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

state.forest@state.co.us

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

state.forest@state.co.us

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Gold aspens mixed with pine trees cover the mountains under a cloudy blue sky.

Gold aspens mixed with pine trees cover the mountains under a cloudy blue sky.

Welcome to State Forest State Park

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​In the ultimate rugged Colorado, State Forest State Park offers visitors 70,932 acres of forest, jagged peaks, alpine lakes, wildlife and miles of trails. With so much space and natural diversity, visitors can experience a wide array of outdoor recreational favorites such as camping, hiking, wildlife viewing and geocaching.​​​​

70,932

acres

228

campsites

14

picnic sites

136

miles of trails

Directions

Accessing the Park

From Denver
Take I-70 to the Empire exit, Highway 40, over Berthoud Pass through Winter Park and Granby. Two miles west of Granby, take Highway 125 for 45 miles to the east side of Rand. Take County Road 27 for 14 miles to Highway 14. Turn right and follow for three miles to the park. 

Fees and Passes

Daily Vehicle Pass

Single vehicle and its occupants

1 Day

$10-$12

Individual Daily Pass

For individual entry on foot, bicycle, horseback, etc at select parks

1 Day

$4

Keep Colorado Wild Pass

DMV vehicle registration renewal option for Colorado residents

12 Months

$29

Annual Vehicle Pass (Affixed)

Pass for a single vehicle and its occupants

12 Months

$80

Family Annual Pass (Hang Tag)

Members of the same household

12 Months

$120

Aspen Leaf Annual Pass

Colorado residents 64+

12 Months

$70

Centennial Pass

Income-eligible Colorado residents

12 Months

$14

Columbine Pass

Colorado residents with disabilities

12 Months

$14

Veterans License Plate

DMV vehicle registration renewal option for military veterans (disabled veterans or purple heart plates)

Lifetime

Free

Independence Lifetime Pass

Colorado resident veterans with disabilities

Lifetime

Free

Blue Spruce Pass

Colorado resident first responders with disabilities

Lifetime

$10

Nature and Wildlife

State Forest State Park is home to a diverse array of wildlife, making it the perfect destination for both wildlife watching and photography.

Be on the Lookout for Birds

Can you spot all the resident and visiting bird species? Download the Bird List Brochure (PDF).

Birds You Might Find

  • Northern Mockingbird
  • Yellow Warbler
  • Lark Bunting
  • Merlin
Three lark buntings on a barbed-wire fence

Upcoming Events

History

North Michigan Reservoir was constructed in the mid-1960s by Colorado Game, Fish and Parks, and opened as the North Michigan Reservoir Recreation Area with camping along the shores. In 1965, a tour of the area with legislators, stakeholders and Colorado Game, Fish and Parks representatives started the effort to create a new state park on the Colorado State Forest. In 1972, a lease was signed with the State Land Board to create State Forest State Park.  

Known as the Moose-wiewing capital of Colorado, the park opened the Moose Visitor Center in 1997. Today, State Forest State Park hosts well over 330,000 visitors a year.