National Park Service · Colorado
East Portal Campground
National Park Service · Colorado, United States · in Curecanti National Recreation Area
- Sites
- 16
- Hookups
- 1 with water, 15 no hookups
- Season
- April 15 to October 31
- Max RV length
- 22 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- No
- Dump station
- No
- Laundry
- No
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 6,608 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1 · certified dark-sky place
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Curecanti National Recreation Area
- Nearest town
- Montrose
- Phone
- 970-641-2337 x205
About
Overview
The 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. The campground is located at the bottom of the canyon, along the Gunnison River. It is a small campground of 15 sites (10 are tent-only), shaded by box elder trees. East Portal is closed in winter, when the Bureau of Reclamation closes the East Portal Road. Elevation: 6526 feet (1990 m).
NOTE: Black Canyon of the Gunnison charges a $30 per vehicle entrance fee which you will pay upon arrival (or purchase in advance ). The park also honors interagency passes for entry (e.g., senior, access, Golden Age, 4th grade, etc.).
Facilities
East Portal is a small campground of 15 sites (10 are walk-in tent-only; 5 are vehicle accessible), shaded by box elder trees. Seasonal potable water access and trash collection. Food storage in bear boxes is required. Each campsite has a fire pit, grill and picnic tables. The campground has vault toilets only.
Natural Features
East Portal offers plentiful shade and nearby access to the Gunnison River. Spectacular views of Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Curecanti are abundant.
Fees
All campsites at East Portal are first-come, first-served. This campground uses Scan & Pay to accept on-site payment through the Recreation.gov mobile app. Download the app ahead of your visit to arrive ready!
NOTE: Entrance to the campground is through Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park which charges a $30 per vehicle entrance fee. You will pay this fee upon arrival (or purchase in advance). The park also honors interagency passes for entry (e.g., senior, access, Golden Age, 4th grade, etc.).
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37° | 10° | -13° | 49° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 40° | 15° | -8° | 57° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 46° | 24° | 1° | 68° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 55° | 29° | 9° | 68° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 68° | 39° | 20° | 80° | 4 of 11 |
| June | 82° | 50° | 37° | 93° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 88° | 58° | 48° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 84° | 56° | 48° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 77° | 50° | 37° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 64° | 35° | 22° | 74° | 6 of 10 |
| November | 51° | 30° | -6° | 65° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 40° | 9° | -11° | 53° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- East Portal Campground · National Park Service · 0 mi · 15 sites
- Black Canyon Of The Gunnison South Rim Campground · National Park Service · 3 mi · 89 sites
- Black Canyon Of The Gunnison North Rim Campground · National Park Service · 5 mi · 14 sites
- Cimarron Campground · National Park Service · 8 mi · 21 sites
- Cimarron Campground (CO) · National Park Service · 8 mi · 23 sites
All public campgrounds in Colorado · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.