on designated beaches or other previously disturbed areas", with the policy kept at the manager's office (36 CFR 327.14(d)). We found no published designation for Cherry Creek
- CPW rule #100.C.2 bans removing or modifying vegetation or any object of archaeological, historical or natural value, so don't dig in turf or keep anything old
- Call the park at 303-690-1166 and ask whether detecting is allowed and where before you go
Cherry Creek State Park · 39.6471, -104.8463
How does this compare? Metal Detecting in State Parks: Rules by State
Status unclear: the land is federal, the park is state-run
Cherry Creek State Park is Army Corps of Engineers land. The Corps built the dam in 1950 to protect Denver from floods, and in 1959 Colorado signed a lease to run a recreation area on it, the first of its kind in the state. That leaves two rulebooks. Colorado's park regulations say nothing about metal detectors. The Corps' rule says detectors are permitted "on designated beaches or other previously disturbed areas" and that the metal detector policy and designated areas "is available at the Manager's Office" (36 CFR 327.14(d)). We found no published designation for Cherry Creek. Until the park tells you where detecting is allowed, treat it as a question to ask, not a yes: 303-690-1166.
Search for Colorado's state-park detecting rules and you'll find a widely copied claim that Colorado bans "mineral or metal detectors, magnetometers" in its parks. We read CPW's Chapter P-1, the regulation that governs every state park, in the 2023 edition and the edition taking effect November 1, 2026. Neither contains the word "detector". The quoted wording is the National Park Service's (36 CFR 2.1(a)(7)), which applies in national parks, not Colorado state parks. See our guide to 36 CFR 2.1 for that rule.
What Chapter P-1 does contain is broad. Rule #100.C.2 makes it unlawful to "remove, destroy, mutilate, modify or deface" any tree, shrub, plant or vegetation, "or any object of archaeological, geological, historical, zoological or natural/environmental value or interest". A plug cut from the lawn is modified vegetation, and an old coin is arguably an object of historical interest. So even where the park says yes, the beach sand is the only ground where digging clearly stays inside the rules.
- Metal detectors are permitted on designated beaches or other previously disturbed areas
- The District Commander can prohibit detecting to protect archaeological, historical or paleontological resources
- The metal detector policy and designated areas are kept at the project manager's office
- Finds must be handled under the Corps' lost-and-found rules (§§ 327.15, 327.16), except unidentifiable items such as coins worth under $25
- Removing or altering natural formations, historical or archaeological features or vegetation needs the District Commander's written permission
Source: 36 CFR 327.14, eCFR (current text)
Denver-area options compared
| Place | Manager | Detecting rule | Daily cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry Creek State Park | CPW on Corps land | No CPW rule; Corps allows only designated beaches or disturbed areas. Ask the park | $10 (CO plates) + $1 basin fee |
| Chatfield State Park | CPW on Corps land | Same two rulebooks as Cherry Creek; ask the park | $12 (CO plates) |
| Aurora Reservoir | City of Aurora | Allowed on the swim beach, in the swim area and on the boat-launch beach; fill holes (rule 6654, 2019 edition) | Set by the city; check before you go |
| Rocky Mountain National Park | National Park Service | Prohibited: possessing or using a detector (36 CFR 2.1(a)(7)) | NPS entry fee |
CPW Chapters P-1 and P-7, 36 CFR 327.14, City of Aurora PROS rules (2019) and 36 CFR 2.1, checked October 2026.
Getting There
Fees from CPW Chapter P-7 (effective May 1, 2026) and the park page, October 2026.
When It Makes Sense to Go
Summer (Jun–Aug)
PoorThe swim beach is open and the park sees its heaviest crowds on summer weekends; CPW enforces a boat carrying capacity on the reservoir. Not the time to work the beach.
Fall (Sep–Nov)
GoodThe swim season ends at Labor Day and the beach empties, with a summer's worth of losses in the sand. Boating closes for the season in early November.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
PoorFrozen ground and snow cover; CPW warns visitors to suspect thin ice on the reservoir.
Spring (Mar–May)
FairThawed sand before Memorial Day, but spring storms and wet ground; check the park's alerts for closures.
