East Portal Campground

Q: Do I need a reservation, and how do I pay with no cell service?

No reservations are accepted - the 15 sites are first-come, first-served. Payment must be made through the Scan & Pay feature on the Recreation.gov mobile app, and since there's no cell service or connectivity on site, you must download and set up the app before entering the park.

Q: Are there bears, and what do I do with my food?

Yes, this is bear country. Seasonal bear boxes (food storage lockers) are provided, and the rules require you to use them for food and any scented items - never store them in your tent or leave them out.

Q: Is there drinking water and a bathroom?

Seasonally, yes. Potable water spigots typically run mid-May to mid-September, and vault toilets operate seasonally. There are no showers, no dump station, and no camp store, so top off water and supplies in Montrose.

Q: Will I have to carry my gear to the site?

Probably. Ten of the 15 sites are walk-ins that require walking down steps from the parking area; only 5 sites have parking right next to them. Pack so you can make a couple of trips.

Q: Is it quiet at night?

It's a small, primitive 15-site campground at the bottom of the canyon with no highway nearby - the main sound is the Gunnison River. Ambient noise is river, not traffic.

Q: How much does it cost, including getting in?

Camping is $20.00 per night ($10.00 with a valid Senior or Access pass), with a limit of 8 people and 2 vehicles per site. You'll also pay the Black Canyon entrance fee - $30 per private vehicle for a 7-day pass - since the campground is only accessible through the park.

Sites

RV Max Length

22 feet - vehicles 22 feet and over (trailer included) are prohibited on East Portal Road, so they can't reach the campground. Trailers are not allowed.

Hookups

Dry camping only - 0 electrical hookups.

Pets Allowed

Showers

Overview

About This Campground

East Portal is the small 15-site campground at the very bottom of Black Canyon, sitting on the Gunnison River under a canopy of box elder trees at 6,526 feet. It technically lies within Curecanti National Recreation Area, but you can only reach it through Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, down the steep 16% grade of East Portal Road - no vehicles over 22 feet, trailers included. Sites are first-come, first-served with 10 walk-in tent spots and 5 sites with adjacent parking, and you pay by Scan & Pay on the Recreation.gov app. It's a simple, quiet river-bottom camp: seasonal water spigots, vault toilets, bear boxes, and not much else - exactly how some of us like it.

Highlights

Book If

✅ BOOK IF: You're a tent camper or small-van camper (under 22 ft) who wants a quiet, primitive riverside camp at the bottom of the canyon and doesn't mind vault toilets and hauling gear down steps. ❌ SKIP IF: You have an RV or trailer 22 feet or over (prohibited on the road), need hookups, showers, or cell service, or want reservable certainty - it's first-come only.

Site Types

Tent-focused: 10 tent-only sites, 10 walk-in sites, no RV-only sites, no electrical hookups.

Scenic Views

The Gunnison River and the walls of the Black Canyon rising around you - you're camped at the very base of the canyon.

Nearby Attractions

Within the park: Drive East Portal Road (you're at the bottom of it), the South Rim Drive tour, ranger programs, and South Rim overlooks like Gunnison Point, Painted Wall, and Sunset View. Montrose is the nearest town, about 17 road miles.

Family Friendly

A quiet, simple river-bottom camp that suits self-sufficient families: sites hold up to 8 people, and the walk-in tent sites keep kids away from car traffic. Mind the river with little ones, keep pets leashed, and remember there are no showers, store, or cell service.

Best Time to Visit

Mid-May to mid-September, when the water spigots are running and East Portal Road is reliably open. The campground typically operates May to mid-October, weather permitting.

Camping Tips

Download the Recreation.gov app AND your offline maps before you enter the park - there is zero cell service at East Portal, and Scan & Pay is the only way to pay for your site.
Measure your rig honestly: 22 feet including any trailer is a hard limit on the 16% grade.
Water spigots typically run mid-May to mid-September - outside that, haul your own jugs.
No firewood or ice sold on site; buy in Montrose before the descent.
Every scented item goes in the bear box, not your tent.
Pack layers - a 30-degree day-to-night temperature swing is normal down here.

