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: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
56750 Highway 14
Walden, CO 80480
United States
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: $10
Individual Daily Pass: $4
Animals Permitted:
- Leashed Dogs
- Service Animals
- Horses
Park Address:
56750 Highway 14
Walden, CO 80480
United States
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.
- Backcountry Camping
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Cabins
- Camping
- Cross-country Skiing
- Education Programs
- Fishing
- Geocaching
- Hiking
- Horseback Riding
- Hunting
- Ice Fishing
- OHV Riding
- Picnicking
- Sledding
- Snowmobile Riding
- Snowshoeing
- Wildlife Viewing
Best of State Forest
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.
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.
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.
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
Jan
1
First Day Hike
Wednesday, Jan 1
State Forest State Park
Jan
1
First Day Hike
Wednesday, Jan 1
State Forest State Park
Feb
10
Ice Fishing Clinic
Monday, Feb 10
State Forest State Park
Feb
10
Ice Fishing Clinic
Monday, Feb 10
State Forest State Park
Feb
15
Potluck & Ski/ Snowshoe by Moonlight - RESCHEDULED
Saturday, Feb 15
State Forest State Park
Feb
15
Potluck & Ski/ Snowshoe by Moonlight - RESCHEDULED
Saturday, Feb 15
State Forest State Park
Jan
1
First Day Hike
Wednesday, Jan 1
State Forest State Park
Jan
1
First Day Hike
Wednesday, Jan 1
State Forest State Park
Feb
10
Ice Fishing Clinic
Monday, Feb 10
State Forest State Park
Feb
10
Ice Fishing Clinic
Monday, Feb 10
State Forest State Park
Feb
15
Potluck & Ski/ Snowshoe by Moonlight - RESCHEDULED
Saturday, Feb 15
State Forest State Park
Feb
15
Potluck & Ski/ Snowshoe by Moonlight - RESCHEDULED
Saturday, Feb 15
State Forest State Park
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.
Lake Agnes Trail
0.8 miles one way
Hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing
Gould Loop Trail
6.5 miles roundtrip
Hiking, horseback riding, biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing
Ranger Lakes Nature Trail
1.5 miles roundtrip
Hiking only
American Lakes Trail
5.5 miles one way
Hiking, horseback riding, biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobile riding
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
Ruby Jewel Route
4 miles one way
Hiking, horseback riding, biking, motorcycling, ATV, Jeep, skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling
Bull Mountain
7 miles one way
Hiking, horseback riding, biking, motorcycling, ATV, Jeep, snowmobile riding
Diamond Peaks
7 miles one way
Hiking, horseback riding, biking, motorcycling, ATV, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing
Bockman Road
6 miles one way
Hiking, horseback riding, biking, motorcycling, ATV, Jeep, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobile riding
Montgomery Pass Route
4 miles one way
Hiking, horseback riding, biking, motorcycling, ATV, Jeep, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobile riding
Mendenhall Route
8 miles one way
Hiking, horseback riding, biking, motorcycling, ATV, Jeep, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobile riding
Lake Agnes Trail
0.8 miles one way
Hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing
Gould Loop Trail
6.5 miles roundtrip
Hiking, horseback riding, biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing
Ranger Lakes Nature Trail
1.5 miles roundtrip
Hiking only
American Lakes Trail
5.5 miles one way
Hiking, horseback riding, biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobile riding
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
Ruby Jewel Route
4 miles one way
Hiking, horseback riding, biking, motorcycling, ATV, Jeep, skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling
Bull Mountain
7 miles one way
Hiking, horseback riding, biking, motorcycling, ATV, Jeep, snowmobile riding
Diamond Peaks
7 miles one way
Hiking, horseback riding, biking, motorcycling, ATV, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing
Bockman Road
6 miles one way
Hiking, horseback riding, biking, motorcycling, ATV, Jeep, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobile riding
Montgomery Pass Route
4 miles one way
Hiking, horseback riding, biking, motorcycling, ATV, Jeep, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobile riding
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.
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.
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.
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:
- Medicine Bow Outfitters, 970-631-2812
- Red Feather Guides & Outfitters, 970-723-4204
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