Five out of the fifteen sites have vehicle access.
Photo: NPS photo
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).
Campsites
Location
East Portal Road, Black Canyon National Park
Montrose, CO 81401
Fees
Hours
Campground is open 24 hours in the summer. Check out time is 1 pm. The campground is typically open May to mid-October, weather permitting, and when the East Portal road is open. Water is typically available mid-May to mid-September (after the last frost of spring and the first frost of fall).
Reservations
Reservations are not accepted for East Portal Campground. All sites are first-come first-served. Payment MUST be submitted online using the Scan & Pay feature on the Recreation.gov mobile app. There is no cell service or connectivity on site. Download the Recreation.gov app before entering the park to arrive prepared.
Directions
From Montrose, take Hwy 50 east. After about 6 miles, turn left onto Hwy 347 and follow it for 6 miles into Black Canyon National Park. At the park’s entrance station, turn right onto East Portal Road. Continue 5 miles to the base of the canyon and turn left at the signed junction toward the campground. The campground is just past the ranger station. Due to East Portal Road's steepness (16% grade) and tight curves, vehicles longer than 22 feet (6.7 m)--*trailer included*--are prohibited on East Portal Road.
Weather
This Campground is at the bottom of Black Canyon near the Gunnison River, at 6,526 feet in elevation. Weather can rapidly change from warm and sunny to cold and rainy or snowy. Be prepared for 3-season camping, even in summer. Temperature range can vary 30 degrees or more throughout the day and night.
Accessibility
The campground is not wheelchair accessible.
There is no cell service at East Portal, and typically no service available within the Park.
Fires are permitted only in the designated fire rings, and only as long as there are no burn bans or dangerous fire weather.
1
Vehicles 22 feet and over in length are not allowed on the East Portal Road and, therefore, not allowed in the campground.
22
0
East Portal campground is not ADA accessible. The campground road and parking areas are all gravel and all campsites are unimproved ground. 5 campsites have parking spaces adjacent to the site; 10 campsites are walk-in and require walking down steps from the parking area to the sites. Access to pit toilets and water is on compacted dirt paths.
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Paved Roads - All vehicles OK
Limited Development Campground