Where is North Michigan Creek Reservoir located?

North Michigan Creek Reservoir is located in Jackson County, Colorado.

North Michigan Creek Reservoir

Jackson County, Colorado

4.6(34 reviews)

About North Michigan Creek Reservoir

North Michigan Creek Reservoir sits in the remote high country of Jackson County, surrounded by wildflower meadows and golden aspen groves within Colorado State Forest State Park. Reviewers consistently describe it as a hidden gem with postcard-worthy views, though the rustic facilities require some preparation before your visit.

Fishing at North Michigan Creek Reservoir draws anglers year after year, with trout being the primary target species. The reservoir was drained for dam repairs in recent years, and the fishery has been restocked, though multiple reviewers note the trout are currently on the smaller side as the population rebuilds. Stream fishing along North Michigan Creek provides an alternative option for fly fishing enthusiasts. Visitors who have fished here for decades report reliable catches both on the lake and in the surrounding creeks.

Kayaking and canoeing are popular activities on this non-motorized reservoir. Never Summer Nordic, located near the entrance, rents double kayaks for exploring the calm waters. Reviewers advise watching the weather closely because afternoon storms can roll in quickly, kicking up waves and wind on the exposed water.

The campground offers both tent sites and RV sites, plus cabins and yurts nearby for those who prefer a roof overhead. Tent sites vary in quality. Some have shade trees while others are fully exposed, and spacing between sites is tight. A small shop near the campground entrance sells souvenirs, craft beer, camping essentials, and CBD products. Potable water is available from a pump on the north side of the lake, so bring containers if your site is on the south side.

Wildlife viewing is a real highlight here. The area is known for moose sightings, and visitors regularly spot deer and chipmunks around camp. Elk inhabit the surrounding State Forest, drawing archery hunters in the fall season.

Be aware that restroom facilities are vault toilets without seats, and conditions can be rough during peak summer months with fly problems. There is zero cell phone service at the reservoir, including Verizon, so download maps and plan your trip before arriving. The nearest cell service is in Walden. Hiking and OHV trails in the surrounding State Forest offer additional exploration, though trail markings can be sparse. Fall visits reward with stunning golden aspen, cooler temperatures, and fewer crowds.

Reviews (10)

Wagon Wheel

Awesome little lake. Too many campers for me but I understand why so many like it.

Heather

As some from Michigan, I have to admit that while searching for campgrounds in Colorado, that this one caught my eye for obvious reasons. I immediately booked tent site 221 once scrolling through the reviews. We spent four nights there and we were blown away by the beautiful scenery. And despite the reservoir being mostly drained for maintenance , that did not take anything away from the experience. I swear the travel gods blessed us as the weather was perfect for hiking (not too hot, not too cold. Not too windy, but a nice cool breeze.). 🤌. There are toilets on site, but ye be warned, they are pit toilets. No biggie as there was no smell, and they were disinfected by the campground host (quick shoutout to him! I don’t know your name, but we are thankful for you!). Right near the entrance to the campground, there is a cute little shop that honestly surprised us with how much they sold! They have everything from souvenirs to craft beer to camping essentials to CBD...and everything in between! I believe we also chose a great time to go as the campground was not busy at all. (Before the Memorial Day crowds. We stayed May 19-23). We look forward to returning someday!!!

Robert Naeve

We were archery Elk hunting the week we stayed here. Elk hunting is getting more difficult for buddy and I. They are in the State Forest ....but not easy to locate. We spend a lot of time fishing. My buddy is also the camp host for North Michigan Reservoir campsites. We've been hunting and fishing this area for over 10 years ...and we have worked together and Elk hunted for over 40 years. Now we're both retired and just enjoy camping more.

Monica Meisner

Rained every day we were there. Bathrooms leaked, and we're dirty. Be prepared to dig trenches so your site doesn't flood.

ONEPRIDE52

I love this campground I've been going to this campground since I was 5 I think. The fishing is always good whether you're on the lake or fishing the streams. The 4Wheeling trails are always a blast.

Linda Sandoval

Cabin number 3 had a great time with the family.

Eric Ward

Very nice lake. I was there in the fall during the week, but it was peaceful and quiet, trout were hungry, weather was perfect, aspen were glowing golden in the sunlight - couldn't get much better. Very clean area as well.

Lydia Long

5 star location. Three stars for lack of any care for the campground. People weren't paying fees, as there was no attendant. Pit toilets on south side were power washed Dailey, but that didn't make a dent in the nasty fly problem. No toilet seats. Two unisex pit toilets for dozens of sites. No water. People were letting dogs run and driving ohv around the campground. Save your money and find dispersed camping.

Minnie H

We stayed 2 nights in a tent-only site over Labor Day weekend (Thursday and Friday). Some of the tent sites have no shade at all but we were lucky enough to get the one that did. Since it was 77 degrees in the day we were grateful for that. The lake was gorgeous and we had our own private beach for the kids to play. The sites are close together and right across from RV sites so we had to listen to a generator all morning as we were hanging out/packing up to leave. Would be nice if the tent sites were separated somewhat or at least had trees to feel some distance. We could hear peoples’ conversations as if they were sitting right next to us. The bathroom on the first and second day had tons of flies and my seven-year-old was terrified to go in them. I think the host came by Friday late morning and cleaned them because we didn’t have any issues the rest of the time. There is no seat on the toilet so be prepared to lay down a lot of layers of toilet paper if you want to actually sit down. We went to the visitor center for the kids to go potty because they were just totally freaked out by the toilets in the campground. As others have said, the water pump is on the north side of the lake but we brought our own so that wasn’t an issue. Sites are a little small and some of them don’t have a separate tent pad away from the fire grate. All that to say the views were absolutely gorgeous and we enjoyed our time there. But as far as state parks go we have been in better ones in CO.

Ivan N

Very nice reservoir. One star off for not catching fish. Apparently the lake was drained for repairs on the dam. The fish are tiny stocked trout. It will be at least 3-4 years before the fishery recovers.