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Curecanti National Recreation Area
Curecanti National Recreation Area is a series of three reservoirs along the once wild Gunnison River. The reservoirs that make up Curecanti today are a destination for water-based recreation high in the Rocky Mountains. Best known for salmon and trout fishing, Curecanti also offers opportunities for hiking, boating, camping, and bird watching.
RecAreaDirections
U.S. Highway 50 runs the length of Curecanti between Montrose and Gunnison. The recreation area is also accessed from CO Highway 149 and CO Highway 92.
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Permits info
Facilities
Elk Creek Visitor Center Visitor Center
Summer (May 1 to September 24) - open daily 8 am to 5 pm (open holidays, closed for lunch from 12 to 1 pm) Winter (September 25 to April 30) - open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 am to 4 pm (closed on Sundays, Mondays, holidays, and for lunch from 12 to 1 pm)
Cimarron Campground Campground
List of CampsitesCimarron Campground is located 20 miles east of Montrose on U.S. Highway 50 at the site of a historic narrow gauge railroad town. All types of camping from tents to medium sized RVs can be accommodated at Cimarron. All sites are first-come first-served, and the campground rarely fills. Railroad exhibits are adjacent to the campground, and Crystal Reservoir near Morrow Point Dam is approximately 1.5 miles away. Elevation: 6895 feet
Ponderosa Campground Campground
List of CampsitesPonderosa Campground is 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. Tents and medium sized RVs can be accommodated at Ponderosa. All sites are first-come first-served. Elevation: 7880 feet Note: During dry conditions, the first 7 miles of Soap Creek Road are passable to trailers and RVs. Rain can make the Soap Creek Road impassable.
Dry Gulch Campground Campground
List of CampsitesDry Gulch Campground is located 17 miles west of Gunnison just north of U.S. Highway 50. The campground is shaded by large cottonwood trees and can accommodate tents or medium sized RVs. All sites are first-come first-served. A horse corral is available. Elevation: 7560 feet
East Portal Campground Campground
List of CampsitesThe East Portal Campground is located within Curecanti National Recreation Area, but is adjacent to and only accessible from Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, which has a $30 entrance fee. The campground is located at the bottom of the canyon, along the Gunnison River. It is a small campground shaded by box elder trees. East Portal is closed in winter, when the Bureau of Reclamation closes the East Portal Road. Elevation: 6526 feet
Gateview Campground Campground
List of CampsitesGateview Campground is 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. All sites are first-come first-served. Gateview is best suited for tent camping. Due to the narrow gravel road, even small RVs or pop-up trailers are not recommended. Elevation: 7538 feet
ELK CREEK CAMPGROUND Campground
List of CampsitesOverview
Elk Creek Campground is on the north shore of Blue Mesa Reservoir. The lake is Colorado's largest body of water with 96 miles of shoreline and the largest Kokanee Salmon fishery in the United States.
Elk Creek Campground is located off of US HWY 50 -15 miles west of Gunnison Co. at Mile Marker 142.
The campground is part of the Curecanti National Recreation Area, which was named after a Ute Indian chief of the mid-19th century.
The Elk Creek area is a hub for water based activities year round.
Recreation
Anglers delight in catching salmon and rainbow trout, while water sports fans find excitement in windsurfing and water skiing.
Swimming is permitted throughout the 20-mile long reservoir and birders can find bald eagles here year round.
Facilities
Campfire programs are in full swing during the summer months.
Cell phone service is limited. Electric hookups are in Loop D for both 30 and 50 amps.
Elk Creek, Lake Fork and Iola boat ramps are OPEN for the season.
Natural Features
At an altitude of 7,540 feet, Elk Creek is surrounded by a vast expanse of sagebrush. Trees are minimal because the reservoir gets less than 12 inches of rain a year.Curecanti National Recreation Area is sandwiched between the towns of Montrose and Gunnison, Colorado. It spans three reservoirs, named for corresponding dams on the Gunnison River. These include the Crystal Reservoir, Morrow Point Reservoir and Blue Mesa.
Nearby Attractions
Visit the Cimarron Rail Exhibit to see railcars and the last remaining railroad trestle on the Black Canyon of the Gunnison route.
LAKE FORK CAMPGROUND Campground
List of CampsitesOverview
Lake Fork Campground is on the Blue Mesa Reservoir, near the reservoir's dam. It is a part of the historic Curecanti Recreation Area and is an ideal place to stay for days of boat recreation, hiking and taking in the views of the Black Canyon.Recreation
Jet skiing, water skiing and canoeing are some of the many water activities available on the reservoir.Birding is also rewarding, with chances to see the black-billed magpie.
Along the shrubland, visitors can spot Gunnison's prairie dogs popping out of their holes.
Facilities
Flush toilets are available in summer months.
Cell phone service is limited.
For anglers, a fish cleaning station is provided for conveniently preparing the days catch.
Elk Creek, Lake Fork and Iola boat ramps are OPEN for the season.
Natural Features
The steep canyon walls in this part of the reservoir were carved out by the Gunnison River, which once flowed with powerful intensity fueled by the snowmelt of nearby mountains.
Today, the Gunnison river is dammed in three places, creating three large and beautiful reservoirs to be enjoyed by visitors.
The land is characterized by semi-arid shrubland with vast expanses of sagebrush. The natural features and ecosystems of Curecanti vary greatly, with Riparian habitats, epic canyons and lush patches of Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir and aspen trees.
