Yes, pets are allowed in the campground, but they must be leashed at all times.

North Rim Campground - 13 Remote Sites

Q: Do I need a reservation?

No - and you can't make one. The 13 sites are first-come, first-served. Payment must be made with Scan & Pay on the Recreation.gov app, so download it before you enter the park because there's no cell service on site.

Q: Are there bears? How do I store food?

This is bear country. Year-round bear boxes are provided at the campground - store all food and scented items in them, and keep at least 100 yards from bears per park rules.

Q: Is there drinking water and are there showers?

Potable water is available seasonally, so bring your own jugs as backup. There are no showers - just vault toilets, available year-round.

Q: Can a regular car handle the road in?

In good weather, yes - the unpaved roads are rated OK for all vehicles. The last 5.6 miles are dirt/gravel, so take it slow, and note the North Rim road closes to vehicles in winter, typically reopening by early May.

Q: Will it be quiet at night?

About as quiet as frontcountry camping gets: generators are prohibited, there are only 13 sites, and the campground sits on the park's remote rim at the end of an unpaved road.

Sites

RV Max Length

22 feet maximum combined length of RV, car and/or trailer. Measure the whole train before you commit.

Hookups

Dry camping only - no electrical hookups at any site, and generators are prohibited.

Pets Allowed

Showers

Overview

About This Campground

The North Rim Campground is the quiet side of Black Canyon: 13 first-come, first-served sites tucked among pinyon and juniper trees at 7,767 feet, at the end of a road whose last 5.6 miles are unpaved. There are no hookups, no showers, and no generators allowed - just vault toilets, bear boxes, seasonal water, and canyon-rim country that stays dark and quiet at night. Pay by Scan & Pay on the Recreation.gov app, and download it before you enter the park because there is no cell service here. If your rig and trailer together are under 22 feet and you like camp chores done by lantern light, this is your spot.

Highlights

Book If

BOOK IF: Tent campers and small rigs (under 22 ft combined) who want a quiet, remote, generator-free camp among the pinyon-juniper. SKIP IF: Big rigs, hookup-dependent RVers, or anyone who needs showers, cell service, or a camp store - this is dry camping with very limited services.

Site Types

13 standard sites shared by tents and small RVs - none are tent-only or RV-only.

Scenic Views

You're camped on the North Rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison - the quieter, more remote rim of the park.

Nearby Attractions

North Rim Ranger Station is just before the campground; the Tour the North Rim Road route starts nearby. Crawford, CO is about 15 miles away.

Family Friendly

Fine for self-sufficient families: bear boxes, vault toilets, and a small quiet loop. But it's remote with no cell service and limited services, so bring everything the kids need and keep them close to camp near the rim.

Best Time to Visit

Late spring through fall, after the road opens (usually late April or early May) and before the November 15 winter closure. It fills often in that window, so arrive early.

Camping Tips

- Download the Recreation.gov app BEFORE entering the park - Scan & Pay is the only way to pay and there's zero cell service. - Keep the whole rig train under 22 feet or you won't fit. - Bring your own water jugs and firewood - both are seasonal or unreliable on site. - Pack layers and a warm bag: 7,767 ft means cold nights even in July. - Use the tent pads and bear boxes - both are there for a reason. - Leave the generator home; they're prohibited anyway.

RV Driver Intel

The Setup

Expect gravel internal roads and unpaved, unimproved sites - bring leveling blocks and don't count on a manicured pad. Keep your combined rig, car, and trailer under 22 feet; there's no room for big rigs. No hookups and no generators, so arrive with charged batteries, full water jugs, and empty tanks (no dump station).

The Vibe

Forested and low-key, not a parking lot: 13 sites dispersed among pinyon and juniper on the park's remote rim. No generators and no cell service means quiet nights. The trade is limited services - this camp rewards the self-sufficient.

Bath & Laundry

Vault toilets year-round (reached by a compacted dirt path), no showers, and no laundry. Bring wipes, a wash basin, and quarters for the laundromat back in town.

What Campers Say

The word on the trail matches the official line: remote, small, and quiet, with sites dispersed in the pinyon-juniper and very limited services. It fills often from spring to fall despite the unpaved approach, which tells you campers who make the drive think the solitude is worth it.

Details

Campsite Information

Total Sites: 13

RV Max Length: 22 feet maximum combined length of RV, car and/or trailer. Measure the whole train before you commit.

Hookups: Dry camping only - no electrical hookups at any site, and generators are prohibited.

Site Types

13 standard sites shared by tents and small RVs - none are tent-only or RV-only.

Each Site Includes

Designated fire rings
Designated tent pads (use them to protect the vegetation)
And year-round bear boxes. Do not tie
Hang
Or attach anything to the trees.

Activities

This is a base camp for the quiet side of the park: Tour the North Rim Road, Stargazing at Black Canyon, and ranger contact at the North Rim Ranger Station just down the road.

Amenities & Facilities

Campground Amenities

Showers: None on site. Plan on camp wipes or a solar shower bag - this is roughing-it territory.
Restrooms: Vault toilets (outhouse style), available year-round. Access is via a compacted dirt path.
Water: Yes, seasonal. Bring your own jugs as backup outside peak season - the water plan is on you here.
Trash: Trash and recycling collection is seasonal. Outside that window, pack it in, pack it out.

Facilities

RV Dump Station: No dump station. Haul your tanks out with you.
Camp Store: No camp store, no ice for sale. Stock up before the drive in - services here are very limited.
Firewood: No firewood for sale on site. Donated firewood may be available in summer, but come prepared with your own - and don't move firewood long distances.

Utilities

Restrooms: Vault toilets (outhouse style), available year-round. Access is via a compacted dirt path.

Showers: None on site. Plan on camp wipes or a solar shower bag - this is roughing-it territory.

Policies & Rules

Reservations

First-come, first-served only. Payment must be submitted online using Scan & Pay on the Recreation.gov mobile app - no advance reservations. (Booking: No reservations to win here. It fills often from spring to fall, so roll in early in the day and have the Recreation.gov app downloaded before you enter the park.)

Pet Policy

Pets Allowed - Pets must be leashed at all times in the campground.

FAQs

Can my RV fit at North Rim Campground?

Only if it's small. The maximum combined length of RV, car and/or trailer is 22 feet total, there are no electrical hookups, and generators are prohibited. Big rigs should look elsewhere.

Do I need a reservation?

Are there bears? How do I store food?

Is there drinking water and are there showers?

Can a regular car handle the road in?

Can I bring my dog?

Will it be quiet at night?

📖 National Park Service — North Rim 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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