State Forest State Park's Crags Campground sits at the end of a steep, narrow, one-lane dirt road that functions as a natural filter: no RVs, no trailers, no slideouts. The campground's 26 sites are tent-only by design and by necessity, set within forested terrain in the North Park region near camp sites near Gould. Sites are distributed around a loop and most have some degree of privacy, with several offering open sightlines toward the surrounding mountains. A running creek passes through the area, and at least one site, reportedly site 7, requires a short walk across the water to reach.
Moose are a consistent presence here. Multiple campers report encounters during dinner hours, and some have had food taken from unsecured campsites. Rangers are active in the area, but proper food storage is the camper's responsibility. Deer also move through regularly. "Your neighbors will be moose at this campground," Joshua D. notes, adding that they can approach quietly enough to catch campers off guard. Wildlife activity aside, the campground tends to run quieter than many front-range options, largely because the access road keeps larger rigs out.
Amenities are minimal but functional. Each site has a fire grill and picnic table. There are no tent pads, no bear boxes, and no electrical hookups. Water comes from a hand pump near the center of the campground. Vault toilets are on-site. Nearby trails connect to American Lakes, Snow Lake, and Lake Agnes, and the surrounding camping areas near State Forest State Park give hikers and anglers a range of routes to explore. The Ranger Lakes Campground and Primitive Sites campground are nearby alternatives within the same park.
The access road is manageable in dry conditions with a standard passenger vehicle, but wet weather changes the equation. One reviewer pulled a 16-foot trailer up without issue on a dry day, while others emphasize the road's steepness and single-lane width as genuine obstacles. As Lisa K. puts it, the campground is a "beautiful place, with neat animals, but be aware how basic it really is." Campers should bring their own toilet paper, pack out trash carefully given the moose activity, and note that a Colorado State Parks pass or cash may be needed at the ranger station north of the park. Reservations are available. Nights run cold at elevation regardless of season, so layers are worth packing.
Description
Campsites are reservations only, please check the website for availability. For current conditions and more information, please visit the State Forest website: http://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/Parks/stateforest
NO-SHOW Policy
If you do not arrive to the park within 24 hours of your scheduled check in time and do not notify the park that you will be arriving late, your site may be resold and may not be available when you arrive. The fees for any nights passed are non-refundable.
Changes and Cancellations
- Cancellations or changes may be made online 24 hours a day 7 days a week, or through the Aspira Call Center at 1-800-244-5613.
- Reservations where one or more dates fall outside of the 6-month booking window are frozen for 14 days.
- Cancellations:
- If the cancellation is made 28 days or more prior to the arrival date, 25% of the fee for 1 night or day-use permit will be retained
- If the cancellation is made 8-27 days prior to the arrival date, 50% of the fee for 1 night or day-use permit will be retained.
- If the cancellation is made 7 days or less prior to the arrival date, 100% of the fee for 1 night or day-use permit will be retained.
- If a reservation is cancelled at any time after the arrival date, any nights prior to the cancellation are NON-REFUNDABLE
- Changes:
- If a change in the reservation is made 28 days or more prior to the arrival date, 10% of the fee for one night or day-use permit will be retained.
- If a change in the reservation is made 8-27 days prior to the arrival date, 15% of the fee for one night or day-use permit will be retained.
- If a change in the reservation is made 7 days or less prior to arrival, 20% of the fee for one night or day-use permit will be retained.
- If the change in the reservation dates is made between the day after the arrival date and the departure date, the fees for any nights or days passed are NON-REFUNDABLE.
- There is no additional fee to add days to a reservation.
- The reservation holder is responsible for any difference in use fees.
- Customers who wish to receive a refund outside of these rules will need to contact the park at which they have the reservation directly.
- No exceptions to the refund policy will be given for bugs, bad weather, campfire bans, water conditions (including water levels, boat ramp or swim beach closures, and algae)!
- If the original reservation was made directly with the park, any refunds resulting from changes/cancellations will be issued via personal check and may take up to 90 days from the date of the change/cancellation to be processed.
Warning 2 Alerts are In Effect
There are 2 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!
Warning 2 Alerts are In Effect
There are 2 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!
Please use www.cpwshop.com to make, cancel, or change reservations or make any license, pass, or retail purchases. ReserveAmerica.com has limited functionality for CPW customers. **No-show policy:** If you are unable to occupy your site on the first day of your reservation, please call the park office in order to notify park staff. Otherwise, your reservation will be considered a "no-show" and your site may be resold. "No-show" reservations are ineligible for a refund for those nights or days passed and the fees for any nights or days passed will be retained.
Colorado weather can be unpredictable: be prepared for a variety of weather conditions including extreme hot and cold temperatures, wind, rain, and snow (even in the summer). CPW does not grant exceptions to the refund policy for weather conditions.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsThe Crags Campground is located in Colorado near Rand
Directions
75 miles west of Ft. Collins on Hwy 14, over Cameron Pass or 150 miles north of Denver on Hwy 40 over Berthoud Pass.
Address
56750 Highway 14
Walden, CO 80480
Coordinates
40.50271562 N
105.89020567 W
Connectivity
T-MobileNo Coverage- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Tent Cabin
Features
For Campers
- Picnic Table
- Reservable
- Showers
- Electric Hookups
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sewer Hookups
- Water Hookups
- 30 Amp Hookups
- 50 Amp Hookups
Drive Time
- 1 hr 35 min from Fort Collins, CO
- 2 hrs from Greeley, CO
- 2 hrs 4 min from Cheyenne, WY
- 2 hrs 19 min from Boulder, CO
