NPS · Curecanti National Recreation Area · Gunnison, CO

East Portal Campground

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). The park also honors interagency passes for entry (e.g. senior, access, Golden Age, 4th grade, etc.).

Reservable · Recreation.gov16 sitesDark skyPets okFires ok

More like this: reservable in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado · dark sky in Colorado

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
A view of historic East Portal with a fisherman dwarfed by canyon wallsA view of East Portal Campground with wayside signs and restroomsEast Portal Campground - Walk-in sitesA view of historic East Portal with a fisherman dwarfed by canyon walls
Photos courtesy of NPS Photo, NPS photo · Recreation.gov
3fires
active
High Mesa Piles Rx (prescribed burn) · 22 mi away · 324 acres
2 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Standard, no hookups15
Host/management1
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Amenities & rules

PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesAll 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!
Dark skyInside Curecanti National Recreation Area, a certified International Dark Sky Park

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.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near East Portal Campground20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 1.67 inches of precipitationFebruary: 1.70 inches of precipitationMarch: 2.18 inches of precipitationApril: 2.58 inches of precipitationMay: 1.81 inches of precipitationJune: 0.63 inches of precipitationJuly: 1.19 inches of precipitationAugust: 1.83 inches of precipitationSeptember: 2.11 inches of precipitationOctober: 1.92 inches of precipitationNovember: 1.81 inches of precipitationDecember: 1.73 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 22.6°F averageFebruary: 25.6°F averageMarch: 32.5°F averageApril: 39.7°F averageMay: 49.6°F averageJune: 59.7°F averageJuly: 65.3°F averageAugust: 63.1°F averageSeptember: 55.4°F averageOctober: 43.9°F averageNovember: 32.4°F averageDecember: 22.8°F average0 in1 in2 in3 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Montrose 11 ENE, 3 miles from the campground at 8,402 feet, station USW00003060 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 21 inches a year.

Getting there

After entering Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, turn right on East Portal Rd and follow it for 5.5 miles (8.7 km). NOTE: East Portal Campground is closed in winter, when the Bureau of Reclamation closes the East Portal Road.

Nearest townGunnison, Colorado
Coordinates38.5271° N, 107.6495° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • Black Canyon of the Gunnison charges a $30 per vehicle entrance fee which you will pay upon arrival (or purchase in advance ).

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    High Mesa Piles Rx

    22 mi from the campground · 324 acres

  • Prescribed
    Transfer Rd Rx

    28 mi from the campground · 139 acres

  • Wildfire
    Gold Mountain

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

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

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearSportsman's Warehouse ↗13.1 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗26.2 mi

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

Explore

Video

Campground Review: Estes Park Campground at East Portal

Worth a stop

Show all 7

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.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

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.

Guidebooks for Colorado

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

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at East Portal Campground?

Sites at East Portal Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at East Portal Campground?

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!

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at East Portal Campground?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does East Portal Campground have?

16 sites, including 15 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at East Portal Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at East Portal Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at East Portal 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 East Portal Campground good for stargazing?

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

Source: DarkSky International

What is the nearest town to East Portal Campground?

Gunnison, Colorado.

Source: Getting there

What if East Portal Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Black Canyon Of The Gunnison South Rim Campground (2.6 mi), Black Canyon Of The Gunnison North Rim Campground (5.2 mi, partly first-come), and Cimarron Campground (7.7 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby

Which national park is East Portal Campground in?

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

Source: Curecanti National Recreation Area