News Release

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area Are Further Modifying Operations To Implement Local Health Guidance

Date: April 3, 2020
Contact: Sandra Snell-Dobert, 970-922-9216

As of April 3, Black Canyon and Curecanti will offer no services outside those that support visitor or resource protection. 

At Curecanti, the following services and operations will be suspended in order to comply with the state and local public health orders: 

* Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, and Crystal Reservoirs, as well as the Gunnison River from Riverway to the Lake City Bridge are closed to boating until at least April 30. The National Park Service will reevaluate this closure based on public health orders and conditions at that time. 
* Campgrounds and the Elk Creek Visitor Center as well as all restroom facilities are closed. 

The Gunnison River, and the reservoirs, are open for bank fishing.  Trails also remain open. 
Please note, however, all recreation sites within the county are open only to Gunnison County residents per Public Health Order. Please refer to https://covid19.gunnisoncounty.org/ for more information. Please ensure that fishing equipment, including waders, are free of aquatic invasive species, clean and dry, before you enter the river or reservoir. Exercise extreme caution as rescue and emergency resources are very limited.

At Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, the following services and operations will be suspended in order to comply with state and local orders:

* The South Rim Road will remain closed beyond the Visitor Center.
* The North Rim road, and all trails on north rim are closed until further notice
* The Inner Canyon and all routes and trails that go into the inner canyon from either rim are closed
* Restrooms, visitor center, and campgrounds are closed

Tomichi and Gunnison Point overlooks, as well as the Rim Rock and Oak Flat Trails are open. The South Rim drive may be walked. Bicycles are not permitted. Exercise extreme caution as rescue and emergency resources are very limited.

Please refer to Montrose County for further information on local response to COVID-19 https://www.montrosecounty.net/957/Corona-Virus-COVID-19

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners at Black Canyon and Curecanti is our number one priority. The National Park Service (NPS) is working servicewide with federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. We will notify the public when we resume full operations and provide updates on our websites www.nps.gov/blca and www.nps.gov/cure  and social media channels.  

The NPS encourages people who choose to visit during this pandemic to adhere to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local public health authorities to protect visitors and employees. Social distancing at viewpoints, lakeshores, and on trails and trailheads is of utmost importance. As services are limited, the NPS urges visitors to continue to practice Leave No Trace principles, including pack-in and pack-out, to keep outdoor spaces safe and healthy.