Photo: NPS Photo/Lynch

← Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park · Camping

East Portal Campground

15 sites · $10–$20 · First come, first served · RVs to 22 ft

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First come, first served$10–$20 / nightClosed now: Closed in Winter

No reservations. Sites are first come, first served, so arrive early.

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15Sites

15First come

$10–$20Per night

22 ftRVs

10 tent only10 walk-in / boat-in

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.

Fees

Standard Camping Fee The nightly camping fee at East Portal is $20.00. Group size limit is eight people and two vehicles.	$20.00
Senior / Access Camping Fee 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.	$10.00

Season & hours

Campground is open 24 hours in the summer. Check out time is 11am. 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. Until further notice, the lower walk-in sites of the East Portal Campground remain closed while crews continue to repair damage from floods and mudslides. The upper loop of the campground reopened on Sept. 5, 2026.

⛔ Closed in Winter: Nov 10, 2026 – Apr 11, 2027

Amenities

Toilets · Vault Toilets - seasonal
Showers · none
Drinking water · seasonal
Trash / recycling · seasonal
Laundry · none
Camp store · none
Firewood for sale · none
Ice for sale · none
Food storage lockers · seasonal
Dump station · none
Amphitheater · none
Camp host · none
Cell reception · none
Internet · none

RVs, trailers & access

RVs	Allowed, up to 22 ft
Trailers	Not allowed
RV notes	Vehicles 22 feet and over in length are not allowed on the East Portal Road and, therefore, not allowed in the campground.
Roads	Paved Roads - All vehicles OK
Type	Limited Development Campground
Campfires	Fires are permitted only in the designated fire rings, and only as long as there are no burn bans or dangerous fire weather.
Wheelchair	The campground is not wheelchair accessible.
ADA	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.
Cell	There is no cell service at East Portal, and typically no service available within the Park.

Getting there

East Portal Road, Black Canyon National Park, Montrose, CO 81401

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.

Contact

(970) 641-2337 · cure_info@nps.gov

Other campgrounds in Black Canyon Of The Gunnison

North Rim13 sites · $10–$20 · First come, first served · RVs to 22 ft South Rim88 sites · $10–$34 · Reservable + first come · RVs to 55 ft

About East Portal

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).

Photos

East Portal Campground - Sites with vehicle access — Five out of the fifteen sites have vehicle access. · NPS photo

East Portal Campground - Walk-in sites — Ten of the 15 sites are walk-in tent sites. · NPS photo

Campsites

Site-by-site details (sizes, hookups, shade) for this campground are coming soon.

Conditions at camp

🌤️ Forecast

Wed, Nov 11

Tonight

30°F

Clear

Thu, Nov 12

Day

55°F

Sunny

Thu, Nov 12

Night

31°F

Partly Cloudy

Fri, Nov 13

Day

54°F

Partly Sunny

Fri, Nov 13

Night

32°F

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Snow Showers

Sat, Nov 14

Day

44°F

Rain And Snow Showers

Sat, Nov 14

Night

32°F

Rain And Snow Showers Likely

Sun, Nov 15

Day

46°F

Mostly Sunny

Source: National Weather Service (weather.gov)

🔥 Wildfires nearby

Elk: 7,257 ac, 90% contained

Source: National Interagency Fire Center (WFIGS)

🗓️ Typical 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.

Rules

--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. --Camp only in designated sites. --Maximum occupancy: 8 people, 2 vehicles per campsite. --Check In/ Out Time: 11 am --Pets must be leashed at all times. --Properly extinguish fires. Do not leave fires unattended. --Use bear boxes for any scented items, food, etc. --Stay is limited to 14 consecutive nights for a total of 30 days within a calendar year.

Trails near camp

Campground information from the National Park Service. Confirm current status with the park before you go.