Visit State Forest State Park in Colorado for a peaceful and refreshing vacation! Gorgeous mountains, pristine lakes and abundant wildlife are just a few reasons to visit this park.
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Do you like to travel? Check out A Rocky Mountain National Park Adventure and Visit Badlands National Park.
State Forest State Park is located near Walden, Colorado, just north of Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s known for being the “Moose Capital of Colorado”. If you’re looking for a destination that is healthy both mentally and physically, this park is it!
My family decided to camp with our travel trailer at the Ranger Lakes Campground within the state park.
Compact Binoculars for travel and hiking.
Wifi is non-existent and cell service was marginal too. However, it was wonderful to be totally disconnected to relax and enjoy the environment.
Relaxing for our family was hiking, fishing, photographing wildlife, cooking fish over the fire and reading in the hammocks.
Hiking at State Forest State Park
The Ranger Lakes Nature Trail was easily assessable right from our campsite. We hiked the trail many times to the Ranger Lakes. It was also a nice trail to walk the dog and look for moose.
Colorado Trail Map – Foldable for hiking and travel
The Gould Trail is a popular hike that went through our campground as well. You can hike the loop beginning from the campground or starting at the Moose Visitor Center. The park rangers hold night programs using this trail.
The hike to Lake Agnes was the highlight of our vacation for me. It’s a steep drive to the small parking lot and trailhead. Once you’ve got your pack on, be prepared for a short (1 mile) but steep hike to this pristine alpine lake. The trail has many switch backs and a few scenic spots to stop for a rest if needed.
We arrived at the alpine lake early in the morning. The lake was calm and beautiful!
This friendly marmot entertained us while we visited Lake Agnes. Marmots can also be called “rock chucks”. They adapt well to the high elevation and cold temperatures.
At Lake Agnes we found snow! It was approximately 3 feet deep of packed solid snow.
The beauty of the hike, lake and wild flowers is not easily captured on camera. You just need to experience the sights and smells of the alpine lake!
Fishing at State Forest State Park
My husband and daughters found the fishing at Ranger Lakes to be incredible! They acquired Colorado fishing licenses at the Moose Visitor Center. You can get a Colorado Fishing Guide as well.
An Angler’s Guidebook: Fishing Colorado
One morning we got up before the sun and hiked to Ranger Lakes for the sunrise. While my family enjoyed the fishing, I was in awe watching three bald eagles. It was amazing to hear their wings as they flew over the lake. They were swooping down to fish out of the lake and calling to each other.
Photographing Wildlife in State Forest State Park
Whether you take pictures with your cell phone, point & shoot camera, or a professional DSLR camera this park does NOT disappoint. The variety of coniferous trees and wildlife is spectacular!
I personally like the lodgepole pine and blue spruce! It was quite a treat to share the woods and lakes with the native wildlife.
It was so much fun to see moose every day!!! On our second day we saw a bull & cow grazing in the distance from our campsite. Another afternoon, we saw another bull moose while taking a walk around the campground.
We mostly saw the moose at The Crags, Cameron Pass and along State Highway 14, west of the campground. Our total count for four days was 16 moose!
One of my daughters is an avid birder and she was excited to find new birds in this area, one being the William Sapsucker. We saw him every day as we hiked to the Ranger Lakes.
The best time to view wildlife is in the morning or just before the sun sets. We drove over to Cameron Pass each evening and saw many mule deer and moose right from our vehicle.
Grasslands Outside the Park
We ventured a few miles out of the state park to the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge. Drive northwest towards Walden, and then go south on county road 32 for a few miles until you see signs for the Wildlife Auto Drive.
It was a peaceful drive, as we went from pines to grasslands! The pronghorn, prairie dogs, and unique birds were a highlight for us all. Cattle were grazing everywhere, and we found them to be amusing as well.
Tips for Visiting State Forest State Park
State Forest State Park exceeded our expectations! It was a refreshing place to camp and explore for our family.
Tips to Pass Along:
- Reserve your campsite early!
- Pack the essentials: lots of drinking water & food
- Be prepared for strong winds which can make campfires difficult
- Adjust to the high attitude slowly (you’ll be at 9,400 ft.)
- Pack boots, hats, gloves, headlamps, & sunscreen any time of year.
- Visit the Moose Visitor Center
- Allow 1 hour for every mile you hike
- Bring an extra long hose if filling your RV water tank at the park
I order healthy hiking staples online through Thrive Market.
My favorite quick food to pack are Epic soft bite salmon jerky & traditional jerky, dried beets and carrot sticks, freeze-dried strawberries/bananas, and gluten free pretzel sticks.
Healthy Travel Meal Ideas gets you started with meals and snacks ideal for traveling.
State Forest Sate Park in Colorado was a new favorite for our family! We hope to return to the park in the near future. It’s truly a wonderful place to hike, camp, fish, take pictures, and relax!!
What did you like best about this state park? Give a shout if you have any questions before you venture off to camp here.
A relaxing time away makes for a healthier you!
Pursuing Better Health Together,