North Park Campground
Not well kept, but has potential
Was an old KOA. In fact, there are two typical KOA A frame buildings that need to be torn down due to their lack of upkeep. The grounds were overgrown with weeds knee high.
State Forest State Park near Walden includes several glamping accommodation options with views of Michigan Reservoir. Visitors can stay in yurts and glamping cabins that provide a comfortable wilderness experience without sacrificing amenities. North Michigan Campground features rustic glamping cabins that sleep up to 15 people, with propane heaters that "look like wood burning stoves that cast a great ambiance." The cabins come equipped with coat racks, tables, and solar-powered lighting. During winter months, some cabins are pre-heated upon arrival. Ranger Lakes Campground offers additional glamping options with access to showers and electric hookups. Both locations maintain the rustic feel while providing essential comforts for an elevated camping experience.
The surrounding State Forest State Park, nicknamed "Moose Country," provides glamping guests with exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities, particularly for moose sightings. Hiking trails lead to scenic destinations like Lake Agnes, where summer visitors might spot adventurous skiers tackling remaining snow patches. Water activities are accessible directly from many glamping sites, with paddleboarding and fishing among the popular options. According to one visitor, "We were able to paddle board and fish right from our campsite, and had a wonderful fresh trout dinner." Winter glamping offers a completely different experience with snowshoeing and sledding opportunities. The park's remote location means limited cell service and few nearby amenities, so guests should arrive prepared with supplies. One camper noted, "Beautiful and sweeping vistas. Visit ranger lakes. Totally worth it."
$28 - $120 / night
"There is no electricity, bedding, or running water, but there is a propane heater that looks like a wood burning stove that casts a great ambiance."
"We were camping in Utah at Dinosaur National Monument, but due to the smoke from a nearby wildfire and the high heat of the summer, we decided to cut our stay one day short, and head over to the Rockies"
"After driving past the more established Lake John RV Resort we found this spot to park our campervan. Site has a metal tin can fire pit. Very peaceful with private location."
"From Chambers Lake north down FS 103 youll find a lot of dispersed camping and a lot of great spots with beautiful views."
"Options for camping in campgrounds, close to others, or more alone. Options to camp near the lake, river, or on dry land.options for large or small camping areas. Peaceful and beautiful."
$36 / night
"Short hike to multiple high altitude lakes. Glorious views from campsite. Only has electric and water hookup and the dump station was not convenient. Saw moose from the campsite. Clean and very quiet."
"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."
"I stayed at site 410 which has a stream behind it and was a beautiful spot. I would also recommend sites 411-414 & 421 for the primitive camper."
$28 / night
"I love the opportunity to connect to the wild spaces that surround us. I love finding people who share that same passion."
"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."
$35 - $70 / night
"Nice flush toilets with running water, sinks, very clean. Water available throughout the campground and solar showers and a dishwashing station. We had spotty cell service which is fine."
"The spaces are large, but quite close to one another with few trees for privacy. Each site here is variable, with some open with no trees and others nestled in some mature trees."
"Tent sites, RV sites, tent cabins and full fledged cabins. We had a tent site right on the river. Miniature golf. Various bikes to rent. This was the priciest camp site on our cross country trip."
"Then, moved to #31 a back-in site against the fence and away from the road. Although it was smaller, we personally liked #31 better. It had more privacy then the larger open center one."
$18 - $28 / night
"Steamboat Lake State Campground is a very clean and beautiful site right on the lake. We were in site 166, on the end and overlooking the lake."
"We stayed on Bridge Island and there are plenty of sites with good distance between."
$45 - $70 / night
"Great staff and great people!! Big area and right across the road from the Lake so easy walk. Has super clean bathroom showers and facilities."
"Great place for kids and pets. Playground , pool, and nicely stocked camp store. Not a ton of shade so, it gets hot at 2:00 p.m. It is right off the road so some traffic noise."












Was an old KOA. In fact, there are two typical KOA A frame buildings that need to be torn down due to their lack of upkeep. The grounds were overgrown with weeds knee high.
