National Park Service · Colorado
Elk Creek Campground
National Park Service · Colorado, United States · in Curecanti National Recreation Area
- Sites
- 153
- Hookups
- 38 electric, 5 with water, 112 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Cost
- There is an additional $6:00 electricity attribute fee for Standard Electric sites.
- Max RV length
- 62 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- No
- Dump station
- Yes
- Laundry
- No
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 7,523 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1 · certified dark-sky place
- Cell coverage
- AT&T good · Verizon good · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Curecanti National Recreation Area
- Nearest town
- GUNNISON
- Address
- 24830 US Hwy 50, GUNNISON, CO, 81230
- Phone
- 970-641-2337
- Activities
- Amphitheater, Boating, Camping, Educational Programs, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Mountain Biking, Ranger Station, Swimming, Water Skiing, Wildlife Viewing
75 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
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
At an altitude of 7,540 feet, Elk Creek is surrounded by a vast expanse of sagebrush. Trees are minimal because the reservoir gets less than 12 inches of rain a year.
Curecanti National Recreation Area is sandwiched between the towns of Montrose and Gunnison, Colorado. It spans three reservoirs, named for corresponding dams on the Gunnison River. These include the Crystal Reservoir, Morrow Point Reservoir and Blue Mesa.
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
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32° | 10° | -11° | 43° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 34° | 14° | -3° | 52° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 41° | 22° | 3° | 58° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 50° | 28° | 13° | 64° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 59° | 36° | 21° | 77° | 6 of 11 |
| June | 78° | 47° | 36° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 83° | 55° | 45° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 80° | 54° | 47° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 73° | 48° | 25° | 84° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 60° | 36° | 8° | 70° | 4 of 10 |
| November | 47° | 24° | -9° | 60° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 33° | 9° | -12° | 50° | 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 Elk Creek Group Campsite · National Park Service · 1 mi · 1 sites
- Dry Gulch Campground · National Park Service · 1 mi · 9 sites
- Red Creek Group Site · National Park Service · 4 mi · 1 sites
- Stevens Creek Campground · National Park Service · 5 mi · 55 sites
- Gateview Campground · National Park Service · 7 mi · 6 sites
All public campgrounds in Colorado · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-03-11. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.