Fees & Passes

Entrance Fees

There are no entrance fees for Curecanti National Recreation Area, though there are fees associated with camping and boating. Visitors traveling to East Portal will enter through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park entrance must pay the appropriate entrance fee.

Campground Fees

Fees are required at all but one of the campgrounds in Curecanti. Those with a Senior Pass or Access Pass receive a 50% discount on camping.

Elk Creek Campground	$16-22
Lake Fork Campground	$16
Stevens Creek Campground	$16
Cimarron Campground	Closed
Ponderosa Campground	$16
Dry Gulch Campground	$16
East Portal Campground	$16
East Elk Creek Campground	$53
Red Creek Campground	$16-28
Gateview Campground	Free

Boat Permits

A permit is required for boating access on Blue Mesa Reservoir within Curecanti National Recreation Area, and is required for all motorized and/or state registered vessels. Those with a Senior Pass or Access Pass receive a 50% discount on boat permits.

Annual (valid for calendar year)	$30
14 Days	$10
2 Days	$4

Annual Boat Permits can only be purchased in person for the 2023 calendar year.

Want to Purchase an America the Beautiful Pass?

Though Curecanti does not charge an entrance fee, many federal sites do. A pass is your ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites. Each pass below covers entrance fees at national parks and national wildlife refuges, standard amenity fees (day use fees) at national forests and grasslands, and similar fees at lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

You can purchase an America the Beautiful Pass at the Elk Creek Visitor Center, online at the USGS Store, or by calling 1-888-275-8747, extension 1. Find detailed information about the following passes on the USGS Store's Annual Pass and Frequently Asked Questions webpages.

 

2023 Annual Pass

Annual Pass

The Interagency Annual Pass is valid for all National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service entrance fees, and Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and Forest Service sites that charge a standard amenity fee. (This pass is not valid for other National Park Service fees such as camping, boat tours or boat permits).

Cost: $80

Available for:

• Everyone

Additional Information:

• This pass permits entry for the pass holder and accompanying passengers in a single, private, noncommercial vehicle at parks that charge a per vehicle entrance fee.

• This pass is non-transferable to another person.

• The Interagency Annual Pass is valid for one year from the month of purchase

 

2023 Annual Military Pass

Annual Military Pass

Active-duty members of the US military and their dependents qualify for a free Interagency Annual Military Pass. The military pass covers the same fees as the standard $80 Interagency Annual Pass. Identification card is required to obtain the pass

Cost: Free

Available for:

• Current US military members and their dependents in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Force, as well as Reserve and National Guard members

How to obtain:

• Please check requirements before arriving, such as showing a Common Access Card (CAC) or Military ID (Form 1173).

Additional Information:

• Passes may not be issued as gifts since eligible recipient must present proof of eligibility.

• Find detailed information about this pass on the USGS Store's Frequently Asked Questions webpage.

 

Military Lifetime Pass

Lifetime Military Pass

Veterans and Gold Star Families qualify for a free Interagency Lifetime Military Pass. The military pass covers the same fees as the standard $80 Interagency Annual Pass. Identification card is required to obtain the pass.

Cost: Free

Available for:

• Gold Star Families

• Veterans

How to obtain:

• For Gold Star Families:

  • Download and print a special voucher to either present to the ranger, exchange for a Military Pass in person, or place on the vehicle dashboard at unstaffed sites. Gold Star Vouchers may be downloaded from https://www.nps.gov/customcf/goldstar/voucher.htm

• For Veterans:

  • Present one of the following forms of ID:

  1. Department of Defense Identification Card (CAC Card, DD Form 2, DD Form 2765)

  2. Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)

  3. Veteran ID Card

  4. Veterans designation on a state-issued U.S.driver’s license or identification card

Additional Information:

• Passes may not be issued as gifts since eligible recipient must present proof of eligibility.

• Find detailed information about this pass on the USGS Store's Frequently Asked Questions webpage.

 

The September 1, 2022 - August 31, 2023 - 4th Grade Pass

4th Grade Pass

Every Kid Outdoors was created so fourth graders and their families could discover our wildlife, resources, and history for free. Fourth graders were chosen because research shows that kids ages nine to 11 are beginning to learn about the world around them. They’re open to new ideas, and they are likely to connect to nature and our history. These passes are offered to fourth graders every year. Over time, every kid can get a free pass to explore our country.

Cost: Free

Available for:

• US 4th graders, including home-schooled and free-choice learners 10 years of age, with a valid Every Kid Outdoors paper pass.

• Valid for the duration of the 4th grader's school year though the following summer (September-August).

How to obtain:

• Step 1: Obtain a paper pass by visiting the Every Kid Outdoors website and following the instructions.

• Step 2: Exchange for the Annual 4th Grade Pass at a federal recreation site or online.

• NOTE: Digital versions of the paper pass, such as on smart phones or tablets, will not be accepted to exchange for an Annual Fourth Grade Pass.

Additional Information:

• Educators can also be involved! Learn more at the Every Kid Outdoors website.

 

Lifetime and 2023 Annual Senior Passes

Senior Pass

The Senior Pass (Lifetime or Annual) is available to persons who are at least 62 years of age and citizens or permanent residents of the United States. A lifetime pass has a one-time charge of $80. An annual pass may be renewed annually for a $20 charge, and current or expired annual passes may be used to upgrade to a lifetime pass.

Cost:

• $80 lifetime
• $20 annual

Available for:

• US citizens or permanent residents ages 62 or over. Applicants must provide documentation of age and residency or citizenship.

Additional Information:

• The Senior Pass may provide a 50% discount on some amenity fees charged for facilities and services such as camping and boat permits.
• Golden Age Passports are no longer sold. However, these passes will continue to be honored according to the provisions of the pass.
• Passes may not be purchased as gifts since eligible recipient must present proof of eligibility.

 

Access Pass

Access Pass

The Interagency Access Pass is a lifetime pass available without charge to persons who are blind or permanently disabled and citizens or permanent residents of the United States.

Cost: Free

Available for:

• US citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities.

• Applicants must provide documentation of permanent disability and residency or citizenship.

  • Documentation examples: statement by a licensed physician; document issued by Federal agency such as the Veteran's Administration, Social Security Disability Income or Supplemental Security Income; or document issued by a State agency such as a vocational rehabilitation agency.

Additional Information:

• The Access Pass may provide a 50% discount on some amenity fees charged for facilities and services such as camping and boat permits. There is not a discount on the electric service in Elk Creek Campground.

• Passes may not be purchased as gifts since eligible recipient must present proof of eligibility.

• Golden Access Passports are no longer sold. However, these passes will continue to be honored according to the provisions of the pass.