We absolutely love staying here! Many options to stay including walk in camping and covered wagon cabins. There is a long steepish trail that leads to many camp sites along the river. You are not allowed to drive to camp, you must walk your gear in. Very shaded and flat areas built for tents in each site, picnic table, gas grill with propane, fire pit, showers and bathrooms are a short distance away. Running water and easy access to the Hot Springs too.
The place is always updating and staying on top of upkeep. It has many pools of various sizes and temperatures. Even river access to cool off when it's not moving too quick.
As you can see on this visit, we were snowed on. As it seems to be a crazy season this spring 2019- be prepared for muddy rough conditions on the road to the Hot Springs entrance. It can require 4x4 and sometimes is not passable. Depending on weather and conditions. See there website and/or call!
Nice people, but right against the road. My tent was 50 feet from the main road and I tried to sleep with my head under the pillow. Also, showers are TINY, but bathhouse is air conditioned.
This is a great little campground with only 7 campsites that are first come first served (no reservations). However, it's almost never full and if it is full there are plenty of free camping areas along the road (forest service road). There is no electricity or sewer capabilities for RV's and campers and the sites are relatively small, but a pop up or smaller 5th wheels and RVs will fit. There are pit toilets in the campground, but no running water - so pack your own or bring a filter to pump out of the creek.
The beautiful Kilpecker Creek runs through the camp and most of the campsites are situated right along the creek. All of the campsites have a good tent pad, fire pit and picnic table. The great thing about this campground is it's location and the fact that the sites are fairly spaced out giving you more privacy at each site. There is also a great communal area in the center of the campground of you have a small group up there.
Maka sure to use a bear bag or put all food in the car at night (bear country)
This place has everything! Bowling, an amazing pool and hot tubs, super clean facilities, full hookups, rent an airstream or chuckwagon for the weekend, stay in a tiny home - really, there’s so much to do especially for families. Our site (308) had an outdoor kitchen area, nice firepit and chairs, and outdoor table and chairs.
great location right near most attractions in Estes park. Inexpensive. They gave showering/bathroom facilities. There’s is a store for your camping essentials. Fire pits, great view of the mountains. Campsites are very close to each other. Laundry also is on site.
Beautiful campground with great amenities. Nice flush toilets with running water, sinks, very clean. Water available throughout the campground and solar showers and a dishwashing station. We had spotty cell service which is fine. A short hike takes you to sprague lake or the park and ride shuttle to bear lake area. The shuttle does come into the camp, but due to construction it was easier to walk over to the park and ride. If possible take the drive up through the park to grand lakes via the alpine visitor center!
Great staff and great people!! Big area and right across the road from the Lake so easy walk. Has super clean bathroom showers and facilities. Cute very well stocked store with anything you might need from tons of camping gear to OTC medicines, clean laundry room, clean outdoor pool, free outdoor large hot water sink areas to wash dishes and such. Nice safe playground and relaxing pool. No WI-FI signal at all but some cell services (Verizon). Staff quickly Clean open camp sites scooping fire pits, washed down picnic tables and even picked up teeny tiny trash in the grass and bushes! Many sites have little to no shade so really hot during daytime. Site #135 is nice with good shade. It is a busy place so you must make reservations in advance!!
Campground Review
This campground is located in the Poudre Canyon area of Colorado. This is a private, 420-friendly campground. While many will be drawn to that allure, there is a lot of other features this campground offers that makes it a lovely place to stay. There’s communal fire pits, a jungle gym for kids, and hiking trails into and up the Poudre Canyon. It’s also a good place to bunk if you like to fish, with access into the rivers just across the road and so many other spots just a short drive away. Across the road is a general store for any last-minute camping supplies, munchies, booze, and ice. There’s also the Poudre Canyon Grille – a tiny, well-kept trailer serving up burgers, fries, and other fast food sandwiches. Near the office, there’s a large covered patio that has a cell and WiFi booster and in the summertime is a lounge area with a TV. There are two areas that have a bathroom with shower – both single use. When there are nearby music festivals, Canyonside has been known to shuttle festival goers to and from areas of greater access to help you enjoy the show. Speaking of shows, there are sometimes laser light shows where the hosts reflect their displays off the rocky canyon walls, and up the canyon there is also a small ampitheatre.
