Basic Information

Yellow and orange sunset sky over a reservoir — Storm colors over Blue Mesa Reservoir
NPS Photo

Located on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Curecanti National Recreation Area includes three reservoirs in the Upper Gunnison River Basin - Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, and Crystal. In addition to boating, windsurfing, and fishing opportunities, visitors can hike, view wildlife, camp, attend a ranger program, and more.

Curecanti contains varied habitats including riparian areas, steep canyons, sagebrush hillsides, and forests of ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, Colorado narrowleaf cottonwood, and aspen. The recreation area is in mostly high desert country with colorful sedimentary and volcanic rock layers. Summers are pleasant with temperatures typically in the 70s to 80s. Winters temperatures frequently dip below zero.