BLM · Gunnison · Gunnison, CO

The Gate Campground

This campground is tucked into the center of the geologic formation known as The Gate, a notch in the rocks carved by the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River. The Gate is a great spot for picnics, camping, and fishing access to the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River. This campground is conveniently located on the Silver Thread National Scenic Byway, about 16 miles north of Lake City. The Gate Campground has 8 campsites, two vault restrooms, and a hand pump with potable water.

Reservable · Recreation.gov8 sitesFrom $10 per night62 ft maxNo hookupsPets okFires ok

More like this: reservable in Colorado · big rigs in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
River, rocky shoreline surrounded by hills and treesThe Gate CampgroundThe Gate Campground entrance, sign, view of The Gate geologic featureThe Gate Campground entrance, sign, view of The Gate geologic feature
Photos courtesy of BLM · Recreation.gov
2fires
active
High Mesa Piles Rx (prescribed burn) · 13 mi away · 324 acres
1 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Standard, no hookups8
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

Site guide

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

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfaceWater / sewerWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFires
01Back-in48GravelNo / NoRiverfront8 / 2Yes
02Back-in64GravelNo / NoRiverfront8 / 2Yes
03Back-in18GravelNo / NoRiverfront8 / 2Yes
04Back-in26GravelNo / NoRiverfront8 / 2Yes
05Back-in32GravelNo / NoRiverfront8 / 2Yes
06Back-in33GravelNo / NoRiverfront8 / 2Yes
07Back-in40GravelNo / NoRiverfront8 / 2Yes
08Back-in48GravelNo / NoRiverfront8 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length62 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Fees$10 fee per campsite per night. Must make payment within 30 minutes of arrival.
Stay limit14 Day Stay Limit

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

Getting there

From Lake City, head north on Highway 149 for approximately 15.3 miles. Look for campground entrance sign on the left side of the highway. There is a short gravel driveway down to the campground.

Nearest townGunnison, Colorado
Coordinates38.2460° N, 107.2606° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    High Mesa Piles Rx

    13 mi from the campground · 324 acres

  • Wildfire
    Gold Mountain

    27 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

Dump stationDump station ↗14.9 mi
Outdoor gearOuray Mountain Sports ↗27.1 mi
RV sales & serviceRV sales & service ↗54.7 mi

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

Explore

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →

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 Gunnison and Colorado

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

  • TRUE GRIT the Real Uncompahgre Explorer Gunnison River Indian Tribes
    Robert Rees, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Your Guide to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
    Michael Oswald, 2012
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best Tent Camping: Colorado
    Kim Lipker and Johnny Molloy, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org

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

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at The Gate Campground?

Sites at The Gate 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 The Gate Campground?

$10 fee per campsite per night. Must make payment within 30 minutes of arrival.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at The Gate Campground?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does The Gate Campground have?

8 sites, including 8 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at The Gate Campground?

The longest site here provides 62 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are pets allowed at The Gate Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at The Gate Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at The Gate Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 2 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.

Source: Fire nearby

How long can I stay at The Gate Campground?

14 Day Stay Limit

Source: Recreation.gov

What is the nearest town to The Gate Campground?

Gunnison, Colorado.

Source: Getting there

What if The Gate Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Red Bridge Campground (5.6 mi), Alpine Ranger Station (6.9 mi), and Big Blue Campground (7.1 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby