Campgrounds in Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has 3 campgrounds on the National Park Service record, 116 sites in total. 1 take reservations, 3 have first-come sites. Hours, fees, amenities and access for each — plus the scenic drives that reach them.
3 mapped · Park boundary: National Park Service
East Portal Campground15 sitesFirst-come, first-servedEast 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).
North Rim Campground13 sitesFirst-come, first-servedThe North Rim Campground is remote and has 13 sites dispersed among pinyon and juniper trees. Sites are first-come first-served; all payment is via Scan & Pay on the Recreation.gov app. The last 5.6 miles of the road to the campground are unpaved. Services are very limited. To protect sensitive vegetation, please use designated tent pads and do not tie, hang, or attach anything to trees. Maximum combined length of RV, car and/or trailer is 22 feet. Generators are prohibited. Elevation: 7767 ft (2367 m).
South Rim Campground88 sitesReservable & first-comeThe South Rim Campground is located one mile (1.6 km) from the South Rim Visitor Center. All campsites are by reservation only through Recreation.gov. Sites are fairly close together, partially shaded by tall shrubs. Only Loop B offers 20 and 30 amp electric hookups. During the warm season, drinking water is available, but there are no showers, dish cleaning stations, or water for RV tanks. Elevation: 8400 ft (2560 m). NOTE: due to wildfire damage, limited sites (non-electric only) are available in 2026.
Source: National Park Service, as of 2026-08-04