RV Driver Intel

The Setup

Expect gravel internal roads and gravel parking. Only 5 sites have parking adjacent - the other 10 are walk-ins, so plan on carrying gear down steps from the parking area. Sites are unimproved natural ground, so pick your tent spot carefully and bring leveling blocks for a small rig. Big-rig warning: anything 22 feet or over (trailer included) cannot come down East Portal Road at all.

The Vibe

Forested river-bottom camp, not a parking lot. Fifteen sites under box elder trees along the Gunnison River, with the canyon walls overhead. No host, no store, no amphitheater, no cell service - the ambiance is river noise and quiet. The walk-in tent sites add real separation between camps.

Bath & Laundry

Set expectations low and you'll be happy: seasonal vault toilets on compacted dirt paths, no showers at all, and no laundry. Water comes from seasonal spigots (typically mid-May to mid-September). Plan shower and laundry stops in Montrose.

What Campers Say

The word on the trail is that East Portal is the quiet, primitive alternative to the rim campgrounds: a small 15-site camp on the Gunnison River with box elder shade, bear boxes, vault toilets, and nothing fancy. Campers who make the steep drive down trade amenities for river sound and canyon-bottom seclusion.

Details

Campsite Information

Total Sites: 15

RV Max Length: 22 feet - vehicles 22 feet and over (trailer included) are prohibited on East Portal Road, so they can't reach the campground. Trailers are not allowed.

Hookups: Dry camping only - 0 electrical hookups.

Site Types

Tent-focused: 10 tent-only sites, 10 walk-in sites, no RV-only sites, no electrical hookups.

Each Site Includes

Unimproved ground sites shaded by box elder trees along the Gunnison River. Designated fire rings and seasonal bear boxes (food storage lockers) for any scented items. 5 sites have adjacent parking; 10 walk-in sites are reached by steps from the parking area.

Activities

You're camped right on the Gunnison River at the bottom of the canyon. The park's listed activities include driving East Portal Road, ranger programs, and stargazing.

Amenities & Facilities

Campground Amenities

Showers: None - no showers on site. Plan your shower stops in town.
Restrooms: Vault toilets (outhouse-style), seasonal. Access to the toilets is on compacted dirt paths.
Water: Seasonal spigots - water is typically available mid-May to mid-September, after the last frost of spring and before the first frost of fall. Outside that window, bring your own jugs.
Trash: Trash and recycling collection available, seasonal.

Facilities

RV Dump Station: No dump station - haul it out.
Camp Store: No camp store, no ice for sale - stock up in Montrose before you drop into the canyon.
Firewood: No firewood sold on site. Fires are permitted only in designated fire rings, and burn bans can shut fires down entirely. Don't move firewood.
Amphitheater: No amphitheater on site.

Utilities

Restrooms: Vault toilets (outhouse-style), seasonal. Access to the toilets is on compacted dirt paths.

Showers: None - no showers on site. Plan your shower stops in town.

Policies & Rules

Reservations

Old school first-come, first-served - no reservations accepted. Payment must be submitted online using the Scan & Pay feature on the Recreation.gov mobile app. (Booking: No booking window - show up and claim a site. Download the Recreation.gov app before entering the park; there is no cell service or connectivity on site to do it later.)

Pet Policy

Pets Allowed - Pets must be leashed at all times.

FAQs

Can my RV or trailer make it down to East Portal?

Only if your total length is under 22 feet - vehicles 22 feet and over, trailer included, are prohibited on East Portal Road because of its 16% grade and tight curves. Trailers are not allowed, and there are no hookups or dump station in any case.

Do I need a reservation, and how do I pay with no cell service?

Are there bears, and what do I do with my food?

Is there drinking water and a bathroom?

Will I have to carry my gear to the site?

Is it quiet at night?

How much does it cost, including getting in?

📖 National Park Service — East Portal Campground (official page) (checked 2026-07-12) 📖 National Park Service — Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park fees, hours & conditions (checked 2026-07-05) 📖 Climate data: Black Canyon Of The Gunnison, Co Us, 8,150 ft (NOAA 1991-2020 normals, station USC00050754) 📝 YourNPGuide Editorial

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