North Michigan Reservoir Campground in State Forest State Park Overview

North Michigan Reservoir Campground surrounds a beautiful mountain lake in the heart of State Forest State Park. This campground offers a wide variety of campsite types from tent-only all the way up to a nice cabin. Most campsites here will accommodate campers and small or medium size RVs. Being in the heart of this Colorado State Park offers campers here a whole slew of activities. If you’re looking for a place that can accommodate a wide variety of camping experiences and interests, North Michigan Reservoir Campground might be a great place for you.

Note: Campsites at the North Michigan Reservoir Campground are listed under State Forest State Park sites 201-243. The cabins here are listed as cabin 1-6

Region:

Northwest Region

Coordinates:

40.598331,-105.953613

Driving 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.

Map Link:

Camp Out Colorado Camping Map

Forestry:

Colorado State Park

Elevation:

9,200 Feet

Campsites:

State Forest State Park lumps all campsites and campgrounds into one large group. Please search reservation website for specifics.

Season:

Peak season is early June through to late September.

Activities and Amenities:

ADA Fish. Access, Amphitheater, Beaching Your Boat, Biking, Bird Watching, Boat Launch, Boat Ramp, Boating, Comfort Station, Cross Country Skiing, Dumpster, Fee Station, Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Hunting, Ice Fishing, Information Center, Interpretitive Programs, Laundry, Motorized Trails, Natural Shade, Nature Study Exhibits, Parking, Photography, Picnicking, Restrooms, Showers, Snow Shoeing, Snow Sledding, Snowmobiling, Visitor Center, Wildlife Watching Opportunity

Fishing:

North Michigan Reservoir       Read our camping review!

More Camping:

Chambers Lake       Read our camping review!

North Michigan Reservoir Campground in State Forest State Park Campsites

The campsites here at North Michigan Reservoir are well maintained, but a little beat up at times. Tree cover here is thinning out dramatically due to the bark beetle issues in the Rockies. Quite a few of the forested areas around the campground have been cut back or removed altogether. Some clear cutting has been done around the campground to protect the area from the inevitable forest fires. Please be extra careful with open flames and sparks here.

The campsites themselves each offer relatively flat parking. This is quite nice if you have a camper or RV. The area around the lake is hilly and it is nice to have flat areas for these vehicles. Each campsite also has a 12×12 standard size tent pad. Be aware that some of the larger cabin tents will not fit inside of these tent pads. Depending on the site, campers may be able to pitch a second tent in a grassy area. But don’t count on that here.

There is not much shade at any of the North Michigan Reservoir Campground sites anymore. Make sure to bring your own shade, bring sunblock and reapply it several times each day.

Being near North Michigan Reservoir combined with the hilly area make some of the campsites quite windy. Be aware that some extra steps might need to be taken to secure your campsite and shade.

The campsite spacing here is good. Even though the campground is getting to be more open, the hills help to give a better sense of having your own space to enjoy.

Campsite Amenities at North Michigan Reservoir Campground in State Forest State Park

Each campsite in the North Michigan Reservoir Campground has a metal grate picnic table. Remember to bring a tablecloth. Some soft bench covers would be nice to have as these tables are not terribly comfortable. The tables are not secured to the ground but are quite heavy. If you arrive and find your table is out of place, make sure to put it inside the rail road ties. The heavy table and the foot traffic around it can do a lot of damage to the wild plants in the campground.

The fire rings in the campsites at North Michigan Reservoir Campground are low profile, so be careful with your fire in the wind. The bark beetle problem in this area is very bad. An accidental fire here will quickly get out of control. Never leave your fire unattended. Please make sure any fires are dead out when you go to bed or leave the campsite. Completely dousing them to make ash soup is the best way to be sure they are out. These low-profile fire rings are nice for the heat they provide on colder nights. The fire ring grills do swing over which makes it easier to switch between a cooking fire and a storytelling fire.

Remember to use local wood to help stop the spread of bark beetles. Never burn green wood or chop down living trees! Wood bundles can be picked up at the camp host. Since they are combating bark beetle kill off in the area they usually have a good supply of wood here. Make sure to never take this wood anywhere. If you don’t burn it, leave it for the next camper. They will thank you! Plus you will not contribute to the spread of bark beetles.

There are no hookups at the campsites at North Michigan Reservoir Campground but fresh water can be found here.

If you have stayed at the North Michigan Reservoir Campground in State Forest State Park, please leave a comment below. Remember to mention the exact campsite. This will really help other campers that are thinking about going to North Michigan Reservoir Campground in State Forest State Park.

Amenities at North Michigan Reservoir Campground in State Forest State Park

There are a lot of campground amenities at North Michigan Reservoir Campground in State Forest State Park. This is area acts as the hub of activity in the park. Most of the amenities listed are found at this specific campground.

Probably the biggest draw to this specific campground is North Michigan Lake. This is a great place to enjoy fishing or small boat activities. This is a wakeless water lake. Boaters and anglers do not have to worry about larger boats here.

Another common reason for outdoor enthusiasts to camp here is the close and easy access to huge amounts of wilderness. Hikers, bikers, photographers, and wildlife viewers find North Michigan Reservoir Campground a great “home base” location.

There is no electricity at any of the North Michigan Reservoir Campground in State Forest State Park sites. Cell service is sketchy here but is good enough for a call if needed.

Activities Around North Michigan Reservoir Campground in State Forest State Park

As one of the hubs of activity wildlife watching can be a hit or miss here. If you are camping here outside of peak season you have a much better chance to see animals. During peaks season when the campground is full most of the wildlife in the area usually avoid this area. Heading over to Ranger Lakes Campground or Bockman Campground areas may yield better results for spotting some deer or a moose. Or you can head out on one of the many hikes in the park. If you happen to come across some wildlife, give them their space. Enjoy them at a distance. Even though it might be tempting, never feed any wildlife.

The Michigan River feeds North Michigan Reservoir. Some nice small river fly fishing can be enjoyed both above and below the lake. Fishing from the shore or on a small craft is also a favorite here.

If you are looking for something else to do you should also stop by the Moose Visitor Center for Colorado State Forest. It is a nice visitor center with lots of fun and interesting information about the area.

If you find that you forgot something, the town of Walden is only about 30 minutes north on Highway 14. It is a nice and convenient place to pick up anything you need. It is also a good place to escape poor weather if the need should arise.

Final Thoughts on North Michigan Reservoir Campground in State Forest State Park

North Michigan Reservoir Campground is the hub of activity in State Forest State Park. It is a fun and diverse place to go camping. There are many amenities here which takes some of the “roughing it” out of roughing it. The campsites around the lake can accommodate just about any kind of camping you would like to enjoy. From pitching a tent near the lake to setting up a huge RV in the eastern flats at the end of the lake.

The views here are spectacular and the surrounding area is beautiful. There is a lot of wildlife in the area as this is a lush and vibrant area.

It is a very popular place to go camping. Make sure to get reservations if you can. It will save some frustration from showing up to a full campground. If this happens, don’t despair quite yet. There are several other campgrounds nearby that frequently take the “spillover” from North Michigan Reservoir Campground.

If you have stayed at the North Michigan Reservoir Campground in State Forest State Park, please leave a comment below. Remember to mention the exact campsite. This will really help other campers that are thinking about going to North Michigan Reservoir Campground in State Forest State Park.