Notable Campgrounds
- Best for getting away from it all: The Crags offers primitive sites that are cut off from the reset of the park by a bumpy, narrow roadway.
- Best for equestrian campers: Bockman features its very own horse corral.
- Best for boaters: North Michigan has a mix of campsites and cabins plus two boat ramps with docks.
Tips for Snagging a Campsite Reservation
- You can reserve a campsite, yurt, or cabin through the Colorado Parks and Wildlife online reservation system or over the phone.
- Reservations can be made up to six months in advance and are available up until the day of your arrival. If you can’t get online, you can also show up and see what’s available.
- Backcountry camping is permitted, but you should check in with park rangers and sign a backcountry log before heading out.
- If you are struggling to find a site in the park that meets your criteria, you may find something in the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest to the north.
When to Go
State Forest State Park is open year-round, though like most Colorado state parks, it’s at its busiest between Memorial Day and Labor Day Weekends, especially for camping. The pleasant temperatures this time of year make the park ideal for hiking and mountain biking. Popular wintertime activities include snowshoeing and snowmobiling. While all but a few campsites close for the winter (usually around the beginning of December), cabins, yurts, and huts are available throughout the year.
Know Before You Go
- The Moose Visitor Center offers educational displays, fishing gear, GPS, and snowshoe rentals, plus a gift shop.
- You can pick up food, supplies, and fuel in the town of Walden, a 25-minute drive from the park.
- Dogs are allowed at the park (and in cabins for an additional fee), but must be kept on a leash.
- Bears are common in this area. Food, cooking supplies, and cosmetics should be secured when not in use.
- Swimming is not permitted on the reservoir. Boating is restricted to wakeless speeds.
State Forest State Park
Keep an eye out for moose as you explore this massive park.
Spread out over 71,000 acres, State Forest State Park is the place to go if you want to see a moose in the wild (over 600 of the gargantuan beasts call the North Park area home). It's also a great place for hiking, with over 100 miles of trails, most of which are bike friendly. Other activities include birding, fishing, and horseback riding--you can even bring your horse camping with you if you're staying at the Bockman Campground and the Primitive Loop. Accommodation options in the park run the gamut from cozy cabins to backcountry camping, and some options are available year-round.
Spread out over 71,000 acres, State Forest State Park is the place to go if you want to see a moose in the wild (over 600 of the gargantuan beasts call the North Park area home). It's also a great place for hiking, with over 100 miles of trails, most of which are bike friendly. Other activities include birding, fishing, and horseback riding--you can even bring your horse camping with you if you're staying at the Bockman Campground and the Primitive Loop. Accommodation options in the park run the gamut from cozy cabins to backcountry camping, and some options are available year-round.
Activities in the park
5 campgrounds in State Forest State Park
Enjoy your own lakeside paradise here, with pristine views of the beautiful mountain ranges and piney tree lines. Bordering the glassy reservoir, North Michigan Campground is a sight to behold. You will wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on all the epic adventuring that is to be had here. Backpack through this ruggedly beautiful terrain o Read more...
If there’s something about using 4WD that brings a smile to your face, then The Crags Campsite in State Forest State Park is for you! Load up the ol’ SUV for a primitive camping experience you’ll never forget. Mother Nature welcomes you to The Crags through narrow, twisty dirt roads. Her embrace will leave you at peace as you take a break under th Read more...
Embrace your inner mountaineer and go uncover some adventures at the ruggedly beautiful Bockman Campground. Here, you can drink in epic views of the jagged Medicine Bow Mountains right outside your tent flap. Just a short trek away from the North Michigan Reservoir, you have access to all the amazing outdoor activities you’ve been missing so sorel Read more...
How about chilling out in your own rustic cabin in the middle of State Forest State Park? That’s what we thought. Breathe in the all-natural rugged air here as you step outside your cabin door and head out on your way to explore the 71,00 acres blanketed by forested beauty, jagged peaks, pristine lakes, and majestic wildlife (welcome to mooseland) Read more...
Fishing at State Forest State Park begins with a site at Ranger Lakes Campground. Right off Highway 14, these electric sites are just a short walk from the Ranger Lakes fishing area, as well as the ADA-accessible pier, while the nearby Gould Loop Trail offers hiking and the campground amphitheater plays host to weekend interpretive programs. Be su Read more...
Why can't I see these campgrounds when I search with dates?
Notable Campgrounds
Notable Campgrounds
Tips for Snagging a Campsite Reservation
When to Go
State Forest State Park is open year-round, though like most Colorado state parks, it’s at its busiest between Memorial Day and Labor Day Weekends, especially for camping. The pleasant temperatures this time of year make the park ideal for hiking and mountain biking. Popular wintertime activities include snowshoeing and snowmobiling. While all but a few campsites close for the winter (usually around the beginning of December), cabins, yurts, and huts are available throughout the year.
Know Before You Go
Public campgrounds (book externally) —