Curecanti

National Recreation Area Colorado

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East Portal Road is Open

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Camping

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Video: Camping at Curecanti

ELK CREEK
16 miles west of Gunnison on U.S. Highway 50 on the shore of Blue Mesa Reservoir in treeless, sagebrush, mesa country.

Open: year round (limited services fall to spring)
Sites: 160 (includes 16 walk-in sites and 20 pull-through sites)
Accessible: yes
Water: yes (mid-May to mid-September)
Flush toilets: yes (mid-May to mid-September)
Vault toilets: yes
Electric hookups: yes, Loop D only
Dump station: yes
Showers: yes (summer only)
Tables/fire grates: yes
Visitor Center: yes
Evening programs: yes (summer only)
Marina: yes (late spring to early fall)
Restaurant: yes (summer only)
Boat ramp: yes
Fish cleaning station: yes
Elevation: 7540

Reservations available: yes, Loops A & D only. All sites in Loops A and D are premium sites and have a maximum 14 consecutive day stay in a 30 day period. Reservations must be made at least 3 days in advance.

Fees:
Loops B or C - $12.00 per night ($6.00 per night for Interagency Senior/Access Pass)
Loop A - $12.00 per night plus $3.00 per night if reserved ($6.00 per night for Interagency Senior/Access Pass plus $3.00 per night if reserved)
Loop D (electric hookups) - $18.00 per night plus $3.00 per night if reserved ($12.00 per night for Interagency Senior/Access Pass plus $3.00 per night if reserved)

Campground Map » (195k pdf)
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LAKE FORK
27 miles west of Gunnison on U.S. Highway 50 on the shore of Blue Mesa Reservoir near Blue Mesa Dam. The campground is paved except for walk-in sites.

Open: late spring to fall (limited services at beginning and end of season)
Sites: 90
Accessible: yes
Water: yes (mid-May to mid-September)
Flush toilets: yes (mid-May to mid-September)
Vault toilets: yes
Electric hookups: no
Dump station: yes
Showers: yes (summer only)
Tables/fire grates: yes
Visitor Center: yes (open intermittently in summer)
Evening programs: yes (summer only)
Marina: yes (late spring to early fall)
Restaurant: no
Boat ramp: yes
Fish cleaning station: yes
Elevation: 7580

Reservations available: yes, select sites in the upper and middle sections. All reservable sites are premium sites and have a maximum 14 consecutive day stay in a 30 day period. Reservations must be made at least 3 days in advance.
Fees: $12.00 per night plus $3.00 per night if reserved ($6.00 per night for Interagency Senior/Access Pass plus $3.00 per night if reserved)

Campground Map » (334k pdf)
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STEVENS CREEK
12 miles west of Gunnison on U.S. Highway 50 on the shore of Blue Mesa Reservoir in treeless, sagebrush, mesa country.

Open: late-May to fall
Sites: 53
Accessible: yes
Water: yes (late-May to mid-September)
Flush toilets: no
Vault toilets: yes
Electric hookups: no
Dump station: no
Showers: no
Tables/fire grates: yes
Visitor Center: no
Evening programs: no
Marina: no
Restaurant: no
Boat ramp: yes
Fish cleaning station: yes
Elevation: 7540

Reservations available: yes, Loop A only. All sites in Loop A are premium sites and have a maximum 14 consecutive day stay in a 30 day period. Reservations must be made at least 3 days in advance.

Fees: $12.00 per night plus $3.00 per night if reserved ($6.00 per night for Interagency Senior/Access Pass plus $3.00 per night if reserved)

Campground Map » (170k pdf)
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CIMARRON
20 miles east of Montrose on U.S. Highway 50, located in the vicinity of a historic narrow gauge railroad town, Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad exhibits, and access to Crystal Reservoir near Morrow Point Dam.

