Christmas and New Years Office Closure

Colorado Parks and Wildlife offices will be closed on December 24, December 25, December 26 and January 1. 

State Forest State Park

State Park in Walden, CO

Hours:

Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Daily, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Entrance Fees:

Daily Vehicle Pass: $​12
Individual Daily Pass: $4

Animals Permitted:

  • Leashed Dogs
  • Service Animals
  • Horses

Park Address:

56750 Highway 14
Walden, CO 80480
United States

Contact:

970-723-8366

[email protected]

Aspen and pine trees in front of mountains with heavy clouds hanging in the sky.

State Forest State Park

State Park in Walden, CO

Aspen and pine trees in front of mountains with heavy clouds hanging in the sky.

Hours:

Park: Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office: Daily, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Entrance Fees:

Daily Vehicle Pass: $​12
Individual Daily Pass: $4

Animals Permitted:

  • Leashed Dogs
  • Service Animals
  • Horses

Park Address:

56750 Highway 14
Walden, CO 80480
United States

Contact:

970-723-8366

[email protected]

Navigate to:

Custer Draw Road Electric & Motorized Use Regulations/Closure -

Be aware electric & motorized modes of transportation are PROHIBITED except for big game retrieval, and only certain types of transportation is allowed at specific times for retrieval. Citations will be issues for violations. Find more details.

Three people on horses

Three people on horses

Activities and Trails

What to Do at State Forest

State Forest State Park offers visitors a high-mountain experience, with acres of forest, jagged peaks, alpine lakes, wildlife and miles of trails. Visitors enjoy the outdoors with activities like camping, hiking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, fishing, hunting, birding and geocaching. 

Activities

  • Backcountry Camping
  • Biking
  • Birding
  • Boating
  • Cabins
  • Camping
  • Cross-country Skiing
  • Education Programs
  • Fishing
  • Geocaching
  • Hiking
  • Horseback Riding
  • Hunting
  • Ice Fishing
  • Off-highway Vehicle Riding
  • Picnicking
  • Sledding
  • Snowmobile Riding
  • Snowshoeing
  • Wildlife Viewing

Best of State Forest

A canoe on a lake

North Michigan Reservoir and Lakes

The main attraction at State Forest is water. The park offers the North Michigan Reservoir, where visitors can enjoy water activities. Many lakes can be found at State Forest, but Lake Agnes stands out as a favorite. This gem sits around 10,600 feet in elevation, and you can reach its shores with just a short hike of less than a mile during the summer season.

A family stops the OHVs to view the mountains.

Off-highway Vehicle and Snowmobile Riding

Over 80 miles of trails are open to off-highway vehicles. Motorized vehicles must remain on designated roads, and OHVs are not allowed in the campgrounds except to enter and exit each campsite. There are over 60 miles of snowmobile trails, including groomed trails, hillclimbs and meadows.

 A cow moose grazes with her two calves close by.

Watch Moose

Moose is our claim to fame. State Forest State Park is well known for moose viewing throughout the year. North Park is considered the moose-viewing capital of Colorado, with over 600 moose observed year-round.

A family eats a meal outside a cabin.

Cabins

Set along the shore of North Michigan Reservoir, camper cabins complete a summer or winter vacation. The cabins range from smaller cabins that sleep a maximum of six to the Old Camp Pennock​ Lodge and Columbine Lodge, which sleep up to 21 and 15, respectively.

Upcoming Events

First Day Hikes

Jan

1

First Day Hikes

Thursday, Jan 1

Castlewood Canyon State Park

Celebrate the New Year and join the nationwide observance of America's 250th birthday by hiking at a Colorado state park! First...

First Day Hikes

Jan

1

Registration Required:

Event participants must register

First Day Hikes

Thursday, Jan 1

Castlewood Canyon State Park

Celebrate the New Year and join the nationwide observance of America's 250th birthday by hiking at a Colorado state park! First...

First Day Hikes

Jan

1

First Day Hikes

Thursday, Jan 1

Castlewood Canyon State Park

Celebrate the New Year and join the nationwide observance of America's 250th birthday by hiking at a Colorado state park! First...

First Day Hikes

Jan

1

Registration Required:

Event participants must register

First Day Hikes

Thursday, Jan 1

Castlewood Canyon State Park

Celebrate the New Year and join the nationwide observance of America's 250th birthday by hiking at a Colorado state park! First...

Hiking, Biking and Horseback Riding

Trails

Pristine mountain beauty greets visitors and provides an ideal setting for hiking and mountain biking opportunities. There are over 90 miles of hiking trails and 130 miles of mountain-biking trails. Horse corrals are located at the Bockman Campground and at the end of CR-41 at the Canadian River Trailhead.

    Closures

    There are no closures at this time. 