To learn more about what may be going on near the time of your stay, just call the campground. Which is also what I suggest you do before you book, especially if you’re interested in renting one of their really cool themed cabins (there’s a few, are different sizes, and each have a unique décor theme and were all incredibly clean). There are a few factors like the day of the week, amount of people, and amount of dogs you have that will affect your nightly rate. Ask about the dog policy when you call too, as not all sites allow for pets – like the tent sites – and there is a pet waiver that should be read.
One thing I noticed that was neat for tent dwellers was that one area of the tent sites (there are two sent site locations on either side of the park) had a hammock or swing chair and access to water to do dishes (there is also communal dishware) in addition to your typical flat plot, fire pit, and picnic table. There is also poured concrete sites for RVs with electric and water hookups, but I don’t remember seeing a dump station.
Not sure you want to go all the way in on a cabin but don’t want a tent site and you don’t own an RV? That’s OK as there’s also a pop up trailer on site that can be rented as a “glamping” option. It was a pretty neat little place, but due to the size and chance of trapping pet dander, dogs aren’t allowed in there either.
The hosts are very accommodating and want to help you enjoy your stay. They are approachable and can point you to resources to help you make your stay a 420-featured one, if that’s your thing. I understand they’re looking to add more tent sites and shaded areas and continue to tweak their internet to help it cover more of the grounds. I look forward to returning to see how the place evolves. I do like that there’s so many ways the hosts are there to accommodate you, and one thing that I would love to hear about is that they’ve added drinkable water access. Water is there for you but bring your own drinking water on site.
I want to give this place a 5 out of 5 because of how nice the hosts are, how well kept the grounds are, how many camping options there are, and how many activity options you have, but it gets a 4 out of 5 from me because of the water access, pet restrictions, and add-on fees (pet, extra guest), plus possible fines for any ‘dog infractions’. If you plan your trip ahead, you will have a great time here and really enjoy the atmosphere.
Product Review
As part of the Dyrt Ranger program I am given camping gear to test from time to time, and today I was reviewing a new kind of spork, the Morsel Spork XL. This company makes 3 kinds: The regular sized spork, then the XL, and a spoon XL. I have the morsel XL spork. No better place to review a munchie-curing tool like a 420-friendly campground! I’ve used a lot of sporks over time, and there were three things about this one that I really liked.
These sporks are nowhere near the lightest sporks on the market, but their added weight gives them more durability. They aren’t indestructible, but they won’t snap when they get shoved in your pack either. It is technically also a knife because of the ribbed edges of the fork, but I didn’t have a lot of success cutting with this. I love how it’s dishwasher safe and BPA free! Their versatility for camping makes them a better all-around solution for satisfying your hunger than what you’re using now. 4.75/5 because of the whole knife thing not really working super great.
State Forest State Park near Walden offers rustic camping experiences at elevations near 9,000 feet with cool nights even during summer months. The park spans almost 71,000 acres of Rocky Mountain terrain, providing both established campgrounds and dispersed camping options. Several campgrounds maintain availability year-round despite the area's significant snowfall and seasonal temperature variations.
Fishing for trout: At Ranger Lakes Campground, visitors enjoy excellent fishing in clear mountain lakes. "BEAUTIFUL clear waters, PLENTY of trout, and great trails through the woods to explore," reports Gary E., who found the fishing to be a highlight of his stay.
Winter activities: Winter camping offers completely different experiences with opportunities for snow sports. "We spent a lot of time sledding and snowshoeing and we were basically the only ones out there," mentions Hayley K. about her winter cabin stay at North Michigan Campground.
