Are you curious about the rock formations, reservoirs, wildlife, history, or people who work at the park? Scroll down for answers to some popular questions our staff receive. The Place Curecanti National Recreation Area is administered by the National Park Service (NPS) through a February 11, 1965, Memorandum of Agreement between the NPS and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) and is part of the National Park System.
Curecanti National Recreation Area protects natural, historic, and archeological features in a landscape of canyons, pinnacles, cliffs, rivers, reservoirs, and mesas. It also offers recreational opportunities throughout the year. The NPS manages the land on and around the Wayne N. Aspinall Storage Unit, which includes Blue Mesa, Morrow Point and Crystal reservoirs.
Summers are pleasant with daily high temperatures typically in the 70s°F (21-26°C). Thunderstorms are common on summer afternoons. Winters can be cold, with temperatures frequently dropping below zero (-18°C). Snow is common from late fall to early spring. Remember to check the weather before visiting.
Curecanti National Recreation Area recorded 957,635 visitors in 2023. The park has various entrances where visitors can go.
The reservoirs and surrounding lands that make up Curecanti today are a destination for land-based and 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. Approximately 40 miles of the Gunnison River, including the reservoirs, create the centerpiece of the park.
How Parks Work There are different types of staff working at the national park. These positions include wildlife biologists, botanists, hydrologists, trail crew, mechanics, educators, law enforcement/ emergency services rangers, budget analysts, a superintendent, and so many more. All of these people help to protect the natural and cultural resources in the park.
There are different ways to become a park ranger. Some gain valuable experience through volunteering or internships. Others receive training or study certain topics like history or geology and seek jobs in those fields. Learn more about employment with the National Park Service.
The National Park Service employs 40 to 50 permanent staff between Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area. Staff at both parks help to protect the Black Canyon and the surrounding area. During summer the number of staff can go up to 80 to 100 paid staff, interns, and volunteers.
Earth and Water The area around Blue Mesa Reservoir is characterized by eroded sedimentary rocks and volcanic breccia. The portion of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison contains metamorphic gneiss and schist and bands of igneous pegmatite. Learn more about the park’s geology.
40 miles of the Gunnison River, including the reservoirs, create the centerpiece of the park and 20 of those miles are within the easternmost portion of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
Yes. Blue Mesa Reservoir, formed by the construction of the Blue Mesa Dam in 1965, is the largest body of water in Colorado.
Life in the Park Curecanti is a home to 273 bird species, 62 mammal species, 21 native and nonnative fish species, 6 reptile species, and 2 amphibian species.
Curecanti is situated in the transition between the Colorado Plateau and Rocky Mountain and hosts riparian (river) habitats, steep canyons, sagebrush hillsides, and areas of Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, and quaking aspen. The Gunnison sage-grouse is a “threatened” species, but it can only be found in the area around the Gunnison River. This makes it “endemic” too. Most of our protection for the Gunnison sage-grouse comes in the form of protecting its sagebrush habitat, where it breeds during certain times of the year.
Zebra mussels and quagga mussels are invasive species the park has kept out and wants to prevent. They harm river and lake ecosystems by leaching nutrients from the water, nutrients that fish and other aquatic life need to survive, causing them to die. Since these invasive mussels are so difficult to remove once introduced to the ecosystem, park staff inspect and may decontaminate motorized boats before they are allowed into reservoir waters. Learn more about aquatic invasive species present in Colorado. 
Past and PresentPaleontology surveys have found fossils of dinosaurs like Allosaurus, Stegosaurus, Apatosaurus, Camarasaurus, Diplodocus, and Ceratosaurus at both Curecanti and Black Canyon. Other fossil rich rock layers include fossilized animal prints; plant roots (also called ryzoliths), burrows of early mammals, and invertebrates like worms, clams, and insects at Black Canyon. Trace fossils such as the burrows of invertebrates (termites, bees, crawfish, earthworms, and bivalves) have also been observed at Curecanti. A railroad was built in the early 1880s through what is now Blue Mesa Reservoir and the eastern part of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. For 67 years, the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad carried minerals mined from surrounding areas, livestock, and passengers on vacation, through the area. Learn more about historic Cimarron for a glimpse of the area’s railroad history.
The canyon has been viewed as an impassable barrier by humans throughout history. Indigenous groups have called the Gunnison River Valley and area around Black Canyon home for thousands of years. Four federally recognized tribes and one tribal community—the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, the White Mesa Ute Community, and the Navajo Nation—have cultural ties to the area within and surrounding Curecanti National Recreation Area.
Exploring the Park There are lots of things to do at Curecanti. These include taking a scenic drive, boating, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and stargazing. Pets are also allowed on all hiking trails, watercraft, or in snowshoeing areas as long as they are leashed.
The park is open year-round. Each season offers a different experience, so it depends on your preference. Activities only available in the winter include ice fishing and ice skating (when the reservoirs freeze), snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Before heading out, read our winter safety tips!
We can’t pick just one! Curecanti has ten hiking trails that offer varying views of volcanic pinnacles, the Gunnison River, the reservoirs, and Black Canyon.
There are ten developed campgrounds at Curecanti National Recreation Area and even more some backcountry and boat-in campsites. Check the campgrounds page for information on seasons, amenities, reservations, and accessibility.
Visitors usually get around Curecanti by car, boat, or on foot. Many people drive, and then walk to viewpoints along the canyon rim or reservoirs. Others hike one of our longer trails for scenic views. Boating is very popular, on Blue Mesa Reservoir especially. Whether it’s a motorized boat, standup paddleboard, kayak, or canoe, there are lots of ways to get out on the water.
Learn MoreDo you have more questions about Curecanti National Recreation Area? Check out our virtual education opportunities with a park ranger.
Live Virtual Programs
Let us bring the park to you – virtually! Black Canyon and Curecanti both offer live virtual programs. 
Ranger Video Postcards
Students can connect with a ranger via a personalized video "postcard" answering their questions. 
Education
Information for teachers to invite a ranger into the classroom or plan a field trip. |
Last updated: December 19, 2024