News Release

East Portal Road to be Closed for the 2021 Season

The East Portal road descends into the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River.

National Park Service photo

News Release Date: March 31, 2021

Contact: Sandra Snell-Dobert, 970-641-2337

The East Portal Road will be closed to all public access, including pedestrian and bicycle traffic, throughout the 2021 season to complete vital road work and infrastructure improvements at East Portal. The East Portal Road is owned and managed by the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) and used by the National Park Service (NPS) to provide visitor access to NPS facilities along the Gunnison River. 

The road project will improve access to East Portal, making the road safer and less prone to rockfall closures. Blasting and scaling of rock faces, resurfacing and other major work requires that the road be closed for the season. Access for dam operations and maintenance of infrastructure will be possible on a limited basis. 

National Park Service staff will also be using the period of closure to complete necessary repairs on the East Portal Campground and the picnic area. All water, trash and other services have been suspended and staff shifted to operations on the north and south rims of the canyon. 

Alternative river access is available downstream in the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area and upstream near the town of Gunnison. 

Both the BOR and NPS appreciate your understanding and patience as we improve safety and accessibility for your future visits.