Curecanti National Recreation Area

Overview

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

Nearby Attractions

Visit the Cimarron Rail Exhibit to see railcars and the last remaining railroad trestle on the Black Canyon of the Gunnison route.

Charges & Cancellations

Overview

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.


Bird Watching 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 Hiking.


Try hiking the Curecanti Creek Trail or Hermit's Rest Trail off HWY 92..

Charges & Cancellations

Overview

Ponderosa Campground is located at the northwest end of the Soap Creek Arm of Blue Mesa Reservoir at 7880 feet (2402 m). The campground offers outstanding views and solitude. 

Note: During dry conditions, the first 7 miles (11 km) of Soap Creek Road are passable to trailers and RVs. Rain can make the Soap Creek Road impassable.

Facilities

Trash/recycling collection provided. Vault toilets only. Horse Corral in upper loop.

Overview

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.

Charges & Cancellations

Overview

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. 

Bird Watching is rewarding throughout the park but especially so in this shallower end of the reservoir which is ideal for waterfowl. 

Hikers, try the 1.5 mile (2.4) Neversink Trail, which meanders along the Gunnison River upstream of Blue Mesa Reservoir. Check the park's Hiking web page for more information.

Facilities

Natural Features

The campground sits at an elevation of 7,540 feet (2298 m) and is characterized by a semi-arid, treeless shrubland. The mesa landscape is covered with sagebrush and receives less than 12 inches (30 cm) of rain each 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 Trail just south of Gunnison.

Charges & Cancellations

This is a Scan and Pay campground. There are no refunds,changes, cancellations, or other fee changes allowed with Scan and Pay payments. This system is the same as putting cash into a fee tube and cannot be refunded.