Fishing · State Forest State Park
North Michigan Reservoir
An easy, family-friendly reservoir in State Forest State Park — stocked rainbows, boat ramps, and a campground right on the water.
Toggle USGS Topo / Terrain / Satellite / Street (top-right) · red = special-regulation water, confirm current rules · waters © CPW Colorado Fishing Atlas
North Michigan Reservoir is one of the friendliest waters in Colorado State Forest State Park — a mountain reservoir at about 8,900 feet with a campground built right along its shore. Plenty of folks fish straight from their campsite, and the lake is well stocked with rainbow trout, so it fishes easily and rewards kids and beginners as much as seasoned anglers.
There are two boat ramps, and the lake is open to non-motorized and electric boats — perfect for a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard while you fish. Bait is allowed here, unlike the park’s alpine lakes, which makes it an even easier place to teach someone to fish. The park sits on the far side of Cameron Pass, so you’ll need a State Parks pass to get in.
The Water
Elevation
8,920 ft
Fish
Stocked rainbow trout
Boating
Electric / non-motor · 2 ramps
Good for
Families · bait OK
Good to Know
- A valid Colorado fishing license is required, and the lake is inside State Forest State Park, so a State Parks pass is needed to enter.
- Bait is allowed here (unlike the park’s alpine lakes) — an easy, forgiving place for kids and beginners.
- Two boat ramps; non-motorized and electric boats only — great for canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards.
- The lakeside campground has tent and RV sites plus yurts and cabins — reserve ahead in summer.
What’s Biting & What’s Stocked
The current stocking, the species, ice conditions, and the full Northwest Larimer fishing atlas — refreshed weekly — live in the app.
Coming soon — Larimer Wilds Fishing: offline maps, live GPS, and what’s stocked for every water up here, right in your pocket.
Built by Many Hands — Give a Little Back
Love this guide? Wear it. Every hat, tee, and cozy layer in our Red Feather Lakes collection helps us keep mapping the water and keeping this guide free — mountain apparel designed right here in the high country.
Shop the Collection →This fishery doesn’t sustain itself. Every trout is stocked and every acre stewarded by the public agencies we lean on for this guide — if you love these waters, please pitch in for them too:
- Colorado Parks & Wildlife — the stocking, the fishery & the Colorado Fishing Atlas Donate →
- Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forest (USFS) — the public land & lakes themselves Support →
- OpenStreetMap contributors — the Street basemap Donate →
- Google & USGS — location, ratings & topographic maps
Fishing details compiled by the Red Feather Lakes Travel Guide from the sources above. Photography by us — more of our own water images coming as we fish them.