Camping Regulations

East Portal Campground

NPS Photo

For a safe and enjoyable visit, follow all regulations that apply to camping at Curecanti. Regulations vary for developed campgrounds and backcountry/boat-in camping.

Developed Campgrounds

Tent camping or the overnight occupancy within camper vehicles, such as pickup, coaches, trailers, and motorhomes is restricted to designated, developed campsites in the following areas:

• Cimarron
• Dry Gulch
• East Elk Creek
• East Portal
• Elk Creek
• Gateview
• Lake Fork
• Ponderosa
• Red Creek
• Stevens Creek

Within the developed campgrounds, no more than two primary recreational camping units per site, (car, pickup, motorhome, van, pop-up trailer, in which people are sleeping).

Regulations

More park regulations can be found in the Superintendent's Compendium.

 

Age Requirements

Visitors must be a minimum of 16 years old for camping without a parent/guardian in any campgrounds (including group sites) or backcountry/boat-in campsites at Curecanti.

Campsite Payment

For first come, first served campsites, payment must be made immediately after occupying the site and may be made at the campground entrance fee station. Please display your payment stub on the post in front of the site.

Car Camping

Any overnight stays must be in a campground or wilderness site. Staying overnight in a car or RV along a road or at a trailhead is not allowed. Visitors may sleep in their vehicles in their campsites at all sites, except for the walk-in tent sites at Elk Creek Campground loops A and B, and Gateview Campground.

Changes and Cancellations

Changes

If your new stay dates are completely different from your original stay dates, there is a $10 change fee (per reserved site). There are no additional fees for:

• Adding or removing nights to your stay.

• Changing to a different campsite.

Balances will adjust based on your new stay's nightly rate.

Cancellations

You can cancel the reservation any time before the date of your scheduled arrival. You will receive a refund for your stay, minus the following fees:

• $10 cancellation fee

• Any reservation fees (only if paid when booking)

• Any previous change fees

Check in/Check-out times

Check-out and check-in time is 1 pm MST for all campgrounds.

Fires

Fires are only permitted in the fire grates provided. Building fire pits is prohibited. Unattended fires are not permitted. All fires must be extinguished before leaving the site.

Group Size Limits

Maximum of eight people per site (excluding group campsites). In addition, if space allows, the following may also be at the site: tent(s), boat trailer(s), vehicles not used for sleeping.

Group campsites have larger group size limits. These sites must be reserved on Recreation.gov.
Red Creek Campground Group Site - maximum of 20 people
East Elk Creek Group Campground - maximum of 50 people
 

Pets

Pets are required to be restrained by a leash, caged, crated or otherwise physically confined at all times. Unattended pets are not allowed. Pet owners must pick up and dispose of pet excrement in trash receptacles.

Quiet Hours

Quiet hours are from 10pm to 6am. This includes generator use.

At Elk Creek Campground, sites A31 and A32 are not allowed to run generators after 8 pm, since they are next to the amphitheater.

Stay Limits

Elk Creek Campground
Camping is limited to a visit of 14 nights during a 30-day period in Loops A & D (reserved sites). All other sites (first come first serve) are limited to 30 consecutive days per visit.

Stevens Creek Campground
Camping is limited to a visit of 14 nights during a 30-day period in Loop A. All other sites are limited to 30 consecutive days per visit.

Lake Fork Campground
Camping is limited to 30 consecutive days per visit.

Cimarron, Dry Gulch, East Portal, Gateview, Red Creek, and Ponderosa campgrounds
Camping is limited to a maximum stay of 14 consecutive days within a 30-day period.

Campers reaching their consecutive days limits must move to another designated campground for a minimum of 14 days before returning to the same camp area. Registered sites must be occupied. “Occupied” implies the site has been used or slept in once within a 24-hour period.

Showers

Coin operated showers are available only at Lake Fork campground by the boat ramp. Other portable showers are prohibited, and no "shower tents" are allowed in park campgrounds.

Public showers are available at recreation centers in both Gunnison and Montrose. Fees apply.

Resource Protection

Bathing, or washing food, clothing, dishes or other property at public water outlets unless designated for such purposes is prohibited. Do not drain wastewater on ground. Catch water in a receptacle and empty at dump station or restroom.

 

Backcountry/Boat-In Camping

Backcountry camping is limited to a visit of 14 consecutive nights for a total of 30 days during the calendar year. Backcountry and boat-in camping are permitted in the following zones/areas on Blue Mesa Reservoir:

• Cebolla Arm

• Lake Fork Arm

• West Elk Arm

• Soap Creek Arm up to Saddle Creek. Camping on either side of the arm north of Saddle Creek is prohibited.

• Along the South shore and on Red Creek island except within ½ mile of any developed area, bridge maintained public road or backcountry campsite.

Overnight occupancy of vessels is permitted at rental slips at Elk Creek and Lake Fork marinas. The use of portable generators by visitors in the Marina areas is prohibited

Overnight boat camping is prohibited within the main channel of Iola, Cebolla and Sapinero basins, and within ½ mile from any developed area.

Use the map to determine permitted and prohibited backcountry/boat-in camping areas.

Fires

Ground fires are only allowed below the high water line on each reservoir. If a fire grate is provided, please use it. Dead wood (or driftwood) on the ground may be collected for personal use below the high-water line of Blue Mesa, Morrow Point and Crystal Reservoirs and is permitted solely for personal use and not commercial activities or sale.