National Park Service · Colorado

East Portal Campground

National Park Service · Colorado, United States · in Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park

Open on the map Drive there Official page Directions
Sites
15
Max RV length
22 ft
Drinking water
Yes
Restrooms
Yes
Showers
No
Dump station
No
Laundry
No
Elevation
6,608 ft
Dark sky
Bortle class 1 · certified dark-sky place
Cell coverage
T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
Lake
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park
Nearest town
Gunnison
Address
102 Elk Creek, Gunnison, CO, 81230
Phone
(970) 641-2337

Season dates aren't confirmed for this campground yet - opening and closing dates haven't been verified. Check the operator's page or call ahead before you plan a trip.

Site map

The imagery of the campground. Press and hold the map to drop your own pins and notes; the operator publishes no site points here. Your ratings, notes, pins and photos are kept with the campground on your Saved list, the same list the camping map and the drive page keep.

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About

East Portal Campground is located within Curecanti National Recreation Area, but is adjacent to and only accessible from Black Canyon National Park ($30 entrance fee). This small campground is located at the bottom of the canyon along the Gunnison River, shaded by box elder trees. The campground is closed in winter. East Portal Road is closed to vehicles in winter but open to pedestrians and cyclists. The Bureau of Reclamation determines when East Portal Road closes. Elevation: 6526 feet (1989 m).

Fees

Standard Camping Fee: $20. The nightly camping fee at East Portal is $20.00. Group size limit is eight people and two vehicles.

Senior / Access Camping Fee: $10. Discounted camping rate for valid Senior or Access passes. The nightly camping fee with valid passes is $10.00. Group size limit is eight people and two vehicles.

Weather, month by month

MonthTypical highTypical lowColdest nightHottest dayYears with a night below 32°F
January37°10°-13°49°11 of 11
February40°15°-8°57°11 of 11
March46°24°1°68°11 of 11
April55°29°9°68°11 of 11
May68°39°20°80°4 of 11
June82°50°37°93°0 of 11
July88°58°48°95°0 of 11
August84°56°48°91°0 of 11
September77°50°37°87°0 of 11
October64°35°22°74°6 of 10
November51°30°-6°65°10 of 10
December40°9°-11°53°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.

Trails nearby

All 26 trails in Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park

Trailheads the Park Service and the Forest Service map, within 10 miles as the crow flies; each trail's page has its length, climbing and the Service's description.

Nearby campgrounds

All public campgrounds in Colorado · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.