Curecanti National Recreation Area offers camping by boat, a rare treat in Colorado. Each reservoir—Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, and Crystal— has established boat-in campsites. This is some of the best lake camping in Colorado, so experience it if you never have before.
With one group and two individual sites, Red Creek is the smallest group and individual campground in Curecanti National Recreation Area. Red Creek is located 19 miles west of Gunnison and the sites are located among large cottonwood trees, which offer great shade.
East Elk Creek is the smallest group campground in Curecanti. There is only one site, but it accommodates a total of 50 people. Located 16.5 miles west of Gunnison, it too is located among beautiful, old cottonwood trees.
The main Elk Creek Campground has 160 campsites, including 15 walk-in and 20 pull-through sites. Located 16 miles west of Gunnison, on the shore of Blue Mesa Reservoir, this is treeless, sagebrush, mesa country. Reservations are accepted and recommended. You’ll be with plenty of other campers here, so be sure to reserve a tent campsite and look at the map before you book your spot.
Cimarron Campground is 20 miles east of Montrose and has 21 campsites—reservations are not available. In the vicinity of the campground are a historic narrow gauge railroad town, Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad exhibits, and access to Crystal Reservoir near Morrow Point Dam.
By Travel Expert:
Kim Lipker
What You Can Do in Curecanti National Recreation Area
