State Forest State Park offers a variety of cabin and yurt accommodations near Rand, Colorado at an elevation of 8,500 to 10,000 feet. This 71,000-acre park features alpine lakes, dense forest, and high mountain terrain with dramatic temperature changes even in summer months. Winter temperatures often drop below zero, making heated glamping structures particularly valuable for cold-weather visitors.
What to do
Hiking to alpine lakes: The park features several trails leading to scenic alpine lakes. At Ranger Lakes Campground, "There are several good hikes off the road through the park, several lead to alpine lakes, anywhere from 6-10 miles round trip" according to Donella L., who recommends Lake Agnes as a worthwhile destination.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The park is known for moose sightings. At The Crags Campground, Lauren P. reports: "Nice and quiet. Remote, but access to some really great hikes (American Lakes/Snow Lake, Lake Agnes). Saw a smallish bull moose and lots of bucks!"
Winter activities: Winter camping offers unique experiences. At North Michigan Campground, Hayley K. notes: "We stayed in cabin #3 and it was an awesome experience! We had room enough for 4 people and 3 dogs and didn't feel like we were on top of each other. The gas stove kept us nice and toasty all night long!"
Historical sites: Explore nearby ghost towns and historic establishments. As Stephanie J. mentions about the area near Ranger Lakes: "Teller City is a nearby ghost town, and the Rand store is a time warp to the 1800's."
What campers like
Primitive camping experience: The Crags Campground offers a more rustic experience. Zann R. explains: "This is not 'glamping'. This is a pitch your tent, start a fire, watch the deer walk thru type campground. Beautiful views of the Rockies, trails for all levels of hiking."
Cabin accommodations: Winter glamping options are popular at North Michigan Campground. According to Brenda I., "This is a wonderful campground on Michigan Reservoir. It's busy for sure, but never in a way that deters me from visiting. There are cabins to rent, which are fun too."
Direct water access: Many sites offer immediate access to water. B B. shares about North Michigan Campground: "We were able to paddle board and fish right from our campsite, and had a wonderful fresh trout dinner."
Quiet atmosphere: Despite being a popular destination, the park maintains a peaceful environment. Kell H. notes: "Stayed in the North Michigan Reservoir loop for three wonderful days after the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Perfect weather and beautiful scenery. It was not crowded during the week but was full for the weekend."
What you should know
Water availability varies: Some loops have limited water access. As Jen M. points out about North Michigan Campground: "There is no water directly in this loop of the campground so make sure you fill up near the cabins before driving up."
Bear safety critical: Amanda M. warns: "You ARE in bear country and there were no bear bins in the campground - be bear safe and bear smart, lock all of your food and toiletries inside your car at night."
Pine beetle impact: The forest has been affected by pine beetles. According to Heather C., "I tent camped at Ranger Lakes. I was the only one tent camping among all the RV's. I didn't mind that the spaces were visible from each other since I was camping alone."
Winter preparation: For cold-weather glamping near Rand, plan for extreme conditions. As one reviewer noted about cabin camping: "There is no electricity or running water, but there is a propane heater that looks like a wood burning stove."
Tips for camping with families
Family-friendly sites: Winding River Resort provides amenities specifically for families. Mary D. shares: "There's a wonderful petting zoo area, playground, basketball courts and much more. They offer all sorts of activities such as horseback riding, ice cream social, chuckwagon breakfast, square dancing, cowboy church."
Water activities for children: Michigan Reservoir provides safe water play. Meghan H. explains: "Amazing views and something for everyone. My 4 year olds threw rocks in the reservoir, they bikes on nearby trails. The bathrooms were clean too. My dog was able to cool off in the reservoir on a hike."
Wildlife education: The Moose Visitor Center offers educational opportunities. Amanda M. recounts: "We returned to the Moose Visitors Center to share the experience with the rangers (they record the specifics of moose sightings in the area on a board), and the ranger gave us a high five for spotting our first ever moose."
Multi-activity options: Look for sites with varied terrain. Meghan notes about North Michigan: "Something for everyone. My dog could swim in north Michigan reservoir. The kids could ride bikes in trails and throw rocks in the water. Hiking was fun."
Tips from RVers
Limited hookup availability: Many sites lack full hookups. At North Park Campground, Sarah F. notes: "The bathrooms/showers were rundown from the leftovers of the KOA. The State Park is a haul to get to. There are no real towns of any significance nearby. No hookups but the views are worth it!"
Seasonal considerations: Be prepared for unexpected weather. Sarah adds: "We were there in late June and we saw about 6 inches of snow overnight. It was cold!"
Access challenges: Some campgrounds have restricted vehicle access. About The Crags, Grant M. advises: "Had no trouble pulling our 16ft Scamp up with a minivan, but can see that if the road was wet it wouldn't have gone as well. Small trailers are fine, 2WD is fine as long as you aren't battling the weather."
Site selection for RVs: Choose your loop carefully for the best experience. At Glacier Basin Campground, Judy B. explains: "There are 150 standard and 12 group campsites. The sites are distributed in 4 loops with each site having a picnic table, tent pads, and fire grates. There is a limit of 35 feet for RV/Trailer length."
