East Portal Campground

Overview

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.

Operator

National Park

Camping types

Tent

Sites

15 campsites

Fee

From $20 per night (confirm with the operator)

Reservations

No online reservations listed

Phone

970-641-2337

Amenities

Location

Nearby adventures

Outdoor things to do around East Portal Campground, shown on the map above. Distances are straight-line from the campground, so driving or walking will be longer; trail details are approximate. Confirm access and conditions with the land manager.

Hikes and trailheads

• Rim Rock Trail - South RimHike · 2.5 mi from camp

  This 1-mile (1.6 km) trail, which meanders along the canyon rim, connects the South Rim Visitor Center to the South Rim Campground. National Park Service

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• Uplands Trail - South RimHike · 2.5 mi from camp

  This .9-mile (1.4 km) trail links the Rim Rock Trail (near the campground) to the upper Oak Flat Loop Trail near the South Rim Visitor Center. National Park Service

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• Oak Flat Trail - South RimHike · 2.8 mi from camp

  This 1.6 mi (2.6 km) trail offers variety to the hiker who would like to explore below the rim without going all the way to the river. National Park Service

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• Deadhorse Trail - North RimHike · 2.9 mi from camp

  Deadhorse Trail takes hikers into the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Wilderness Area. National Park Service

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• Crystal Creek TrailHike · 2-3 Hours · 5.3 mi from camp

  Winding through abundant wildflowers, Gambel oak, aspens, conifers and a recovering burn area, Crystal Creek Trail is ideal for spring or fall hiking. National Park Service

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• North Vista Trail - North RimHike · 5.1 mi from camp

  Constructed by the Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, the North Vista Trail offers some of the best scenic views and birding in the park. National Park Service

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Mountain biking

• Tabeguache TrailBike ride · 109.0 mi long · Long-distance trail · 19.6 mi from camp

  A long mountain-bike route from Grand Junction to Montrose. AI-written

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• Wapiti TrailBike ride · 0.6 mi long · 21.9 mi from camp

  A loop mountain-bike route.

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• Cookie Tree TrailBike ride · 0.9 mi long · 22.1 mi from camp

  A mountain-bike route starting near Cookie Tree.

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• Rat Trails Southern loopBike ride · 8.9 mi long · 23.1 mi from campShow on map

Rivers and rafting

• Boat on Crystal ReservoirPaddling and rafting · 7.6 mi from camp

  Crystal Reservoir provides backcountry flatwater boating opportunities. National Park Service

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• Boat on Morrow Point ReservoirPaddling and rafting · 17.3 mi from camp

  For the more adventurous, Morrow Point Reservoir is a great location for canoeing or kayaking. National Park Service

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• Boat on Blue Mesa ReservoirPaddling and rafting · 24.2 mi from camp

  Blue Mesa Reservoir, the largest body of water in Colorado, has 96 miles of shoreline and provides opportunities for motorboating, paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, and more. National Park Service

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Scenic sights

• Deadhorse GulchViewpoint · 1.3 mi from campShow on map
• Tomichi PointViewpoint · 2.6 mi from camp

  A viewpoint along the South Rim Road in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. AI-written

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• Hairpin HillPeak · 8,337 ft · 6.5 mi from campShow on map
• Curecanti NeedlePeak · 7,858 ft · 13.8 mi from camp

  The Curecanti Needle is a 700-ft granite spire located on the Gunnison River in western Colorado. Wikipedia

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• Chipeta FallsWaterfall · 14.6 mi from campShow on map

Climbing and snow sports

• Cross-country Skiing at Black CanyonSkiing and snowshoeing · 2.8 mi from camp

  In winter, South Rim Drive is closed to vehicles beyond the visitor center at Gunnison Point. National Park Service

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Trail and sight data: National Park Service and OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Text marked Wikipedia is from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0, lightly shortened. Text marked AI-written was drafted by an AI model from public data and may contain errors.

Reviews

Data sources

• National Park Service API — Public domain (U.S. Government work)

Listing details come from the sources above and may be out of date. Confirm fees, dates and closures with the operator before you travel.