Hiking to alpine lakes: Multiple trails lead to scenic mountain lakes within short distances of campsites. "We chose Lake Agnes. It was a steep climb but well worth it," notes Donella L., who stayed at Ranger Lakes Campground, adding that many trails lead to alpine lakes "anywhere from 6-10 miles round trip."
Wildlife viewing: The park provides excellent opportunities to see moose, deer, and other wildlife. Justin D. reports from Laramie River Road dispersed camping: "Wildlife is abundant with tons of deer and moose in the area. Topography is Aspen wetlands and is beautiful."
Private remote sites: Dispersed camping options provide more secluded experiences. Alex S. notes that along Forest Service Road 103, "Further down the road you get it opens up with some nice areas to camp... Its dispersed so no bathrooms, cell service, and the closest amenities are towards Walden and the town of Rustic."
Cabin accommodations: The cabins at The Crags Campground provide shelter with basic amenities. "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!" writes Hayley K. about her winter cabin stay.
Mountain views: The camping areas provide scenic vistas of the surrounding mountains. "This campground is beautiful. We had site 221 which is right above the water with its own little trail going down to the reservoir," shares Jen M. about her experience at North Michigan Campground.
Lake access: Many sites offer direct water access for recreation. Kell H. explains the appeal of North Michigan Reservoir loop: "Perfect weather and beautiful scenery. The campground was well maintained, even after the busy weekend. We hiked, biked and just enjoyed the view."
Weather considerations: Mountain weather can change rapidly with snow possible even in summer. Sarah F. from North Park Campground warns: "We were there in late June and we saw about 6 inches of snow overnight. It was cold!"
Limited amenities: The remote location means few services are available. Darla R. notes about dispersed camping: "There is a camp ground near by with a porta-potty and there is a small market about 10-20 miles away. There is no cell service but there are call boxes in the area and we often see rangers driving by."
Fire regulations: Fire bans are common in the area, particularly during dry seasons. Molly U. mentions, "The area is extremely fire damaged in places & there is a fire ban in effect when we were there over 4th of July."
Bear safety: This is active bear country requiring proper food storage. Amanda M. warns about North Michigan Campground: "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."
Beginner-friendly options: Ranger Lakes provides good facilities for families new to glamping in Walden, Colorado. Michael notes, "Nice spot. Great views. Only a third full mid week September. Water near entrance. Vault toilets. Sites well separated but limited screening between."
Kid-friendly activities: Several campgrounds offer activities specifically for children. "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," shares Meghan H. about her family's experience at North Michigan Campground.
Wildlife education: State Forest State Park offers excellent opportunities to teach children about wildlife. Glenna L. from The Crags Campground shares: "We got the opportunity to camp at State Forest State Park in Colorado and a 'fellow camper' 2 sites down from us made choices that put us all, and one of the coolest cow moose and her calf in danger."
Bathroom accessibility: Consider campsite proximity to facilities when traveling with young children. Lisa K. notes about The Crags: "There was an appallingly old and poorly maintained pit toilet for the campground use," highlighting the importance of checking facility conditions.
Site dimensions: For larger RVs, check site specifications before booking glamping near Walden, Colorado. Alex S. notes about Laramie River Road, "Ive seen most vehicles make their way down this road with no issue and that includes RVs w/ toy haulers."
Hookup availability: Full hookups are limited in the area. Sarah S. advises about Ranger Lakes Campground: "Sites are nice and level and potable water available. If you have an RV make sure to fill your tank and the maintenance center 6 miles up the road."
Road conditions: Some campgrounds have restricted access for larger vehicles. Lisa K. points out that at The Crags Campground, "No RVs or trailers allowed or able to make it up the narrow one lane access road, which made it nice and quiet for tent camping."
Water supply: Many campgrounds have limited water access. Tarrah C. notes about North Park Campground: "There is no electric hook up for the RVs but there is a dump station. Water can be found in a few areas around the park."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Walden, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Walden, CO is North Michigan Campground — State Forest State Park with a 4.6-star rating from 17 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Walden, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 25 glamping camping locations near Walden, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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