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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
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

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
Pass |
Description |
Duration |
Cost |
---|---|---|---|
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 |
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

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.