National Park Service · Colorado
East Elk Creek Group Campsite
National Park Service · Colorado, United States · in Curecanti National Recreation Area
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Season
- August 2 to October 13
- Cost
- East Elk Creek Group Campground: $120. 50 people maximum.
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- No
- Dump station
- No
- Laundry
- No
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 7,671 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1 · certified dark-sky place
- Cell coverage
- Verizon weak · AT&T 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
- 23935 Hwy 50, GUNNISON, CO, 81230
- Phone
- 970-641-2337
- Activities
- Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Wildlife Viewing
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Invite family and friends to East Elk for an active group camping experience surrounded by rugged and stark mountains. The campground is perched on the tranquil East Elk Creek, which allows for water activities without the commotion of the reservoir. Enjoy time picnicking, kayaking, fishing or exploring wildlife.
Recreation
The campground is set just off of the windsurfing area in the Cebolla Basin. It's an ideal location for avid windsurfers. It's also great for canoeing and hiking.
Try the Dillon Pinnacles Trail for the nearest hiking trail. Visit Curecanti's hiking web page for details.
Facilities
This is a group campsite accommodating a minimum of 9 people up to a maiximum 50 people. The boat ramp and inspection station are less than a mile away at Elk Creek.
Natural Features
East Elk Creek sits at an altitude of 7,800 feet, just off the Blue Mesa Reservoir in Curecanti National Recreation Area.
The reservoir is surrounded by scenic mountains and is home to the largest population of Kokanee land locked salmon in the state of Colorado.
The other two reservoirs in the recreation area, Crystal Reservoir and Morrow Point Reservoir, are surrounded by high rising cliffs.
Nearby Attractions
Charges & Cancellations
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31° | 9° | -11° | 42° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 34° | 14° | -3° | 51° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 40° | 21° | 2° | 58° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 50° | 28° | 12° | 64° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 59° | 35° | 21° | 76° | 6 of 11 |
| June | 77° | 47° | 36° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 83° | 54° | 45° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 80° | 53° | 46° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 72° | 47° | 24° | 84° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 60° | 35° | 7° | 70° | 5 of 10 |
| November | 47° | 23° | -9° | 59° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 33° | 8° | -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
- Dry Gulch Campground · National Park Service · 1 mi · 9 sites
- Elk Creek Campground · National Park Service · 1 mi · 153 sites
- Red Creek Group Site · National Park Service · 4 mi · 1 sites
- Stevens Creek Campground · National Park Service · 4 mi · 55 sites
- Gateview Campground · National Park Service · 8 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.