NPS · Curecanti National Recreation Area · Colorado

Cimarron Campground

Cimarron Campground is located 20 miles (32 km) east of Montrose, CO on U.S. Highway 50 at the site of Cimarron, a historic narrow gauge railroad town. The campground accomodates all types of camping--from tents to medium sized RVs. All sites are first-come first-served, and the campground rarely fills. Railroad exhibits are adjacent to the campground, and Crystal Reservoir near Morrow Point Dam is approximately 1.5 miles away (2.4 km). Elevation: 6895 feet (2101 m)

First-come, first-served23 sitesDark skyPets okFires ok

Sites are first-come, first-served. Recreation.gov lists this campground for paying on site, and you may be able to pay with the Scan and Pay feature of its app.

More like this: first-come in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado · dark sky in Colorado

Cimarron Campgroundblack and white image of a Denver & Rio Grande Western train (Narrow Gauge), engine number 361,as seen in 1949Campsite with recreation trailer, picnic table, fire pit, mountain, trees, and sagebrush.Cimarron Campground campsite with recreation trailer, picnic table, fire pit, mountain, trees, and sagebrush covered peak in the background.
Photos courtesy of NPS, Denver Public Library Special Collections, [OP-7965], NPS Photo · Recreation.gov
3fires
active
High Mesa Piles Rx (prescribed burn) · 15 mi away · 324 acres
2 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Standard, no hookups22
Host/management1
No reservations, so arrive before checkout on a weekday, usually 11 a.m. to noon, and take what is open. In season, weekends fill by Thursday. The first-come playbook

Site guide

17 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteEntryFires
001Back-in
003Back-in
004Back-in
005Back-in
006Back-in
007Back-in
008Back-in
009Back-in
010Back-in
011Back-in

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site.

Amenities & rules

PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesAll campsites at Cimarron Campground are first-come, first-served. This campground uses Scan & Pay to accept on-site payment through the Recreation.gov mobile app.
Dark skyInside Curecanti National Recreation Area, a certified International Dark Sky Park

Seasonal potable water, flush toilets, dump station and trash/recycling collection provided. Picnic tables, fire grates and fire rings in every camp site.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Cimarron Campground10°20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 1.09 inches of precipitation, 14.5 inches of snowFebruary: 0.94 inches of precipitation, 11.6 inches of snowMarch: 0.91 inches of precipitation, 8.2 inches of snowApril: 1.22 inches of precipitation, 5.7 inches of snowMay: 1.28 inches of precipitation, 1.1 inches of snowJune: 0.68 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 1.37 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 1.41 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.82 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 1.35 inches of precipitation, 1.4 inches of snowNovember: 1.04 inches of precipitation, 9.7 inches of snowDecember: 1.17 inches of precipitation, 14.5 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 18.8°F averageFebruary: 24.7°F averageMarch: 34.8°F averageApril: 43.0°F averageMay: 51.1°F averageJune: 59.2°F averageJuly: 65.4°F averageAugust: 63.8°F averageSeptember: 56.4°F averageOctober: 45.0°F averageNovember: 32.5°F averageDecember: 21.0°F average0 in5 in10 in15 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Cimarron, less than a mile from the campground at 6,890 feet, station USC00051609 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 14 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 67 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

Cimarron Campground is located 20 miles (32 km) east of Montrose between mile markers 112 and 113 on U.S. Highway 50, at the site of a historic narrow gauge railroad town.

Coordinates38.4433° N, 107.5553° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    High Mesa Piles Rx

    15 mi from the campground · 324 acres

  • Wildfire
    Gold Mountain

    28 mi from the campground · 39,747 acres · 92% contained

  • Prescribed
    Transfer Rd Rx

    33 mi from the campground · 139 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearSportsman's Warehouse ↗16.9 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗20.9 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Big Cimarron Campground - Camping by a River in Colorado

Worth a stop

The Cimarron Canyon Rail Exhibit is adjacent to the campground. Crystal Reservoir near Morrow Point Dam is approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) away.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 2.7 mi
    Corral Gulch Snowmobile/Ski
    4.3 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
  • 4.2 mi
    Suttons Corral Snowmobile/Ski ↗
    4.6 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
  • 4.4 mi
    Old Mesa Powerline Snowmo/Ski
    1.2 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
  • 4.4 mi
    Suttons Way
    1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

Guidebooks for Colorado

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Cimarron Campground?

No. Cimarron Campground is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.

Source: Cimarron Campground Official Website

How much does it cost to camp at Cimarron Campground?

All campsites at Cimarron Campground are first-come, first-served. This campground uses Scan & Pay to accept on-site payment through the Recreation.gov mobile app.

Source: Cimarron Campground Official Website

What time is check-in at Cimarron Campground?

Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.

Source: Cimarron Campground Official Website

How many sites does Cimarron Campground have?

23 sites, including 22 standard sites without power.

Source: Cimarron Campground Official Website

Are there showers or a dump station at Cimarron Campground?

Seasonal potable water, flush toilets, dump station and trash/recycling collection provided.

Source: Cimarron Campground Official Website

Are pets allowed at Cimarron Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Cimarron Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Cimarron Campground Official Website

Can I have a campfire at Cimarron Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 3 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.

Source: Fire nearby

Is Cimarron Campground good for stargazing?

Yes. Cimarron Campground sits inside Curecanti National Recreation Area, a certified International Dark Sky Park.

Source: DarkSky International

What if Cimarron Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are East Portal Campground (7.7 mi), Black Canyon Of The Gunnison South Rim Campground (10.3 mi), and Lake Fork Campground (12.2 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby

Which national park is Cimarron Campground in?

Cimarron Campground is a Curecanti National Recreation Area campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.

Source: Curecanti National Recreation Area