Campground

North Rim Campground

Campground
Two tents (yellow and blue) with a picnic table in forested campground area

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.

Quick facts

Reservation System
First-come, first-served only. Payment must be submitted online using Scan & Pay on the Recreation.gov mobile app - no advance reservations.
Reservation Window
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.
Reservation Tips
You can't reserve a site - the 13 sites are first-come, first-served. Show up early in the day spring through fall, have a backup plan, and have the Recreation.gov app installed for Scan & Pay before you lose signal.
Season Dates
Closed in winter and early spring while the road is closed (winter closure runs November 15 to April 30); usually opens late April or early May, conditions depending.

Reservations & season

Reservation System
First-come, first-served only. Payment must be submitted online using Scan & Pay on the Recreation.gov mobile app - no advance reservations.
Reservation Window
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.
Reservation Tips
You can't reserve a site - the 13 sites are first-come, first-served. Show up early in the day spring through fall, have a backup plan, and have the Recreation.gov app installed for Scan & Pay before you lose signal.
Season Dates
Closed in winter and early spring while the road is closed (winter closure runs November 15 to April 30); usually opens late April or early May, conditions depending.
Fills Up Speed
Fills often from spring to fall - only 13 sites, so arrive early in the day.
Per Night Cost
$20.00 per night standard; $10.00 per night with a valid Senior or Access pass.
Day Use Fees
No separate campground day-use fee listed, but park entrance is $30.00 per private vehicle (7-day pass).
Passes Accepted
America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) covers entrance fees; valid Senior or Access passes cut the camping fee to $10.00 per night.

Sites & RV fit

Sites Total
13
Site Types
13 standard sites shared by tents and small RVs - none are tent-only or RV-only.
Site Type Breakdown
13 total sites: 0 tent-only, 0 RV-only, 0 group, 0 horse, 0 walk/boat-to, 0 with electrical hookups.
RV Max Length
22 feet maximum combined length of RV, car and/or trailer. Measure the whole train before you commit.
Group Sites Available
0
Group Site Capacity
No group sites. Standard site limit is 8 people and 2 vehicles.
Hookups
Dry camping only - no electrical hookups at any site, and generators are prohibited.
Site Features
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.
Ground Type
Unpaved, unimproved sites with designated tent pads. Pitch on the pad to protect the vegetation.
Site Privacy
Sites are dispersed among the pinyon and juniper rather than lined up in rows, and with only 13 sites total this stays a small, low-key camp.

Facilities

Bathroom Types
Vault toilets (outhouse style), available year-round. Access is via a compacted dirt path.
Showers Available
None on site. Plan on camp wipes or a solar shower bag - this is roughing-it territory.
Potable Water
Yes, seasonal. Bring your own jugs as backup outside peak season - the water plan is on you here.
Dump Station
No dump station. Haul your tanks out with you.
Trash Service
Trash and recycling collection is seasonal. Outside that window, pack it in, pack it out.
Camp Store
No camp store, no ice for sale. Stock up before the drive in - services here are very limited.
Firewood Availability
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.
Cell Service
None. No cell service or connectivity on site - download the Recreation.gov app and offline maps before entering the park.
Nearby Facilities
Crawford, CO, about 15 miles away, is the nearest town. Services at the campground itself are very limited.

Access

Road Type
Unpaved. The last 5.6 miles of the access road are dirt/gravel, and the campground road itself is gravel.
Road Conditions
Unpaved roads, all vehicles OK in good weather. A sedan can make it when it's dry; take it slow on the final 5.6 unpaved miles.
Vehicle Restrictions
Maximum combined length of RV, car and/or trailer is 22 feet; 2 vehicles per campsite. Horses must stay in a trailer - not permitted loose in the campground.
Clearance Needed
Standard clearance is fine in good weather - the access roads are unpaved but rated OK for all vehicles.
Gate Hours
Open all day in season. In winter, the North Rim is closed to vehicles at the park boundary, typically reopening by early May.
Distance From Entrance
Right at the rim - once you reach the rim, turn right toward the ranger station and the campground is just past it.
Nearest Gas Services
Crawford, CO is the nearest town, about 15 miles away. Top off fuel, ice, and firewood before you leave pavement.
Elevation
7,767 ft (2,367 m)
Accessibility
The campground is not wheelchair accessible. No ADA sites, gravel campground road, unpaved and unimproved sites, and pit toilet access via a compacted dirt path.
ADA Accessible Sites
None. There are no ADA accessible campsites - the campground road is gravel, sites are unpaved and unimproved, and pit toilet access is a compacted dirt path.

Rules & safety

Bear Country
Yes
Food Storage Requirements
Bear boxes are provided year-round - use them for any food, scented items, and coolers. Don't test your luck or the bear's patience.
Fire Restrictions
Fires permitted only in designated fire rings, and only when there are no burn bans or dangerous fire weather. Extinguish fully; never leave a fire unattended.
Pets Allowed
Yes
Pet Restrictions
Pets must be leashed at all times in the campground.
Generator Hours
None. Generators are prohibited outright - solar or battery power only.
Max Stay Limit
14 consecutive nights, up to a total of 30 days within a calendar year. Check-in/check-out is 11 am.
Alcohol Permitted
0

What it is like

Onsite 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.
Wildlife Viewing
This is bear country - bear boxes are required gear here. Keep 100 yards from bears and 25 yards from other wildlife per park rules.
Stargazing Quality
Excellent conditions for it: remote location, no generators, and Stargazing at Black Canyon is one of the park's signature activities. Let your eyes adjust and look up.
Shade Coverage
Partial shade from pinyon and juniper trees - low canopy, so plan sun protection midday.
Scenic Views
You're camped on the North Rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison - the quieter, more remote rim of the park.
Noise Level
Quiet by design: generators are prohibited, there are only 13 sites, and the road in is unpaved - no highway drone out here.
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.
Vibe Check
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.
Camp Here If Skip 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.
Tips Advice
- 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.

More details

Park Area
North Rim
Family Friendly Notes
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.
Senior Access Discounts
Senior or Access pass holders camp for $10.00 per night instead of $20.00.
Amphitheater
None - no amphitheater at this campground.
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.
Terrain Type
Canyon-rim country at 7,767 feet - sites dispersed among pinyon and juniper trees on unimproved ground.
Temperature Ranges
Rim weather at this elevation can flip fast from warm and sunny to cold, rainy, or snowy. Pack for 3-season camping even in summer - nighttime lows bite up here.
Snow Season
Snow is possible well beyond winter at this elevation; the road closes for winter around November 15 and typically reopens by early May.
Setup Strategy
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).
Bath Laundry Recon
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.
Review Summary
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.

Location

Frequently asked questions

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

Can I bring my dog?

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

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.

East Portal Campground

15 first-come sites on the Gunnison River at the canyon bottom. No rigs over 22 ft - the road is a 16% grade.

Sources

Information is compiled from official sources, verified traveler reviews, and editorial research. Learn how YourNPGuide works.

Last updated July 2026. Report an issue.