    Hiking boot icon

    Lake Agnes Trail

    0.8 miles one way
    Hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing

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    Gould Loop Trail

    6.5 miles roundtrip
    Hiking, horseback riding, biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing

    Hiking boot icon

    Ranger Lakes Nature Trail

    1.5 miles roundtrip
    Hiking only

    Hiking boot icon

    American Lakes Trail

    5.5 miles one way
    Hiking, horseback riding, biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobile riding

    Hiking boot icon

    Kelly and Clear Lake Trails

    6.5 miles one way for Kelly, 7 miles one way for Clear Lake
    Hiking, horseback riding, biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobile riding

    Hiking boot icon

    Ruby Jewel Route

    4 miles one way
    Hiking, horseback riding, biking, motorcycling, ATV, Jeep, skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling

    Hiking boot icon

    Bull Mountain

    7 miles one way
    Hiking, horseback riding, biking, motorcycling, ATV, Jeep, snowmobile riding

    Hiking boot icon

    Diamond Peaks

    7 miles one way
    Hiking, horseback riding, biking, motorcycling, ATV, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing

    Hiking boot icon

    Bockman Road

    6 miles one way
    Hiking, horseback riding, biking, motorcycling, ATV, Jeep, cross-country skiing, snow​shoeing, snowmobile riding

    Hiking boot icon

    Montgomery Pass Route

    4 miles one way
    Hiking, horseback riding, biking, motorcycling, ATV, Jeep, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobile riding

    Hiking boot icon

    Mendenhall Route

    8 miles one way
    Hiking, horseback riding, biking, motorcycling, ATV, Jeep, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobile riding

    Hiking boot icon

    Lake Agnes Trail

    0.8 miles one way
    Hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing

    Hiking boot icon

    Gould Loop Trail

    6.5 miles roundtrip
    Hiking, horseback riding, biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing

    Hiking boot icon

    Ranger Lakes Nature Trail

    1.5 miles roundtrip
    Hiking only

    Hiking boot icon

    American Lakes Trail

    5.5 miles one way
    Hiking, horseback riding, biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobile riding

    Hiking boot icon

    Kelly and Clear Lake Trails

    6.5 miles one way for Kelly, 7 miles one way for Clear Lake
    Hiking, horseback riding, biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobile riding

    Hiking boot icon

    Ruby Jewel Route

    4 miles one way
    Hiking, horseback riding, biking, motorcycling, ATV, Jeep, skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling

    Hiking boot icon

    Bull Mountain

    7 miles one way
    Hiking, horseback riding, biking, motorcycling, ATV, Jeep, snowmobile riding

    Hiking boot icon

    Diamond Peaks

    7 miles one way
    Hiking, horseback riding, biking, motorcycling, ATV, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing

    Hiking boot icon

    Bockman Road

    6 miles one way
    Hiking, horseback riding, biking, motorcycling, ATV, Jeep, cross-country skiing, snow​shoeing, snowmobile riding

    Hiking boot icon

    Montgomery Pass Route

    4 miles one way
    Hiking, horseback riding, biking, motorcycling, ATV, Jeep, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobile riding

    Hiking boot icon

    Mendenhall Route

    8 miles one way
    Hiking, horseback riding, biking, motorcycling, ATV, Jeep, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobile riding

    Horseback Riding

    Horse corrals are located at the Bockman Campground and at the end of CR-41 at the Canadian River trailhead. Call the park at 970-723-8366 to reserve.

    Red Feather Outfitters ​offers horseback riding opportunities, and Medicine Bow ​Outfitters offers backcountry horseback trips.

    Horse icon

    Bockman Horse Corral

    The Bockman Horse Corral has four sections, allowing three horses in each section. The corral trail is accessible and located between site 309 and 311 on the east side of Bockman Campground.

    Horse icon

    Kelly/Clear Lake Trailhead Corral

    The corral at the Kelly/Clear Lake trailhead has 18 stalls. Camping is available next to the corral by reservation only. Hitching rails are available.

    Safety during Hunting Season

    Most of Colorado's outdoors is multi-use and intended to be shared. Hunters and nonhunters should show respect and courtesy to all users engaged in outdoor recreation.

    • Learn where and when hunting is taking place. Stay out of designated hunt areas.
    • Stay on designated trails. Enjoying activities only on designated trails will reduce the likelihood of entering designated hunt areas.
    • Make yourself easily visible by wearing bright clothing. Choose colors that stand out, like bright, fluorescent red, orange or green.
    • For protection, it is recommended to keep your dog on a leash. Tie a brightly-colored bandana around your dog’s neck or purchase a blaze orange dog vest to make your dog more visible.
    • Make noise. Alert hunters to your presence by whistling, singing or carrying on a conversation as you walk.
    • If you hear shooting, raise your voice and let hunters know you are in the vicinity.
    • Be courteous. Once a hunter is aware of your presence, don’t make unnecessary noise that disturbs wildlife. Avoid conflict. Please note it is illegal to intentionally interfere with hunters.

    Hunting

    Hunting is allowed in game management units 6 and 171 within the park. 

      • Weapons, including bows and firearms, can only be discharged while actively hunting
      • No target shooting
      • Shooting must be 100 yards or more out from any campground, structure, nature trail or road
      • Moose hunting is not allowed within 0.25 miles of CO Highway 14 in Jackson County from Cameron Pass to USFS 740

      Contact these licensed hunting outfitters for guided hunts within the park:

      Moose statue in front of the State Forest Visitor Center

      Rentals

      Equipment Rentals

      Park visitors can rent activity equipment at the Moose Visitor Center.

      The Visitor Center has:

      • GPS rentals for $10 a day
      • Snowshoe rentals for $5 a day
      • Free family activity backpacks