Campground

East Portal Campground

Campground
East Portal Campground - Sites with vehicle access

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.

Quick facts

Reservation System
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.
Reservation Window
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.
Reservation Tips
You can't reserve East Portal - sites are first-come, first-served. Your move is preparation, not an alarm clock: install the Recreation.gov app and set up Scan & Pay before entering the park, since there's no connectivity on site. Questions: (970) 641-2337 ext. 205.
Season Dates
Typically open May to mid-October, weather permitting and when East Portal Road is open (the Bureau of Reclamation determines the road closure). Closed in winter - listed closure November 10, 2026 through April 11, 2027.

Reservations & season

Reservation System
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.
Reservation Window
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.
Reservation Tips
You can't reserve East Portal - sites are first-come, first-served. Your move is preparation, not an alarm clock: install the Recreation.gov app and set up Scan & Pay before entering the park, since there's no connectivity on site. Questions: (970) 641-2337 ext. 205.
Season Dates
Typically open May to mid-October, weather permitting and when East Portal Road is open (the Bureau of Reclamation determines the road closure). Closed in winter - listed closure November 10, 2026 through April 11, 2027.
Per Night Cost
$20.00 per night standard. $10.00 per night with a valid Senior or Access pass. Group size limit is 8 people and 2 vehicles per site.
Day Use Fees
The campground itself has no day-use fee listed, but reaching it requires entering Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park - $30 entrance fee per private vehicle (7-day pass).
Passes Accepted
Senior and Access passes cut the camping fee to $10.00 per night. America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) covers the park entrance fee.

Sites & RV fit

Sites Total
15
Site Types
Tent-focused: 10 tent-only sites, 10 walk-in sites, no RV-only sites, no electrical hookups.
Site Type Breakdown
15 total sites: 10 tent-only, 10 walk-in (reached by steps from the parking area), 5 with parking adjacent to the site, 0 group, 0 RV-only, 0 with electrical hookups.
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.
Group Sites Available
0
Group Site Capacity
No group sites (0). Standard sites max out at 8 people and 2 vehicles per campsite.
Hookups
Dry camping only - 0 electrical hookups.
Site Features
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.
Ground Type
Unimproved natural ground at every site; campground roads and parking areas are gravel.
Site Privacy
Small 15-site campground tucked into box elder trees at the canyon bottom; the 10 walk-in sites set below the parking area give tent campers separation from vehicles.

Facilities

Bathroom Types
Vault toilets (outhouse-style), seasonal. Access to the toilets is on compacted dirt paths.
Showers Available
None - no showers on site. Plan your shower stops in town.
Potable 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.
Dump Station
No dump station - haul it out.
Trash Service
Trash and recycling collection available, seasonal.
Camp Store
No camp store, no ice for sale - stock up in Montrose before you drop into the canyon.
Firewood Availability
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.
Cell Service
None - no cell reception and no internet at East Portal, and typically no service anywhere in the park. Download offline maps and the Recreation.gov app before you arrive.
Nearby Facilities
Montrose, CO is the nearest town for supplies and services - about 17 road miles (Hwy 50 to Hwy 347 to the park entrance, then 5 miles down East Portal Road). The campground's mailing address runs through Gunnison (Curecanti NRA headquarters, 102 Elk Creek).

Access

Road Type
Access is via paved roads; the campground's internal road and parking areas are gravel.
Road Conditions
East Portal Road drops to the canyon bottom on a 16% grade with tight curves. It's paved, but it's a serious descent - vehicles 22 feet and over, trailers included, are prohibited. The road closes to vehicles in winter (open to pedestrians and cyclists).
Vehicle Restrictions
No vehicles 22 feet or longer, trailer included, on East Portal Road. No trailers allowed. Maximum 2 vehicles per campsite.
Clearance Needed
Standard - the access road is paved; campground roads and parking are gravel.
Gate Hours
The campground is open 24 hours in summer. Check-out time is listed at 1 pm on the campground page (regulations list check in/out at 11 am - confirm with the park).
Distance From Entrance
About 5 miles: turn right onto East Portal Road at the park entrance station and continue 5 miles to the base of the canyon, then left at the signed junction. The campground is just past the ranger station.
Nearest Gas Services
Montrose is the supply town - roughly 17 road miles (6 miles on Hwy 50, 6 miles on Hwy 347 to the park entrance, then 5 miles down East Portal Road).
Elevation
6,526 feet (1,989 m).
Accessibility
Not wheelchair accessible and not ADA accessible. Gravel roads and parking, unimproved ground sites, steps down to the 10 walk-in sites, and compacted dirt paths to the pit toilets and water.
ADA Accessible Sites
None - East Portal is not ADA accessible and not wheelchair accessible. Campground roads and parking are gravel, campsites are unimproved ground, 10 sites require walking down steps, and paths to toilets and water are compacted dirt.

Rules & safety

Bear Country
Yes
Food Storage Requirements
Use the bear boxes for any scented items, food, and toiletries. Food storage lockers are provided seasonally.
Fire Restrictions
Fires only in designated fire rings, and only when no burn bans or dangerous fire weather are in effect. Never leave a fire unattended and extinguish it properly.
Pets Allowed
Yes
Pet Restrictions
Pets must be leashed at all times.
Max Stay Limit
14 consecutive nights, with a total of 30 days within a calendar year.
Alcohol Permitted
0

What it is like

Onsite 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.
Wildlife Viewing
This is bear country - seasonal bear boxes are provided and required for scented items. Keep a clean camp.
Stargazing Quality
Stargazing at Black Canyon is one of the park's listed activities; the campground itself sits deep in the canyon and no site-specific dark-sky rating is published.
Shade Coverage
Shaded by box elder trees along the river.
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.
Noise Level
River campground - sites sit along the Gunnison River at the bottom of the canyon, well away from any highway.
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.
Vibe Check
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.
Camp Here If Skip 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.
Tips Advice
  • 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.

More details

Park Area
East Portal, at the bottom of the canyon along the Gunnison River (within Curecanti National Recreation Area, accessed through Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park)
Sites Tent Only
10
Family Friendly Notes
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.
Senior Access Discounts
Valid Senior or Access passes drop the nightly camping fee from $20.00 to $10.00.
Amphitheater
No amphitheater on site.
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.
Terrain Type
Canyon bottom along the Gunnison River at 6,526 feet - river-flat ground below steep canyon walls, with unimproved sites and some walk-ins down steps.
Temperature Ranges
Temperatures can swing 30 degrees or more between day and night. Weather can flip rapidly from warm and sunny to cold, rainy, or snowy - pack for 3-season camping even in summer.
Snow Season
The campground closes for winter (listed November 10 to mid-April) and East Portal Road closes to vehicles in winter. Snow is possible even during the camping season - the park warns weather can turn snowy fast.
Setup Strategy
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.
Bath Laundry Recon
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.
Review Summary
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.

Location

Frequently asked questions

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

North Rim Campground

13 first-come sites in the pinyon-juniper on Black Canyon's quiet North Rim. No hookups, no generators, pay by app.

Sources

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Last updated July 2026. Report an issue.