NPS · Curecanti National Recreation Area · Gunnison, CO

East Elk Creek Group Campsite

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.

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

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
East Elk Creek Group CampsiteTent site 1Bridge to tent site 2Parking lot
Photos courtesy of NPS Photo (Brian Moe), NPS · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Group sites1
This site is booked as a single unit on Recreation.gov. The booking page shows which dates are open and how far ahead they release. How the booking window works

Site guide

1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteFits, ftSurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFires
0012640GravelFull50 / 25Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Dark skyInside Curecanti National Recreation Area, a certified International Dark Sky Park

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.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near East Elk Creek Group Campsite10°20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 0.69 inches of precipitation, 12.4 inches of snowFebruary: 0.73 inches of precipitation, 10.5 inches of snowMarch: 0.53 inches of precipitation, 6.1 inches of snowApril: 0.59 inches of precipitation, 2.9 inches of snowMay: 0.66 inches of precipitation, 0.4 inches of snowJune: 0.43 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.86 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 1.13 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.01 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 0.88 inches of precipitation, 1.1 inches of snowNovember: 0.49 inches of precipitation, 4.3 inches of snowDecember: 0.81 inches of precipitation, 11.9 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 12.2°F averageFebruary: 16.9°F averageMarch: 29.3°F averageApril: 39.8°F averageMay: 48.8°F averageJune: 58.0°F averageJuly: 64.4°F averageAugust: 62.6°F averageSeptember: 54.7°F averageOctober: 43.4°F averageNovember: 29.8°F averageDecember: 16.0°F average0 in5 in10 in15 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Blue Mesa Lake, 1 mile from the campground at 7,568 feet, station USC00050797 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 9 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 50 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

East Elk Creek Group campground is located off of US Hwy 50 between Gunnison and Montrose, on the north side of the highway approximately 1/2 mile (.8 km) west of Elk Creek.

Nearest townGunnison, Colorado
Coordinates38.4856° N, 107.1722° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    High Mesa Piles Rx

    25 mi from the campground · 324 acres

  • Wildfire
    Gold Mountain

    41 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 ↗1.4 mi
Outdoor gearFloat Shack ↗28.2 mi
RV sales & serviceHoliday RV ↗59.2 mi

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

Explore

Video

Elk Creek campground Gunnison Colorado campground review #campgroundreviews, #rvlifestyle

Worth a stop

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 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.

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.

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 East Elk Creek Group Campsite?

Sites at East Elk Creek Group Campsite are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at East Elk Creek Group Campsite?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does East Elk Creek Group Campsite have?

1 site, including 1 group site.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to East Elk Creek Group Campsite?

East Elk Creek Group Campsite is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at East Elk Creek Group Campsite?

Yes, pets are allowed at East Elk Creek Group Campsite. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at East Elk Creek Group Campsite?

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

Is East Elk Creek Group Campsite good for stargazing?

Yes. East Elk Creek Group Campsite sits inside Curecanti National Recreation Area, a certified International Dark Sky Park.

Source: DarkSky International

Is there cell service at East Elk Creek Group Campsite?

FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at East Elk Creek Group Campsite?

The campground is set just off of the windsurfing area in the Cebolla Basin. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to East Elk Creek Group Campsite?

Gunnison, Colorado.

Source: Getting there

What if East Elk Creek Group Campsite is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Elk Creek Campground (1.2 mi), Red Creek Group Site (3.7 mi), and Stevens Creek Campground (4.1 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby

Which national park is East Elk Creek Group Campsite in?

East Elk Creek Group Campsite is a Curecanti National Recreation Area campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.

Source: Curecanti National Recreation Area