Who Sets the Rules Here
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Operates the park under a lease from the Corps: park hours, passes, the swim beach, the dog off-leash area and the #100.C.2 ban on removing objects of archaeological, historical or natural value
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Owns the dam, reservoir and project land. Part 327 limits detectors to designated beaches or previously disturbed areas (327.14(d)) and bars removing natural, historical or archaeological features without written permission (327.14(a))
- FederalArchaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 470aa–mm)
Archaeological resources 100+ years old on land the United States owns in fee, which includes the Corps project land under the park
Permits & Licenses
| Permit | Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CPW parks pass | Yes | Every vehicle needs a daily or annual parks pass (annual affixed pass $80). Keep Colorado Wild pass holders still buy the Cherry Creek Water Basin sticker. People arriving on foot or by bike don't need a parks pass at Cherry Creek (CPW Chapter P-7 #700). |
| Detecting permit | No | None exists. Neither CPW nor the Corps publishes a detecting permit for Cherry Creek. What's missing is a clear answer on where detecting is allowed, which only the park can give. |
| Corps written permission to remove natural or historical features | No | 36 CFR 327.14(a) requires the District Commander's written permission to remove or alter natural formations, historical or archaeological features or vegetation. It isn't something a hobbyist applies for; it's the reason to leave anything old where it is. |
Time & Seasonal Restrictions
- Swim beach: open Memorial Day to Labor Day, with swimming only inside the roped area and no lifeguards. No dogs on the swim beach (CPW P-1 #100.C.16)
- No removing or modifying any tree, plant or vegetation, or any object of archaeological, geological, historical or natural value (CPW P-1 #100.C.2). Digging in turf or under grass can fall foul of this
- Corps rule: detectors only on designated beaches or previously disturbed areas, and the District Commander can close areas to protect archaeological, historical or paleontological resources (36 CFR 327.14(d))
- Finds other than unidentifiable items such as coins worth under $25 must be handled under the Corps' lost-and-found rules (36 CFR 327.14(d), 327.15, 327.16)
- Park lands are generally open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. (CPW P-1 #100.C.1). Areas posted closed are closed to all use (#100.C.1, #102)
- The 12 Mile dog off-leash area needs its own pass ($25 annual or $3 daily) and has its own rules; it isn't a detecting area
Equipment Notes
- No rule names a detector type; a standard VLF machine suits the beach sand and dry, low-mineral soil
- Bring a sand scoop for the beach. Leave the shovel at home, since digging in turf or vegetation risks breaking #100.C.2
- Something to carry out trash, since the Corps wants identifiable finds turned in
What People Find Here
- Modern coins, keys and jewelry would be the expected targets on the swim beach, which takes heavy summer crowds; we have no documented finds for this park
- The park hosted a crowd of over 375,000 for the 1993 World Youth Day papal mass, its largest event (CPW park history)
- Anything that may be historic, such as material from the Smoky Hill Trail wagon route that crosses the park, should be left in place: CPW #100.C.2, 36 CFR 327.14(a) and ARPA all protect it
Penalties for Violations
← Scroll to see all columns
| Violation | Statute | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Violating a CPW park regulation, such as removing a protected object (#100.C.2) or entering a posted-closed area | C.R.S. 33-15-102(1); CPW Chapter P-1 | Petty offense, $100 fine where no other statutory penalty applies |
| Violating the Corps' Part 327 rules on project land, including using a detector outside designated areas or removing natural or historical features | 36 CFR 327.14, 327.25 | Fine up to $5,000 and/or up to 6 months in jail |
| Excavating or removing an archaeological resource 100+ years old from federal land without a permit | 16 U.S.C. 470ee | Up to $10,000 and 1 year; up to $20,000 and 2 years if the resource and repair cost exceed $500; up to $100,000 and 5 years for a repeat offense |
Etiquette & Leave No Trace
- Ask the park office before your first visit, and note who told you what
- Skip the swim beach between Memorial Day and Labor Day, when it's the most crowded spot in the park
- Fill every hole and leave turf alone
- Turn in rings, phones and wallets at the visitor center; the Corps rule expects identifiable finds to be handed over
Other Hobbies Near Here
Distances are straight-line, not driving distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is metal detecting banned in Colorado state parks?
Not by any rule we could find. Some websites quote a Colorado regulation banning "mineral or metal detectors" in state parks, but CPW's Chapter P-1 contains no such wording, in the 2023 version or the version effective November 1, 2026. That wording matches the National Park Service rule (36 CFR 2.1(a)(7)), not Colorado's.
So why is Cherry Creek "unclear" rather than allowed?
Because the Army Corps of Engineers owns the land. Cherry Creek Dam was finished in 1950, and the state has run the park under a Corps lease since 1959. The Corps' own rule allows detectors only on designated beaches or previously disturbed areas and says the details are at the manager's office (36 CFR 327.14(d)). We found no published designation for Cherry Creek, so ask the park, 303-690-1166.
Where is the swim beach, and when can I detect it?
On the east shore, reached from the East Lehigh Avenue side near Dixon Grove. It's open for swimming Memorial Day to Labor Day, so if the park allows detecting there, the quiet months on either side of that window are the time to go.
Is there anywhere near Denver where detecting is clearly allowed?
Yes: Aurora Reservoir, about ten miles east. The City of Aurora's park rules (rule 6654, in the 2019 edition we read) allow metal detectors on the swim beach, within the designated swim area and on the boat-launch beach, require you to fill holes, and ban underwater detectors outside the swim areas. Confirm that rule is still current with the city.
Does Chatfield State Park have the same rules?
Largely, yes. Chatfield is also a CPW park on an Army Corps reservoir, so the same Chapter P-1 rules and 36 CFR 327.14(d) apply, and the same call to the park is needed. Its daily pass is $2 more than Cherry Creek's because of the Chatfield Water Basin fee.
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Disclaimer
Information is provided for general guidance only. Regulations change frequently. Always verify current rules with the official jurisdiction before relying on this information for legal decisions. Permitted Pursuits is not a substitute for official agency guidance. Report an error.
Sources
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife — Cherry Creek State Park (fees, history, contact)(accessed 2026-10-14)
- CPW — Cherry Creek State Park highlights (swim beach)(accessed 2026-10-14)
- CPW — Cherry Creek State Park brochure(accessed 2026-10-14)
- CPW Regulations Chapter P-1 — Parks and Outdoor Recreation Lands (effective November 1, 2026)(accessed 2026-10-14)
- CPW Regulations Chapter P-7 — Passes, Permits and Registrations (effective May 1, 2026)(accessed 2026-10-14)
- 36 CFR 327.14 — Public property (metal detectors on Corps projects), eCFR(accessed 2026-10-14)
- 36 CFR 327.25 — Violations of rules and regulations, eCFR(accessed 2026-10-14)
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — Cherry Creek Lake (Corps Lakes Gateway)(accessed 2026-10-14)
- Colorado HB19-1026 (amending C.R.S. 33-15-102: $100 fine for parks and wildlife rule violations)(accessed 2026-10-14)
- 16 U.S.C. 470ee — ARPA prohibited acts and penalties (Cornell LII)(accessed 2026-10-14)
- City of Aurora — Rules and Regulations for Parks, Recreation and Open Space (2019)(accessed 2026-10-14)
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