Open: spring to fall
Sites: 21 (includes 5 pull-through sites)
Accessible: yes
Water: yes (mid-May to mid-September)
Flush toilets: yes (mid-May to mid-September)
Vault toilets: no
Electric hookups: no
Dump station: yes
Showers: no
Tables/fire grates: yes
Visitor Center: yes (open intermittently in summer)
Evening programs: no
Marina: no
Restaurant: no
Boat ramp: no
Fish cleaning station: no
Elevation: 6895

Reservations available: no

Fees: $12.00 per night. $6.00 per night for Interagency Senior/Access Pass

Campground Map » (172k pdf)
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EAST PORTAL
Located 2 miles downstream of Crystal Dam at the bottom of Black Canyon. Take CO Highway 347 6 miles north from the junction of 347 and U.S. Highway 50 to entrance of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Turn right just past the entrance station, and follow East Portal Road 5 miles down to the campground.

Note: Vehicles exceeding 22 feet in length (including trailer) are not permitted on the East Portal Road because of the steep 16% grade and sharp, narrow curves.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park entrance fee applies to those accessing East Portal.

The campground is shaded by box elder trees, is located near the historic Gunnison River Diversion Tunnel, and is immediately east of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park boundary.

Open: spring to fall
Sites: 15
Accessible: no
Water: yes (mid-May to mid-September)
Flush toilets: no
Vault toilets: yes
Tables/fire grates: yes

Reservations available: no

Fees: $12.00 per night. $6.00 per night for Interagency Senior/Access Pass

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DRY GULCH
Just north of U.S. Highway 50, 17 miles west of Gunnison. The campground is shaded by large cottonwood trees.

Open: spring to fall
Sites: 9
Accessible: no
Water: yes (mid-May to mid-September)
Flush toilets: no
Vault toilets: yes
Tables/fire grates: yes
Horse corral: yes

Reservations available: no

Fees: $12.00 per night. $6.00 per night for Interagency Senior/Access Pass

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Horse Corral Dimensions »

PONDEROSA
Located at the northwest end of the Soap Creek Arm of Blue Mesa Reservoir. From U.S. Highway 50, follow CO Highway 92 1/2 mile past Blue Mesa Dam to Soap Creek Road. Proceed 7 miles north on the gravel Soap Creek Road.

Note: During dry conditions, the first 7 miles of Soap Creek Road are passable to trailers and motor homes. Rain can make the Soap Creek Road hazardous or impassable.

Open: spring to fall
Sites: 28
Accessible: no
Water: yes (mid-May to mid-September)
Flush toilets: no
Vault toilets: yes
Tables/fire grates: yes
Boat ramp: OPEN until September 6
Fish cleaning station: no
Horse corral: yes

Reservations available: no

Fees: $12.00 per night. $6.00 per night for Interagency Senior/Access Pass

GATEVIEW
Located in a deep, narrow canyon at the extreme south end of the Lake Fork Arm of Blue Mesa Reservoir. Take CO Highway 149 7 miles west of Powderhorn, then 6 miles north on the gravel Blue Mesa Cutoff Road.

Open: spring to fall
Sites: 6
Accessible: no
Water: yes (mid-May to mid-September)
Flush toilets: no
Vault toilets: yes
Tables/fire grates: yes

Reservations available: no

Fees: Free

RED CREEK (INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP CAMPGROUND)
Located 19 miles west of Gunnison just north of U.S. Highway 50. The sites are located among large cottonwood trees. The group site can accomodate 20 people.

Open: spring to fall
Sites: 1 individual site and 1 group site
Accessible: no
Water: yes (mid-May to mid-September)
Flush toilets: no
Vault toilets: yes
Tables/fire grates: yes

Reservations: the group site is available by reservation only. Reservations must be made at least 3 days in advance. Reservations are not available for individual sites.

Fees:
Individual site - $12.00 per night. $6.00 per night for Interagency Senior/Access Pass
Group site - $28.00 per night

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EAST ELK CREEK (GROUP CAMPGROUND)
Located 16.5 miles west of Gunnison just north of U.S. Highway 50. The site is located among large cottonwood trees. Accommodates a total of 50 people.

Open: spring to fall
Sites: 1 group site
Accessible: no
Water: yes (mid-May to mid-September)
Flush toilets: no
Vault toilets: yes
Tables/fire grates: yes
Picnic shelter: yes

Reservations: yes, available by reservation only. Reservations must be made at least 3 days in advance.