Nearby Attractions
The recreation area is just south of Gunnison National Forest and east of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. There's no shortage of options for scenic drives and hikes.
Try hiking the Curecanti Creek Trail or Hermit's Rest Trail off HWY 92..
STEVENS CREEK CAMPGROUND Campground
List of CampsitesOverview
Stevens Creek Campground lies on the north shore at the eastern end of Blue Mesa Reservoir. This is the closest campground to the town of Gunnison, CO. Popular with boaters,
Stevens Creek has easy access to the reservoir. It is very sunny and bright, and the scent of sagebrush adds to the camping experience.
A bit downstream is the Morrow Point Reservoir and the Crystal Reservoir, both surrounded by the steep cliffs of the Black Canyon.
Recreation
Stand up paddleboarding, fishing, canoeing, and other water sports are popular here.
Birding is rewarding, as this shallower end of the reservoir is ideal for waterfowl. For hikers, try the 1.5 mile Neversink Trail, which meanders along the Gunnison River upstream of Blue Mesa Reservoir.
Facilities
The 53-site campground offers waterfront-sites and a wide variety of amenities including a picnic area, self pay station and drinking water available late-May to mid-September.Natural Features
The campground sits at an elevation of 7,540 feet and is characterized by a semi-arid, treeless shrubland. The mesa landscape is covered with sagebrush and receives less than 12 inches of rain a year.Nearby Attractions
Head into Gunnison for a meal, a bit of shopping, or a visit to the local park or museum. Gunnison is known for its western ambiance and small town friendliness. Mountain biking and hiking can be found at Hartman Rocks Recreation Area just south of Gunnison
RED CREEK GROUP SITE Campground
List of CampsitesOverview
In the heart of southwest Colorado is a group camp getaway for nature lovers and outdoor sports-enthusiasts. The Red Creek Group Site is located in the Curecanti Recreation Area, just south of the West Elk Mountains.The campground is surrounded by national forests and park lands with Gunnison National Forest to the north, Black Canyon to the west and the Uncompahgre National forest to the southwest.
A wide range of mammals can be found within Curecanti, including mule deer, mountain lions, black bears, prairie dogs, bighorn sheep, elk and the occasional moose. Bald eagles come here to fish in winter.
Recreation
Hikers may enjoy the Dillon Pinnacles Trail for views of spires formed by erosional forces working volcanic debris. The trail is a lollipop of about 4 miles.
Anglers can enjoy fishing for brown, rainbow, and Mackinaw trout and Kokanee salmon. The population of Kokanee salmon is denser at Blue Mesa Reservoir than anywhere else in the country.
Facilities
This is a group camping site for a minimum of 9 people and a maximum of 20 people. Recreation vehicles over 22'' not reccomended.
Natural Features
“This area is characterized by semi-arid shrubland with large cottonwood trees lining the campground. Red Creek flows out of the West Elk Mountains, through this campground, and into Blue Mesa Reservoir. By mid to late summer, the creek is low enough for wading. Some small fish inhabit the deeper pools.”
Blue Mesa connects to the Morrow Point Reservoir, which flows down to the more isolated Crystal Reservoir. The passage of the Gunnison River is marked by the steep, narrow cliffs of the Black Canyon.
Nearby Attractions
The Cimarron Canyon Rail Exhibit features a display of an old-fashioned locomotive at the last remaining railroad trestle in the Black Canyon on the Gunnison route. The bonus is picture-perfect access to the tallest cliffs in the canyon.
The Red Creek Road, which passes by the campground, provides access to national forest lands where hiking abounds.
EAST ELK CREEK GROUP CAMPSITE Campground
List of CampsitesOverview
Invite family and friends to East Elk for an active group camping experience surrounded by rugged and stark mountains. The campground is perched on the tranquil East Elk Creek, which allows for water activities without the commotion of the reservoir. Enjoy time picnicking, kayaking, fishing or exploring wildlife.Recreation
The campground is set just off of the windsurfing area in the Cebolla Basin. It's an ideal location for avid windsurfers. It's also great for canoeing and hiking.Try the Dillon Pinnacles Trail for the nearest hiking trail.
Facilities
This is a group campsite accommodating a minimum of 9 people up to a maiximum 50 people. Boat ramp and inspection station are less than a mile away at Elk Creek.
Natural Features
East Elk Creek sits at an altitude of 7,800 feet, just off the Blue Mesa Reservoir in Curecanti National Recreation Area.The reservoir is surrounded by scenic mountains and is home to the largest population of Kokanee land locked salmon in the state of Colorado.
The other two reservoirs in the recreation area, Crystal Reservoir and Morrow Point Reservoir, are surrounded by high rising cliffs.
Nearby Attractions
Spend an hour and a half on a pontoon that floats down the Morrow Point Reservoir. The tour is ranger-guided and highlights the history of the Black Canyon. Find more tour information here.Curecanti National Recreation Area Tours Ticket Facility
Explore the Black Canyon of the Gunnison with a park ranger on the famous Morrow Point boat tour. Discover a seldom seen waterfall and ancient canyon walls, and learn about the local landscape, resources, history, geology, wildlife and more.
The hour and a half long interpretive boat tours depart at 10 am and 1 pm daily (except Tuesday). Tours typically run from mid-June to early September, but the seasons vary depending on water conditions.
